YES. H-1B category permits "dual intent," which allows you to continue in H status even if you have begun applying for permanent residency in the U.S. www.temple.edu/isss/international/DualIntent.htm

YES. Bring the following items with you:

• Original approval notice (Form I-797)
• Copy of the H-1B petition submitted by Temple University on your behalf
• Valid passport
• Letter from your department www.temple.edu/isss/immigration/travel-outside-us-sample-letter.html
• Valid H-1B visa (unless you are from a visa-exempt country) - if you do not have a valid visa stamp, you will need to schedule an appointment to apply for one at a US Consulate outside the US
• Anything else the US Embassy/Consular Requires

YES. You must schedule an appointment with a United States Embassy to apply for a new H-1B visa stamp unless you are from a visa-exempt country. Contact the US Embassy or Consulate closest to your foreign residence.   www.usembassy.gov/

NO. If you have changed employers since first entering the US and you have a valid visa annotated for the previous employer, you can reenter the U.S. using that visa, provided you present a valid H-1B Approval Notice for Temple upon reentry to the United States.

NO. Effective July 17, 2004, the Department of State no longer accepts applications for revalidation of H visas inside the US.

Most likely not. You usually can apply at most US Consulates throughout the world, including Mexico and Canada - please contact the Consulate for more information. Individuals who have ever been out of status in the U.S. because they overstayed their authorized period of stay must apply for a visa in the country of your nationality. If you are not certain about your status, please schedule an appointment with an immigration advisor in our office.

Depends.Automatic Visa Revalidation allows you to reenter the U.S. after a visit to Canada or Mexico lasting 30 days or fewer with an unexpired passport, valid Approval Notice and valid I-94 even though you don't have a valid H visa, as long as you have not violated your status. If you have changed your status in the US (such as from F-1 to H-1), you should be readmitted in H status as if you had a visa in the proper category. Certain exceptions apply.  www.temple.edu/isss/immigration/travel-reentry-neighbors.html

MAYBE.Please contact the Mexican / Canadian Consulates in New York or Washington, DC to determine if you need a visa.

MOST LIKELY. You should discuss your options with the attorney who is assisting you with your Permanent Residence Application.

YES, BUT NOT RECOMMENDED. Although it is permissible to travel while a petition is pending, you can experience severe difficulty if you reenter the US using your current Approval notice if the pending petition is approved while you are outside the US. Please schedule an appointment with Sharon Loughran to discuss your options as soon as you know or suspect you may be traveling.

YES, BUT ONLY IF YOU PREMIUM PROCESS THE PENDING PETITION OR REMAIN ABROAD UNTIL THE PETITION IS APPROVED. Travel during the 240-day automatic extension of work authorization is not allowed. If you must travel abroad, you will need to request Premium Processing to expedite theH-1B Extension or else stay abroad while awaiting the approval, apply fora new visa and then be readmitted to the U.S. in H-1B status.

NO.USCIS would consider you to have abandoned your application. In this event, an H-1B petition may be approved, but you must apply for an H-1B visa at a U.S. consulate abroad to enter the U.S. in H-1B status.

YES. H-1Bs who have received extensions of H-1B status beyond 6 years under AC21 are required to have a valid H-1B visa for entry to the United States after travel abroad.

MAYBE.If ISSS has filed an extension petition with USCIS in a timely manner, you can continue working for 240 days beyond expiration of the current Approval Notice.Please contact our office for further information if you plan to travel.

NO. The hiring department should submit an H extension application to ISSS no more than 6 months and no later than 2 months prior to your current expiration date. Please inform our office of any possible travel plans that you may have while an extension is pending. Premium Processing may be necessary.

YES. You may begin working at Temple under the auspices of portability once our office has received a Receipt Notice from USCIS confirming that a petition to transfer your status has been received by the USCIS. www.temple.edu/isss/international/explanation-of-portability.html

NO. You may not teach a class, even at Temple, unless our office included teaching in your job description in the H-1B petition. The Departmental Administrator should contact ISSS for more information.

NO. You may receive travel and living expenses reimbursement for occasional lectures, but not an honorarium, wages or a salary. If you wish to establish a relationship with the outside employer, they must file an H-1B Concurrent Employment petition on your behalf.

YES. When there is a change in your title, duties or terms and conditions of employment, the new hiring department must provide our office with information about the new position. ISSS may need to file an amendment petition with USCIS prior to you starting the new job.

YES. Your studies must be incidental to your employment and may not interfere with your assigned responsibilities.

NO. H employment is subject to Social Security tax. Income tax is paid on income derived from employment in H status unless tax exemption is specifically provided by treaty or convention. For additional information on this matter, please contact Shelley Biagas in HR / Payroll Management (215-926-2244).

MAYBE. ISSS will file H-1B extensions beyond the 6-year limit until a green card is either denied or approved for individuals who meet the following criteria:

• At least 365 days have passed since filing a Labor Certification (PERM) or EB immigrant petition (I-140) or a combination of the two;
• Individuals from oversubscribed countries whose I-140s have been approved but who cannot adjust their status solely because their priority dates are not current

NO. There is no official "grace period" for H-1Bs after your Approval Notice expires or after employment terminates. If the CBP Officer does not add 10 days to your I-94 at the time of entry, the 10-day "grace period" does not exist. If the 10 days are added you can stay in the US during that period, but you may not work. Please contact ISSS to let us know that you are leaving Temple.

NO.USCIS holds that when the H-1B employment relationship is terminated (either by the employee or by the employer), the H-1B falls "out of status" and can be removed from the US. If you find a new sponsoring employer within a month USCIS has the authority to reinstate your H-1B status on a discretionary basis and approve a petition to extend your stay. However, this is completely at the discretion of the USCIS adjudicator and is decided only on a case-by-case basis. Please note that your hiring department is bound by law to cover the costs of your return trip to your home country if you are terminated by the department before your Approval Notice expires. This is a complex situation –please schedule an appointment with Sharon Loughran to discuss your options as soon as you know or suspect you may be terminated.

YES. H4 dependents may remain in the U.S. in H-4 status temporarily. However, if you will spend more than 30 days abroad, your H-4 dependents should also leave the US.

NO. Individuals in H4 status may not engage in any employment unless they have been issued an EAD from USCIS based on a pending green card application. Your spouse can, however, attend school part-time or full time. In most cases, If your spouse wishes to work, s/he will need to obtain a new immigration status that allows employment.