H1-B status after changing to F1 and going out of country

[salil]

I shall be grateful if you could help me find out the current legal status of my H1-B visa.

My H1-b visa started in October 2008.
As per the information on the internet, the H1-b should be valid for 6 years from start date.

However, I left US in May 2010 and re-entered in August 2011 on F-1 / student visa.
At the time of stamping for F-1 the H1-b stamp on my passport was cancelled.
Currently, I have been out of the country since January 2012.

Could you please tell me if it is still possible to renew / transfer the earlier H1-b visa?
If so will my time out of US count towards the 6 year H1-b year validity period?

Kindly let me know.

[pontevecchio]

Currently you would seem to have no H1 visa. Add up your time in actual H1 status and subtract from 6 years and that is H1 time you are entitled to without being subject to cap. Also a visa is a stamp in your passport. A H1 petition is different.