Approved I797 NOT RECEIVED, DO NOT KNOW I94 DATE

[lastmanstanding]

Hi,

My H-1B extension was approved last year in September 2017(as per USCIS Case Status portal), my employer said they never received the copy of new i797. They reached out to USCIS and requested a courtesy copy in December 2017 last week/January first week. USCIS responded that their system shows the copy was delivered and so they will not send a courtesy copy(there is no way to prove from our end that we did not receive it) and we need to file form I-824 to get a duplicate copy. Now, I 824 takes unpredictable times in completion. I even do not know how long my new i94 is valid, my current i94 is already expired.

Issue is, my family traveled outside US and cannot get a visa until the copy of I797 is received. How do I get the copy as soon as possible? Is there any other way out? I got a suggestion to apply a new H-1B extension/amendment in Premium, is that a good/possible option? 

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.