Travel on existing H4 Visa with and approved future H1B Visa.

[IUhoosier]

All,

 

My wife who is on H4 (with visa validity till Oct 2016) received her H1b this year (2016 Lottery, Masters Quota for I797 starting Oct 2015).

 

We opted for a consular processing and received her H1B Visa a couple of weeks back from a consulate in India, with a validity starting Sep 21 2015 (Visa stamp mentions 'Not valid until Sep 21, 2015'). As it stands now she is in India and has a H4 Visa (existing) and a H1B visa.  

 

My question is - can she travel to US on the existing H4 and then post Sep 21, travel to Mexico or Canada and re-enter on H1B so that she can start working on Oct 1st.

 

Thanks

 

[jairichi]

Yes, she can.

[pontevecchio]

Mexico is a possibility. For Canada she will need a tourist visa. She will need to be very specific and clear at the border that she needs a new H1 I94 and she needs to emphasize she is not using AVR.

[IUhoosier]

Thanks for the responses.