Travel while H1 is pending

[ritughiya]

Hi,

I have an L2 visa, valid up to March 2019.Can be renewed further.
I have applied for H1 this year as a change of status.
Can I travel outside the US?

[FrancisJacobGreene]

Hi,

I have an L2 visa, valid up to March 2019.Can be renewed further.
I have applied for H1 this year as a change of status.
Can I travel outside the US?

You should confirm with your employer whether the H-1B petition was filed as a change of status or as consular notification. With consular notification, you can travel. With change of status, you shouldn't travel until after October 1, or else the change of status will be cancelled and the petition will essentially become a consular notification petition. Of course, if the H-1B petition is not selected in the lottery, then there is no related travel restriction.