L2 to H1 cos approved-can I still continue work on L2

[kolguri]

Hi,
currently I'm on L2 status and working in US. I have applied L2 to H1 cos and it is approved.
however my L2 is valid till next year. can I continue on L2 till next year and then move on to H1?

Or is it that as soon as my H1 is approved,I'm automatically on H1 status?

[txh1b]

If the approval was a COS and came with an I-94, any work on L2 is illegal!!! You are on H1b effective the date of approval/start date of petition.

[kabkaba]

To add to the above, if H1 was approved with I-94, any work for any other employer is illegal and not working for H1 employer makes you out of status making it impossible to change status. You must leave and return on L2 Visa if you want to change status.