JoeF

The employer and his lawyer (they have one, do they?) should know about this.

The H4 EAD is unrestricted work authorization, so the person can work in any business, including his or her own. However, when the EAD expires the person has to stop working, which makes running a business somewhat impractical.

Yes it can. The spouse on H1 needs to have no association with any company aspects at all. Not being involved in anything related to the company.

It is illegal for an employer to ask for money when leaving the company.

If you are abroad there is no grace period. The grace period only applies if a person is in the US in H1 status.

Your CPT is illegal if you already did OPT for the first Master's.

You answer truthfully. That's all there is to it.

An H4 is never tied to a company. It is tied to your H1.

If you travel abroad you have to wait for the approval and get a new visa stamp. Chances for the visa stamp depend on the individual circumstances. We don't have a Crystal Ball here.

The visa is an entry document. The I-94 determines the allowed stay. They are fine until Nov. 29.

Yes. The employer is required by law to inform USCIS if a person on H1 no longer works there. It doesn't matter how long it takes to be reflected in the USCIS system. As soon as you are laid off you can not use the H1 visa.

So, did you get paid on bench? If not, why didn't you file a complaint with DOL?

If you go abroad, any change of status with an I-539 will get denied because if you are abroad there is no status to change. It is irrelevant if you enter with the visa.

You can NOT use the H1. Traveling with the H1 when the job no longer exists would be immigration fraud.

That is unlikely to work. There always should be somebody in the company who can handle that, e.g., HR.