Hi there, I am an international student from India pursuing PhD in the US since August 2012. I hold an F1 Visa that expires on July 2017. I am planning to defend my PhD in April, after which I plan to start my work with a company in the bay area from July 10th. My employer asked me to submit some paperwork that they can use to file an H-1B application on my behalf. Following are my confusions:
1) I have a conference in Australia to attend on March 30-31, 2017, for which I plan to leave around March 25th from my hometown in the US. I heard that one should not travel between April 1st and Oct 1st because otherwise the H1B petition abandons itself. If I leave before April 1st but return to the US after April 1st, will my H1B be abandoned?
2) If I come back to the US on March 31st, will my H1B application be still intact?
3) Since my job starts on July 10th, I am planning to apply for OPT in April. If my H1B application is not selected in the lottery, can my employer file a petition next year on an expired F1 Visa, but a valid OPT status?
Thanks a lot, in advance!
1) I have a conference in Australia to attend on March 30-31, 2017, for which I plan to leave around March 25th from my hometown in the US. I heard that one should not travel between April 1st and Oct 1st because otherwise the H1B petition abandons itself. If I leave before April 1st but return to the US after April 1st, will my H1B be abandoned?
2) If I come back to the US on March 31st, will my H1B application be still intact?
3) Since my job starts on July 10th, I am planning to apply for OPT in April. If my H1B application is not selected in the lottery, can my employer file a petition next year on an expired F1 Visa, but a valid OPT status?
Thanks a lot, in advance!
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