r/IndianH1Bs

Hello All,

I was working in the U.S. on an H1B visa, but due to a layoff, I had to return to India last year.

In December, I received a new job offer, and the employer filed my H1B transfer petition in January under premium processing. However, I still have not received any updates on the case.

I would appreciate any advice on the possible next steps or whether anyone has experienced similar delays recently.

I have my flight from Del to Seattle (via Dubai) on 19th May, should I travel or cancel?
Checked the other flights, they are getting very expensive.

Previously on H1B since 2023, laid off in Aug 2025, left U.S. in September within 60 days grace period. Still have valid H1B visa stamp (till Nov 2026). New employer filed an H1B transfer (change of employer) with Premium Processing on in January 2026. USCIS receipt date:
Feb 17. Also, I have an F1 visa stamp on my passport valid till December 2026. Should I join Day 1 CPT for higher level education like PHD or DBA? Or Should I wait for H1B transfer process?

Seeking help.
Hello all, deviating from the universities/h1b discussion, but I am in need of a Day1 CPT employer. I was hoping to know which all employers are open to Day1 CPT candidates?
This year was my last attempt for H1B and my EAD expires in Feb 2027, my current employer has confirmed that they will not accept Day1 CPT employment. So here I am scouting for employers who do accept. I am hopeful that if I switch now I will have enough time to prove to them that I am worth an employment extension via Day1 CPT. Can I get a list. TIA.

Edit 1: I have MSBA degree and working in digital marketing

Hi! I'm Murty Gollakota, an immigration attorney at Manifest Law with 18 years of experience, 3,000+ cases handled, and a 98% approval rate.

I'll be hosting this AMA on Thursday, April 30 from 12 to 4 PM EST to answer your questions.

I work with a lot of Indian H-1B holders who feel stuck, dealing with long EB-2/EB-3 backlogs, dependent status concerns, and uncertainty about what to do if their job changes. The reality is that there are usually more options than people realize, especially once you look seriously at EB-1A self-petitions, downgrades, and dual filings.

Ask me anything about:

• EB-1A self-petitions for Indian-born professionals (and whether your profile is strong enough)
• EB-2 NIW vs. PERM/EB-2 vs. EB-3, which is actually faster for you
• Priority date portability when you change employers H-1B transfers, extensions, and the 60-day grace period if you're laid off
• H-4 EAD and what to do if your spouse's status is at risk
• Aging-out children and how to protect them
• O-1 and L-1 as faster alternatives to H-1B
• Long-term green card strategy when you're 8+ years deep in the backlog

Drop your questions below, I'll be answering live during the window above and checking back throughout the day.

(Please note: Any information shared here is for general educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Your situation may require fact-specific guidance. For personalized legal advice, please consult an immigration attorney directly.)

https://preview.redd.it/q1btp7xbmcyg1.jpg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8a73dac6f9cb326cef2934fc6f1e1a0d381006cd

NEED HELP Traveling TO US.

Hi I am currently working in India. Last year in 2025 I got an opportunity to move to US. My employer filed H1B its picked and petition was filed in June 2025 and I got the approval recently in April 2026.

I do not have immediate plans to shift to US as getting slots is not easy right now and because of job uncertainty.

How feasible it is to visit US on tourist visa in coming two months ? I visited US on B1/B2 - couple of 2 week short trips while my approval was pending.

Now that I got the approval is it safe to travel? I want to be very sure that I am not flagged and this will not affect my future H1B stamping. Thanks a lot in advance.

I’ve missed booking visa slots four times this year. The first two times, I unfortunately missed them because I was asleep. The next two times, I was fully prepared, sitting in front of my laptop and even trying from multiple devices, but I kept getting stuck in the waiting room and the page never loaded.

Due to personal reasons, it’s important for me to complete my visa stamping this year. Given the repeated failures, I decided to approach an agent. She had previously helped my friend’s wife secure F2 slot and seemed reliable and responsive. After I shared my credentials, she managed to book a slot just within four days.

However, the booking she secured doesn’t make practical sense for me:

• Biometrics appointment: August 2026
• Visa interview: January 2027

This long gap is problematic because my company would not allow me to stay in India for that duration. Additionally, given the uncertainty around H1B slots that we have seen recently, I’m uncomfortable taking such a risk over a 5-month gap.

The agent insists that:

• She is “10000% sure” that early interview slots will open up after biometrics.
• She claims to have 6 years of experience and is confident about rescheduling to an earlier date once biometrics are done.

Despite this, I’ve made it clear that I’m not willing to rely on that uncertainty. I’ve asked her to secure both biometrics and interview slots within a 1-month window in 2026; otherwise, I won’t proceed with travel.

Current concerns:

• I only have one reschedule attempt left.
• My visa fee was paid in October 2025, and typically it is valid for one year (until October 2026).

Questions:

1. Since a slot has already been booked, does the visa fee validity extend beyond October 2026, or does it still expire on the original date?
2. If I cancel the current booking in case i don't find any slot by Aug biometrics date, will my fee still expire by October 2026, or will I have longer time?
3. Is the agent’s claim realistic? that earlier interview slots commonly open up after biometrics?
4. What are the actual chances of finding both biometrics and interview slots within 2026 at this point? I see they released slots upto Dec 2027 and not opening any slots of months they already opened as of now.

Kindly suggest

We initially had our biometrics scheduled for December 17 and December 28, 2025 (both in Chennai), but they were postponed to July 7, 2026 (also Chennai).
We finally completed biometrics on March 17 and then went through the emotional turmoil of trying to secure an earlier interview slot. We tried everything! Constantly checking for slots, joining multiple Telegram and WhatsApp groups, applied for ER twice with all info(denied twice) even considering TCN (third-country national) options, but nothing worked for a while(also I wouldn’t suggest going through TCN even if it seems promising)
Toward the end of March, we started seeing messages in these groups about slots opening up for applicants who had already completed biometrics. That’s when we finally managed to grab an earlier interview date: April 14, 2026 (Hyderabad).

Interview Experience:
Only 3 questions were asked for H1B:
What is your role?
Which company do you work for?
How much do you earn?
No questions were asked for H4. They didn’t ask about social media or request making accounts public.

Timeline after Interview:
April 15 (3 PM): Approved
April 16: H4 visa issued
May 1: H1B visa issued
We returned to SFO on May 4, and it was the smoothest immigration experience ever, no questions about the extended stay or anything else.

Helpful Tip:
If you’re applying for H1B and H4 together, you’ll receive only one case number after the interview. To check your H4 visa status, you need to enter the H4 DS-160 number along with that case number.
Also, we didn’t receive any SMS for passport pickup. If that happens, just check your status on the visa scheduling website—it will show:
Created → Issued → Ready for Pickup

I know how stressful this process can get, but slots are opening up slowly. Hang in there—you’ll get through it. If anyone has questions, I’m happy to help!

I’ve been applying to Java/software developer roles for the past 3 months and barely getting any callbacks from recruiters. Last year was completely different, I was getting a decent number of responses, but I stayed at my previous company because my H1B approval was still pending.

Now I have close to 5 years of experience (backend/full-stack, Java, Spring Boot, microservices, cloud, etc.) and the market just feels extremely rough. Even roles where I match most of the requirements seem to go nowhere.

Is anyone else in a similar situation right now, especially on H1B? Curious if this is just the current market or if I’m missing something in my approach.

Looking for advice on my H1B transfer situation before I engage with a new employer's immigration team.

**My situation:**

- H1B valid till Sept 2026, stamped at US consulate (stamping done )

- Currently in India since approx late 2024

- Left USA on approved extended leave (family reasons) — still technically a current employee per HR

- Last paycheck: Mid 2024

- Previous employer filed PERM (approved) but never filed I-140

- No formal resignation submitted

**New opportunity:**

- US-based recruiter approached me independently

- Job in USA

- Planning H1B transfer + consular processing (entering from India)

- Hiring manager confirmed they need to check with their immigration team

**My questions:**

1. Is my H1B transferable given the gap in paychecks (2024 onwards) while on approved leave abroad?

2. What are the risks, if any, with consular processing given my time outside USA?

3. Is the "prolonged leave" HR status enough to cover the paycheck gap?

4. Any recommended affordable immigration attorneys familiar with H1B consular processing?

I am not looking for full legal advice — just guidance on what to expect and whether my case is straightforward or complex. Thank you.

Hi All,

Hardest part of this layoff is being on H1B.

As the people on H1B have only 60 days to start another job and in current market, there are rarely any opportunities for H1B (with visa sponsorship), it's becoming very difficult.

How's everyone else on H1B impacted with layoff is doing?
What other options you are exploring to stay here and continue?

#H1B #Layoff #H1B60daysgraceperiod #OracleRIF

Hi everyone,
I’m facing a tough crossroads and would love some guidance from those who’ve been through something similar.
My current position is being relocated from NY USA to Montreal, Canada — but with a 25% salary cut, which would reduce my overall savings by nearly 40%. My H1B is maxing out in April 2027, so my options to continue working in the US are limited. My wife has a government teaching job back in India, and I am planning to eventually return home — but the job market there is currently slow.
Here are the options I’m weighing:
1. Accept the Montreal move — confirm the offer, start the Canadian visa process, and treat it as a temporary backup while actively job hunting in India.
2. Decline Canada entirely — return to India now and focus on finding a job there.
3. Internal transfer within the company — unfortunately, this seems difficult since I was hired locally.
Honestly feeling quite confused about the right path forward. Has anyone navigated a similar situation? Would really appreciate any thoughts or experiences