When do you start accruing time on your 6-year limit once H1B is approved?

[vpjr2019]

Hello all,

I am currently working in the US on my F1-OPT. My employer has applied for my H1B visa through change of status with premium processing.

Q1. Assuming that my application gets through the lottery and my H1B is approved, when does the 'clock' on my 6-year duration start ticking i.e. when do I start accruing time on my H1B visa?

a. As soon as it gets approved i.e. my visa status changes from F1-OPT to H1B automatically once H1B is approved, irrespective of whether I am in the US at that time <or>

b. Only after I re-enter the US on my H1B visa.

Q2.  My employer is offering me a 12-24 month assignment in Singapore this year. If I accept (and my H1B gets approved in the meanwhile), will I be able to return to the US and work on the H1B visa? If yes, are there any restrictions or constraints I should be aware of? Will I still get the full 6 year term? 

Thanks very much, everyone!

Best, v

Edited April 15, 2019 by vpjr2019
Added a Hello

[JoeF]

When you first start working on the H1.

 

[vpjr2019]

8 hours ago, JoeF said:

When you first start working on the H1.

 

Thank you. Just to clarify: if I start working in Singapore before 10/1/2019, and return to work in the US in 2020, my H1B clock will start only then, correct?

[xTDx]

H1b is an immigration status. That means you are only in h1b if you are admitted in US under h1b and are present in US.  So you only accumulate time spent under h1b while being in US. Does it makes sense ?

[shekar11#]

On 4/15/2019 at 8:42 AM, vpjr2019 said:

Thank you. Just to clarify: if I start working in Singapore before 10/1/2019, and return to work in the US in 2020, my H1B clock will start only then, correct?

Yes.

[rohit369]

Just count all the days you are present on the US soil in H1 status...this will count against your 6 years cap.