Out of US for more than a year. Please help

[Deep Singh]

Hi Experts,

 

My I797 shows my H1B valid from Jan 2012 - dec 2015. I had to return to India last year due to family issues. I was working in EVC model with client in new york city. Now that I am in india for more than a year, My client in new york city (for which I was working prior to returning to India) is  still willing to provide me client letter and in fact, my manager at client side informed me this week that he is going to email me client letter in pdf format. I have not yet gone for stamping in india and this is my first h1B. I checked with my employer regarding my H1B. He said he has not revoked my H1B. My questions are as below :

 

1. Is the client letter( print out of client letter) along with I797 enough for me to travel back to US and join my client in NYC there ? 

 

2. In case, I need to go for stamping, I will not have the recent paystubs as I am in India since long time. Can there be an exception where I will not need  to provide my paystubs ? Though, last year paystubs, I can provide.

 

And lastly, given my situation, if you can suggest me any other way around to get back to US.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Warm Regards

Deep Singh

[jairichi]

1. You need a valid H1B visa, I797 and supporting documents to enter US.

2. There is no need for recent pay stubs in your case.

[Deep Singh]

Thanks for responding. While reading the similar queries of people here, I came to know that I may be eligible to change status from F1 to H1B directly since I already worked in US previously on H1B visa. In Fact, I have applied for masters programs in 2-3 universities and I am expecting I-20 in coming weeks. If you could describe in brief , the steps required to change the status from F1 to H1B once I get in US on F1 visa. Also, given my situation, if you can advise on which option will be better for me to ultimately get on H1B there - F1- H1B or directly getting stamping based on my client letter. Frankly speaking, I am bit hesitant to go for H1B stamping here because of my long stay here in India and due to that, VO may throw very tough questions. 

 

Thanks in advance.

[jairichi]

Thanks for responding. While reading the similar queries of people here, I came to know that I may be eligible to change status from F1 to H1B directly since I already worked in US previously on H1B visa. In Fact, I have applied for masters programs in 2-3 universities and I am expecting I-20 in coming weeks. If you could describe in brief , the steps required to change the status from F1 to H1B once I get in US on F1 visa. Also, given my situation, if you can advise on which option will be better for me to ultimately get on H1B there - F1- H1B or directly getting stamping based on my client letter. Frankly speaking, I am bit hesitant to go for H1B stamping here because of my long stay here in India and due to that, VO may throw very tough questions. 

 

Thanks in advance.

Your long stay will not have any effect on your visa stamping. It is better to go for H1B visa stanmping if your intention to enter US to work. Do not try F1 and then apply COS to H1B.