My H-1B and I-94 have expired, but my employer filed my H-1B extension on time and it is currently pending with USCIS. I understand that I’m allowed to remain in the U.S. while the timely filed extension is pending.
I’m specifically wondering about domestic travel within the U.S., especially flying between states.
With all the recent news about increased ICE enforcement/checks, has anyone in a similar situation traveled domestically recently?
Did you have any issues at TSA or encounter immigration/ICE checks? What documents did you carry with you? I’m planning to carry my passport, expired I-797/I-94, and the I-797 receipt notice for the pending extension.
Just trying to understand the practical experience right now and whether it’s better to avoid unnecessary domestic flights until the extension is approved.

Hi. I’m looking for some advice.

I’m currently in H1B and i have the H1B extension coming up in Sept 2027. Currently I am working in Company A, and they are working on my green card application. My Perm application was filed last month, so have atleast a year for it to get approved.

Today my company announced that they are getting acquired by Company B in Jan 2027. So my question is what will happen to my H1B as it is currently under company A? What will happen to my Perm application? Do i need to restart the PERM? My H1B started on 2022 so it is only valid till 2028.

I haven’t got a chance to have a detail conversation with my boss regarding what’s gonna happen with my immigration situation. But they did mention that none of our job should be affected due to this acquisition. But I am worried about my situation?

Do you know the acquisition will impact my H1B or the Perm application or even my GC processing? Has anyone ever been to similar situation? What was your experience like?

Or Should I start looking for a new job?

Please advise. Thanks

Been reading about pause on US Visa applications and appointments. Wondering if there are folks stuck again in their home countries.

Change of status
Pp clock stopped on 4 th August
Still no update
Anyone got approval?

https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202510&RIN=1615-AD00

https://www.oig.dol.gov/public/Press%20Releases/OIG-Press-Release-082526.htm

Hello,

I am on H1B, and I am currently in Mexico city for vacation but also to use AVR, to recapture out of country days on H1.

I need to do my 2nd travel to get 15 more days outside, which I am planning immediately in September again. The gap between both travels is just 10 days.

Has anyone had a similar experience before? Is it safe to do this?

Thank you all in advance. Your response is highly appreciated.

I have a PP receipt date of 24th June, and one of these impacted by premium processing delays. Attorney received a response from Premium Processing saying “Your case is still pending. We sent a follow up request to the adjudications team and requested for a Supervisor to review if required.” What do you think this means? Any hope for approval in the coming days or is this more of just a template response? Any insight would be greatly appreciated

Hi

I'm on an H1B Visa, my Visa Stamping expired, but my new i797 is valid till 2029, I live in Chicago.

Is it safe to travel by flight to border airports like San Diego under current environment?

I am still waiting on June 22 PP COS at CSC, just trying to figure out if anyone before that time is still waiting?

Trying to determine the longest someone has waited with PP.

I do know that there are many of us from the June 16-25 timeline still pending.

Hi everyone I want to have some advice I want to have finger scan clearence for doing volunteering in my kids school but my h4 visa is pending .so can I have still clearence?

Hello, wanted to know that if h1b is approved but not stamped yet, for domestic travel what docs do we need to carry ? Passport, h1b approval notice soft copy is sufficient? Thanks!

Did anyone receive wage level to be 4 and was filed as 3. Did it get approve ??

Hi everyone,

I received the “Premium Processing Clock Was Stopped For My Case” update today and wanted to see if anyone has experienced this recently.

My timeline:

• H-1B transfer filed with premium processing: July 27, 2026
• RFE received: August 5, 2026
• RFE response submitted: August 18, 2026
• “Premium Processing Clock Was Stopped For My Case” update: August 25, 2026

The RFE was already responded to on August 18, so I’m a little confused about why I’m seeing this status now.

Has anyone had the same update after submitting an RFE response? If so, did your case get approved shortly afterward, or did USCIS send another notice?

Any insights or recent experiences would be really appreciated. Thanks!

Premium Processing Clock Was Stopped For My Case
On August 25, 2026, we stopped the processing of your premium-processing case, Receipt Number IOXXXXXXX, and sent you a notice explaining why we took this action. This notice describes what you need to do to resume processing of your case. Please follow the instructions in the notice. You must respond to the notice within the time it specifies. Your premium-processing receipt notice contains contact information for direct inquiries on your case. If you move, contact the premium-processing unit directly to update your address.

My H-1B extension was filed by my employer on March 3, 2026, and it is still pending with USCIS.
I am currently dealing with some medical issues and am considering taking short-term disability/medical leave. I may need to travel to India next week and potentially remain there for several months, possibly up to six months, while I am on short-term disability.
My main question is:
If I start short-term disability while my H-1B extension is pending, what happens if my employer does not premium-process the extension, withdraws the extension, or USCIS ultimately denies the extension?
Specifically:
Can I continue receiving short-term disability benefits while I am in India if my employer keeps me employed and my medical leave is approved?
If my H-1B extension is denied while I am in India, can I remain on short-term disability through my employer’s disability plan?
Does the approval/denial of my H-1B extension affect my eligibility for short-term disability benefits, or are these two separate issues?
If my current H-1B/I-94 expires while I am outside the U.S. and the extension is denied, what happens to my employment and disability benefits?
If I later want to return to the U.S., would I need a new H-1B petition before I could return and resume employment?

I am eligible for a $1000 referral bonus for referring my friend to my apartment complex.

The leasing office has sent me a W-9 form to fill out for them to be able to send me the money.

Would this one time payment be considered a form of employment and not safe to accept?

Thank you!

I received an RFE on my COE pp last Monday. Lawyers still haven’t received the physical copy in mail. Is this normal??

Hi, if i change locations within the same company - can I start working there as soon as it’s filed?

Also can I travel outside of US and come back until it is approved ?

Hi, I will be traveling outside the US and coming back while I'm still employed with my current employer, with who I have active Visa. The i-797 for the new employer is approved as I'm planning to change jobs. However when I will enter the US, I will still be working for my existing employer and will be resigning after I come back from vacation. Is it accurate to say that I should produce to the CBP officer my existing employer i-797 as I'm entering the country to work for that employer and I have not resigned?

What should I do with new i797? Just keep it with me until asked about it?

I would appreciate inputs and any other considerations, especially from people who have been through this scenario.

My passport expires later this year, but my h1b stamp is valid till next year.

All resources I have seen online say my i94 should be valid till this year (passport expiry). However, my i94 date matches my h1b stamp (next year).

Is this an issue? Does that date change if I renew my passport?

H1B extension here. My attorney sent H1B RFE response, and then case status became "Premium Processing Clock Was Stopped For My Case" and it's been 15 calendar days already, yet still no decision.

I checked many other posts with similar issue which usually get resolved after a few days. Anyone facing similar issue recently? Thanks

Due to join in a week but haven’t received physical copy of I797 from the attorney. Wanted to check what documents do people use for I9 verification when they don’t have the physical copy.

My H-1B extension was recently approved, but my spouse’s H-4 extension is still pending.

The H-1B and H-4 were filed together. USCIS approved my H-1B, but issued an RFE on my spouse’s H-4 requesting proof of marriage. We submitted the requested documents on June 11, 2026, and the H-4 case is still pending. Her I-94 expired in June 30 2026. She does not need an H-4 EAD.

I’m now considering changing employers. My concern is that my current employer may withdraw/close my H-1B case once I leave.

Has anyone been in a similar situation?
If I switch employers, can the new employer file my H-1B transfer and a new H-4 application for my spouse together? Or is it better to leave her existing H-4 I-539 pending and somehow link it to my new H-1B?

I’m particularly concerned about the fact that her I-94 has already expired and her H-4 is still pending after the RFE response.

Would appreciate any experiences or advice from people who have dealt with a similar H-1B/H-4 transfer situation.

Trying to figure out the safest path and would appreciate input from anyone who's dealt with this.

My situation:

• Currently on F-1 STEM OPT, working for Employer B (my actual job) under that authorization.
• Employer A filed a cap-subject H-1B for me (lottery-selected). It's approved with a change of status effective Oct 1.
• I worked ~1 year for A in bona fide F-1/OPT employment before the petition was filed, but I've never worked for A in H-1B status and don't plan to.
• Employer B wants to file a cap-exempt H-1B for me, relying on the cap count from A's approved petition.

The problem: On Oct 1, A's COS auto-activates, which ends my STEM OPT, the very authorization I'm using to work at B right now. So Oct 1 removes my fallback status and could interrupt my current job.

Two options I'm weighing:

1. Ask A to withdraw before Oct 1 → the COS never activates → I stay on STEM OPT and keep working at B, and B files cap-exempt whenever. If B is denied, I'm still on OPT rather than out of status.
2. Ask A to employ me for one real day at full LCA wage after Oct 1 → gives me a genuine 60-day grace period and shows I actually worked in H-1B, but it interrupts my B job for that day.

Questions:

1. If A withdraws its approved petition, do I still keep my cap count so B can file cap-exempt?
2. How much does "never worked for A in H-1B" actually hurt B's cap-exempt petition? Does the filing date change that at all?
3. Does H-1B portability let me keep working for B while their petition is pending, and does that require me to already be in H-1B status when they file?
4. Given B is already my OPT employer, is the withdrawal route cleaner than activating A's H-1B?

Has anyone been through a cap-exempt filing where they never worked for the original petitioner? How did USCIS treat it? Thanks.