u/Fickle-Requirement99

Timeline:

• H-1B employment ended Nov 15, 2025
• Filed B-2 COS during the grace period in Jan 2026
• Received a pretty intense B-2 RFE asking for:
  • finances
  • maintenance of status
  • temporary intent
  • residence abroad
  • detailed immigration history
• While B-2 was pending, the employer filed an H-1B COS in premium processing in March 2026
• Received H-1B RFE because B-2 was still pending
• Responded to B-2 RFE first
• B-2 got approved (very short validity window from May 4–May 15)
• Then H-1B got approved today with a Change of Status

A few things I learned:

• USCIS does scrutinize bridge cases heavily now
• Detailed timelines and status history matter a LOT
• B-2 RFEs can look scary and generic, but they’re not automatically a bad sign
• Continuous lawful status documentation is critical

Honestly, this process was mentally exhausting, but I wanted to share a positive outcome because I know many people going through B-2 bridge situations panic after receiving RFEs.

One question I have is:
If my previous H-1B visa stamp in my passport is still valid and unexpired, can I continue using that for travel along with the new I-797 approval notice, or would I need to get a new H-1B stamping because this was a B-2 bridge + COS case?