I am currently working on OPT which will expire on 5/30/2013. My student visa is valid unitl 2017. My employer is going to apply for the H-1B visa in the first days of April. I have to travel abroad for personal reasons and will be returning to the US on April 6th, so the COS request would be pending at that point. I was advised to apply for the H-1B to be processed at a US Consulate aborad. USCIS has also announced that a lottery is likely this year so they may stop accepting applications on April 5th.
If I decide to do consular processing:
1. Will I be able to return to the US on April 6th on my OPT and continue working until I get the H-1B visa on October 1st?
2. Is the application for consular processing to be filed by April 5th (given that a lottery is likely this year) and can my lawyer do it while I am abroad?
3. If I understand correctly, I will have to go to a US consulate abroad on October 1st to get my H-1B visa? What are other implications of choosing consular processing?
Many thanks in advance for any help.
If I decide to do consular processing:
1. Will I be able to return to the US on April 6th on my OPT and continue working until I get the H-1B visa on October 1st?
2. Is the application for consular processing to be filed by April 5th (given that a lottery is likely this year) and can my lawyer do it while I am abroad?
3. If I understand correctly, I will have to go to a US consulate abroad on October 1st to get my H-1B visa? What are other implications of choosing consular processing?
Many thanks in advance for any help.
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