Subramanya, waiting_toolong,knowledgable, please help

[luckyme]

Hi,
1.I want to know what is the definition of valid H1/H4? Is it the stamp in your passport or the document that USCIS sent for us?
2. What happened if we entered with F1 (expired now) and now we hold H1 status, can you still travel with your H1 status and come back here or do you need to do stamping one more time?
Please help me clarify, I need to travel soon. I'm really confused.

[waitin_toolong]

the document sent by USCIS is the proof of status while in USA.

It looks like from your question that you dont have a valid H1/h4 stamp in your passport, whenever you travel abroad to reenter you will have to get a stamp on the passport to reenter.

So do take an appointment at consulate abroad for stamping of h1/4. You can get emergency appointment by getting someone to pay HDFC fees in India assuming that is your home country.

[successhere]

H1 stamp on passport

All you need is valid H1 visa stamped on your passport to travel back and forth. If you just have the approval notice and no stamp you can still travel to your home country. But then you will have to get an appointment in your country's American Embassy to get your passport stamped with H1 visa before you return to US. This stamp helps us to reenter US each time we travel. Earlier, we could get our passports stamped in the US itself which is not the case now.

Good Luck!

[knowledgeable]

Clarification - Approved Petition & Visa Stamped on Passport

As long as you're in the United States you can use the approved H1B petition which allows you to stay and work in the country. The same goes for H4 approval but without the work permit.

The VISA stamped on the passport is required to enter the POE if you travel abroad. You don't need a VISA stamped if you're not planning to travel abroad during the validity of this approval.

This was not the case for travelling to Canada. However, with the current scenario it's best to carry supporting documents and proof of residency in US if you use your home country's passport and an approved H1B petition to travel to Canada.

As someone pointed out, if you do plan to travel abroad and return to POE in US, then you need to get the VISA stamped on your passport and it's best to plan in advance for the same.

This can be done in your home country or even Canada or Mexico.

Good luck.