r/IndianH1Bs

My H-1B extension (I-129) was filed in August 2025 and remained pending. My employer upgraded it to Premium Processing on June 15, 2026.

USCIS case status says the Premium Processing clock started on June 15 but more than 2 months later there has been no approval RFE denial or other update.

My 240-day employment authorization period has now ended, so my employer has placed me on unpaid leave and I cannot work while the petition remains pending.

I contacted USCIS today and submitted an e-Request. USCIS accepted it and issued a service-request ID but the automated response says the inquiry itself may take at least 60 days.

Has anyone had a Premium Processing I-129 remain pending this long after the premium clock started? If so, what eventually happened and was there anything that successfully got USCIS to act?

If I have a valid I‑797 but an expired U.S. visa in my passport, am I still eligible for a California REAL ID driver’s license, or should I apply for a regular driver’s license instead?

Hello

I have intially filed for H1B COE on July 3rd 2026 and converted it into PP on Aug 13th 2026, when can i expect decision on my case according to current trends?

Texas Center

Thanks!

Hi ,
I got my stem opt denial notice on Aug 17 and my h1b is still pending. My notice says I can apply for motion to reopen/reconsider. What should I do now?

If anyone can please help me how to handle this situation.should I go with permium for my h1b as my start date for h1b is Oct 1 2026.

I’m waiting for my H-1B extension, and my driver’s license has expired. Does anybody know if there is a way to obtain temporary driving privileges during this time?

Hi everyone, I wanted to share an update on my H-1B to F-1 Change of Status (I-539) journey in case it helps someone going through a similar situation.

I filed my H-1B → F-1 Change of Status on March 31, 2026, while I was within my H-1B grace period. My case later received an RFE, primarily concerning residence abroad, commuting distance, and my program start date/I-20 validity. I submitted a detailed response with supporting documentation.

After several months of waiting, my F-1 Change of Status was finally approved! 🎉

A few things that may be helpful for others:

• I filed the I-539 while still within my H-1B grace period.
• My original I-20 start date was deferred, and I obtained an updated I-20 for the Fall 2026 term.
• I responded to the RFE with detailed documentation addressing each issue raised by USCIS.
• I did not leave the U.S. while the Change of Status was pending.
• The case was ultimately approved despite the I-94 expiration occurring while the application was still pending.
• Ignore the hateful comments on Reddit; they are mostly bots. I suspect that they are ironically from India.

I know there are many people currently waiting on H-1B → F-1 COS cases, dealing with RFEs, deferred I-20s, or uncertainty about maintaining status. I wanted to share my experience because I found other people's timelines and experiences extremely helpful during the process.

If anyone has questions about my timeline, RFE response, I-20/deferment, or the overall process, feel free to ask. I'll share what I can based on my personal experience (not legal advice).

Wishing everyone still waiting for a positive outcome! 🙏

H-1B approved till 2029. Wife & kid H-4 extension (I-539) pending, but H-4 visas valid till 2027. Can we travel & re-enter safely on existing H-4 visas? Will pending I-539 be affected or cause issues at CBP/I-94? Any 2025–26 experiences or attorney advice?

Hi,

My H1b extension premium processing application is in pending state for 20 days (countdown started July 18th). It is being processed at Nebraska center. I have been in the US for 20+ years, and the extension has been filed by a FAANG company. I am not able to understand what is the delay. Anyone else in a similar boat? Any idea why the delays are happening? Anything that can be done to help hasten the process?

Hi everyone,

I was on STEM OPT, and my H-1B was recently approved. I received my I-797A approval notice.

I’m trying to understand what I need to do now to properly transition from STEM OPT to H-1B status and make sure everything is in order.

Thanks in advance!

What if I have an approved NIW I-140 but I am not pursuing the endeavor anymore due to job change or losing interest or simply completing the endeavor? In this case, can I still use the NIW I-140 for an H1B extension if I'm from a backlogged country? Does USCIS ask about the endeavor's progress during H1B extension?

Hi everyone, I’m looking for advice from anyone who has dealt with a similar H-1B situation.

Timeline:

**2022:** My H-1B lottery was selected and approved through Employer A. I never joined Employer A and instead joined Employer B. Employer B filed an H-1B transfer based on the approved Employer A petition, and it was approved effective Oct 2022.

**2023:** USCIS revoked Employer A’s petition. I was unaware of the revocation at the time as I already transferred and was working for Employer B.

**2026:** I got a new Job and my current employer filed my H-1B transfer and got approved. Later they filed an amendment due to salary discrepancy in my initial petition.

USCIS has now issued a **NOIR for the approved petition and NOID for the amendment**, saying the old Employer A petition was revoked for **fraud/willful misrepresentation**, so my cap number was restored and I’m no longer considered cap-counted.

I had no knowledge of or involvement in any alleged fraud by Employer A since I never joined them.
What are my options here for approval and how should I proceed? Appreciate any response.

Hi all

I am on h1b since Oct 2025 with an employer A. With employer A, h1b valid till 2028. March 2026 I quit and joined company B. They initiated my transfer (normal processing). If by any chance my transfer case get denied, what are my options? Will I get 60 days grace period to look for another job? Should i apply b1/b2?
Im just trying to be prepared for worst.

My h1b was COS to h1b. I was on opt before h1b

I have an immigration lawyer that is working with my employer to file my H1B transfer. Unfortunately agreement between him and my employer (about fees) was verbal.

I received an RFE on case. He straight up said - “My fee for responding to this RFE will be another $20,000. Please transfer it in next few hours or I will respond in a way that concludes no-evidence on the case and H1B will be denied”

I am aware that we can file G-28 form with a new lawyer to take ownership. But even if we file G-28 right now, it takes several days for it to be processed in USCIS system. And of course this rogue lawyer is aware of that, which is why he put a deadline of few hours.

Is there anything that can be done which removes the lawyer from responding to cases right away?

Sending him termination notice effectively gives him free rein to mess up H1B application. We can talk all we want about reporting him later, but my H1B is done and I will have to go home.

Will calling USCIS help? Can they sort of “freeze” the case until G-28 processing is done?

Edit - Threat here isn’t that he won’t work on case anymore. Threat is that he will actively mess up the case. And he understands the timelines, which is why he gave us. Deadline. He isn’t stupid to give us 3-4 days to give him money. He knows we can change lawyers in that time. So suggesting - “if you don’t pay him, he will stop representing you” - or things like that aren’t going to work.

Second Edit - I know I should report him to BAR, but that doesn’t address my concern I mentioned in post.

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Hi everyone,

I’m 28 and came to the US in 2021. Unfortunately, my H-1B was not selected in all three attempts.

My OPT ended last week, and my employer told me they cannot continue my employment while I’m on CPT. I have now enrolled in a Day 1 CPT program, but finding a job that accepts CPT feels almost impossible.

I also have no meaningful savings. My father’s business suffered major losses, and my family has large loans. Most of what I earned went toward paying interest on those loans and repaying my education loan.

At this point, I may have to work part-time just to cover my living expenses and university fees so that I can remain in the US. I feel mentally and physically exhausted. Most of the friends who came here with me were selected for H-1B, and I cannot stop comparing my situation with theirs.

My family is asking me to stay in the US and keep trying because they feel there is nothing for me to return to in India. But staying here without stable employment, savings, or a clear immigration path is becoming extremely difficult.

I am scared that returning to India would mean giving up on my dreams and accepting failure. At the same time, I’m questioning whether continuing on Day 1 CPT and struggling only to maintain status is the right decision.

I would genuinely appreciate advice from people who have faced a similar situation:

Did you return to India after exhausting your H-1B attempts?

How difficult was it to rebuild your career in India?

Would you recommend continuing with Day 1 CPT, or returning and starting over?

Are there other realistic options I should consider?

Please be honest, but kind. I’m going through a very difficult period and need practical perspectives, not judgment.

With the appeals court refusing to stay the ruling on the $100K H-1B fee, are companies moving forward with consular processing filings right now? Or are people waiting to see if the government takes it to SCOTUS?

I’m on STEM OPT with about **11 months left**, so realistically I feel like I only have **one H-1B lottery chance remaining**.
My current job situation has become extremely toxic. The person who originally hired me has left, and my new manager has never seemed to like me.

She has even told me directly before, **“I did not hire you.”** I feel like she targets me constantly almost every submission gets reworked, instructions are often unclear or change after I ask questions, and I’m repeatedly told I’m too slow or that my work is wrong.everytime i ask for clarification she utilizes that oppurtunity and insults me saying you are a data analyst think out of the box . Think again what you should do etc. which does not help in any way rather she find everyway to insult me .
I have become extremely anxious my gut drops everyday when i interact with her .

Recently she CC’d my director saying there’s a recurring pattern of errors, and I strongly feel like I could be fired soon. That also makes me worried there’s almost no chance she’ll support my H-1B sponsorship.

I want to start looking aggressively, but switching jobs with only 11 months of STEM OPT left is scary. I also have **4 months left on my apartment lease**, so relocating would add another complication.
I’m definitely not planning to quit without another offer, but I genuinely don’t know what the safest move is. Would you start looking for an H-1B sponsoring employer immediately, or try to survive here until the next lottery?
Has anyone been in a similar situation with only one H-1B chance left?

My H-1B is valid until Sept 30, 2026, and my extension is already filed (regular processing). I also have an approved I-140.
I’m planning domestic travel Sep 1st–Sep 5th. With the recent reports of increased ICE enforcement at airports, has anyone on H-1B traveled domestically recently? Any issues or precautions I should be aware of?

My H1b petition was approved in June 2025 under "Change of Status". I resigned from my job in July 2025 and moved back to India. Hence, i never stayed till October and my status never changed. I now want to go back to the US with the same employer. Can the employer file for another petition in cap-exempt category? Or i will have to go through the lottery again?

My H-1B extension was approved by USCIS from December 27, 2026 to December 27 2029 on August 5. I still don’t have the I-797 approval notice, (just the email from USCIS about the approval).
I recently entered the U.S. through pre-clearance at Toronto (YTZ). The CBP officer did not admit me until the new I-797 end date and instead issued an I-94 only until December 27 2026 (matching my current I-94 / visa expiration).
My passport is valid until April 2032.
I need to correct the I-94 so that it reflects the full approved period through December 2029.
Is this a problem? Please let me know the answers to the below questions:

1. Can Deferred Inspection at a CBP site such as IAD, or another one fix it? Which are the best ones that fix it via email/ calls.
2. Whether a short trip outside the U.S. (e.g., to Canada or Mexico) and re-entry while presenting the new I-797 is a reliable option? Should I go to Mexico or Canada between December 17–27, 2026, while my current petition is active, or can I use AVR to leave and enter in January 2027? I will only be traveling for 1–2 days just to resolve this.
3. Any risks of continuing to work past the December 2026 CBP I-94 date based only on the current I-797.

thank you