Need advice: B2 pending + new H1B offer with premium processing risk (confused about NOID/RFE situation)
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some guidance because I’m getting overwhelmed reading different cases online and am not sure what the right decision is.
Here’s my situation:
- I was laid off on February 5th, 2026
- I applied for B2 change of status on March 30th, 2026 (still pending)
- I recently received a job offer
- The project is set to start on June 24th, 2026
- The company is willing to file an H1B in premium processing
However, the company has clearly told me there is risk involved, and if I want to proceed, they can file, but there could be complications.
I’ve been reading a lot on Reddit and other forums about:
- B2 pending cases getting NOIDs
- H1B petitions getting RFEs when there is a pending/previous B2
- Issues around intent change and timing between status transitions
Now I’m really confused about what to do.
My main concerns:
- If I proceed with H1B premium while B2 is pending, what are the real risks?
- Is there a higher chance of NOID/RFE or even denial?
- If H1B gets approved but B2 is still pending, should I withdraw the B2?
- What is the safest/legal path to maintain status and avoid complications?
I want to do things correctly and avoid any status issues, but I also don’t want to miss this job opportunity becasue of the job market outside, and there's no guarantee when I will get a job if I wait for B2 approval and till the B2 timeline.
If anyone has gone through something similar or has experience with B2 → H1B transitions, any success stories, I would really appreciate your insights.
Thank you in advance.