H1B Stamping for change of company
 

Hi All,

I have a question regarding my H1B stamping. I have a H1B stamping in
my passport for my previous employer which is valid until september
2007. I moved to a different job and got the h1B transfer. And I am
planning on visiting India in december 2006. Do I need to go for
stamping again for my new employers h1B? Right now there are no
appointments available for dec 2006. So Please advise if I need to go
for stamping. Thanks in advance for all the responses.

Re: H1B Stamping for change of company
 

[email protected] wrote:
    > I have a question regarding my H1B stamping. I have a H1B stamping in
    > my passport for my previous employer which is valid until september
    > 2007. I moved to a different job and got the h1B transfer. And I am
    > planning on visiting India in december 2006. Do I need to go for
    > stamping again for my new employers h1B?

No. Your visa is not tied to a particular employer despite having an
employer's name on it. You must show your current H-1B approval notice
along with the visa when entering the USA.

Re: H1B Stamping for change of company
 

On 2006-09-21, J. J. Farrell <[email protected]> wrote:
    > No. Your visa is not tied to a particular employer despite having an
    > employer's name on it. You must show your current H-1B approval notice
    > along with the visa when entering the USA.

I wasn't aware of this.

My wife recently got her H4 visa renewed, and when she went to re-enter
the USA she was asked for the current approval notice. Luckily she had
it on her, despite the hysteria over liquids and carry-on luggage
recently.

But that's the first time we've ever been asked for it. I'm on 8th year
of H1B, with annual re-entries to the USA and that's the first time
we've ever had to show the current approval notice.

Re: H1B Stamping for change of company
 

I guess you got lucky then. I wouldn't recommend travelling without the approval notice.

Re: H1B Stamping for change of company
 

I travelled lots of times as an H4 and was asked for it only twice. Once I did not have it, but the officer just said 'try to remember to bring it next time'... ;)

Re: H1B Stamping for change of company
 

Sad Expat wrote:
    > On 2006-09-21, J. J. Farrell <[email protected]> wrote:
    > > No. Your visa is not tied to a particular employer despite having an
    > > employer's name on it. You must show your current H-1B approval notice
    > > along with the visa when entering the USA.
    > I wasn't aware of this.
    > My wife recently got her H4 visa renewed, and when she went to re-enter
    > the USA she was asked for the current approval notice. Luckily she had
    > it on her, despite the hysteria over liquids and carry-on luggage
    > recently.
    > But that's the first time we've ever been asked for it. I'm on 8th year
    > of H1B, with annual re-entries to the USA and that's the first time
    > we've ever had to show the current approval notice.

You could be asked for it (or other proof) any time you enter, but you
must show it if the approval you're planning to work under is different
from the one used to get the visa. One practical reason this might
matter to the person entering is that the expiry date of the new
approval is often later than the expiry date of the visa; if you don't
show the new approval notice, you'll only be admitted until the expiry
date of the visa instead of the expiry date of the new approval.

Bear in mind that the burden is on the applicant to enter to prove that
they're entitled to enter as an H-1B. If the inspector is feeling
suspicious, he may not consider the visa to be adequate. It's always a
good idea for H-1Bs and H-4s to carry a copy of the H-1B's current
approval notice, and a recent letter (or pay slips) from the employer
confirming that the H-1B holder currently works for the employer who
got the approval.