Is visa stamping necessary during travel, after H1 B Transfer?

[sms2arjun]

Hello,

I'm on a H1 visa sponsored by my first employer, valid till August 2012.

I've changed my job in July and my new employer filed a Visa Transfer Petition in regular processing, which is yet to be approved.

I'm planning to visit India in December, after two years for the first time after I came to US.

Hoping that I get a transfer approval within November, do i need to go to visa stamping during my India visit?

If no, then when returning back, which I797 (Initial or recently approved) should I be showing to the homeland security at the port of entry?

I don't have the invitation letter from the previous employer now, is this a problem at the port of entry when returning back without getting visa stamped for the transfer petition?

Kindly provide me some insight into the above, as this is the first time I'm stepping out after coming to USA.

Thank you very much in advance.

[pontevecchio]

You can use the existing facially valid H1 visa with the latest H1 approval. Why would you even ask which approval needs to be shown. You need to show the H1 approval for the company you are joining back.

[Raj1923]

Once you get the new h1b approval , you can travel to india. As your old visa is still valid till 2012, you can go and come back.At the port of entry you can show the old visa with new h1b approval notice(I797).