Validity of previous h1

[ramvin]

Hi,

I went as a student to USA and was working on OPT (Student visa - F1) till Sep 2008, after which my status changed to H1B. In Aug 2009, I quit my job in USA and came to India and am working here now. My previous US employer has not revoked my H1B yet. Also, I have not got the H1 stamped. My current H1 expires in Sep 2011.


1.If I get job opportunity in USA now,do I need to apply for a new H1B visa or is my current H1 visa valid? If it is valid, what is the process to use it for my new employer?

2.If I need to apply for a new H1B visa,can I apply in Masters quota?

Please advise me.

Thanks,
Ram

[shervin143]

Visa and petition are two different things. Visa is the one that you get stamped in your passport. The H1B visa from one company can be used to travel to work for another company.

However, petition need to be approved for the specific company that you want to work. So ask your new employer to apply for an H1B transfer (by giving them a copy of your approval notice). If the transfer is successful, you will need to go for an H1B visa interview (Since you don't have a valid H1B visa in your passport now) with the new petition. If the visa gets approved, then you can travel to U.S to work for that employer.