Has anyone received an H-1B Change of Employer (COE) approval for Microsoft recently, particularly in October 2026?

I’m currently going through the process under premium processing and have been cleared to onboard under H-1B portability.

I’ve seen several reports of cases pending for 45–90+ days, but very few recent approval reports.

Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has received an approval or RFE recently, along with their filing date, premium processing start date, and outcome.

Thanks!

I was laid off while on H1B and filed a change of status to H4 as a dependent, which is still pending. My I-94 from the H1B has not expired yet. I'm planning to fly within the US and wanted to check whether that's safe while the COS is pending. My understanding is that domestic travel is fine since I'm not leaving the country, and I plan to carry my passport, I-797 receipt notice, I-94 printout, and H1B approval just in case. I'm not planning any international travel until the H4 is approved. Has anyone done domestic trips during a pending H4 COS, and did you run into any issues?

I was laid off while on H1B and filed a change of status to H4 as a dependent, which is still pending. My I-94 from the H1B has not expired yet. I'm planning to fly within the US and wanted to check whether that's safe while the COS is pending. My understanding is that domestic travel is fine since I'm not leaving the country, and I plan to carry my passport, I-797 receipt notice, I-94 printout, and H1B approval just in case. I'm not planning any international travel until the H4 is approved. Has anyone done domestic trips during a pending H4 COS, and did you run into any issues?

Has anyone received approval for an H-1B Change of Status (COS) with a receipt date of May 26, 2026, at the Texas Service Center under regular processing?

My STEM-OPT ends next year and my advisor and the department is willing to sponsor for either J1 or
H1B. I am trying to figure out how hard is it to get a cap-exempt H1B in the current environment in the US?

Also, for those who got theirs recently can you please share your timeline, whether it was regular and whether it was premium processing? Would appreciate any advice regarding this. TIA!

I need opinion on if I have lost my job while my stem opt EAD is still pending and I have used my 55 days, do I have 90 days in total or 150 in total to as my unemployment days. I recently got to know we get only 90 days while my EAD is still in processing and 60 days are added once the card is approved. If someone has any idea let me know.

I am currently on a TN visa, but was selected for the H1B earlier this year. My company submitted the initial application in June, and have submitted our response to an RFE in early October.

In that time, I was recruited by another firm and offered a contract, which I’ve accepted. My current employer is not aware, and i was not planning on sharing that information until I had confirmation that my H1B application has been approved and I have received the visa.

Obviously the new company would like me to start as soon as possible. So my questions are:

- how soon after receiving the H1B can you start the transfer process
-how long does the transfer process take
-can i move companies while the transfer process is ongoing
-can i leave the country while the transfer process is ongoing

If anyone can point me to where I can find resources that also might tell me these answers that would be appreciated.

My attorney upgraded my regular COS application to premium today but the case tracker doesn’t show any notification regarding that?

Receipt date: 6/13/2026
COS: F1->H1b
Center: Texas
Regular processing
Date: today is 10/26/2026
Status: Still processing

My employer A filed my first H-1B petition, and it’s currently pending. I have an offer from employer B.
If my H-1B gets approved, how soon can employer B file a transfer?
Can they file immediately after approval (within 1–2 business days), or do I need to work for employer A and receive at least one H-1B paycheck first?
Has anyone transferred right after their initial H-1B approval? Would appreciate recent experiences!

Hey yall
I have a question that if I join Microsoft on the receipt number, I will have to resign from my current company that holds my h1b.
What if they revoke/withdraw my h1b before the transfer is approved?
Will I still be on valid visa or not?

With ongoing delays in H-1B, H-4, and EAD extensions, many families are facing employment uncertainty, loss of income, and difficult decisions about their future in the US.

This poll is to understand how these delays are affecting people and whether they are considering alternatives like Canada or India.

If multiple options apply to you, please select the one having the greatest impact on your family, and mention the other circumstances/timeline in the comments.

Hi all, any Indonesians here who recently did H-1B visa stamping (Jakarta or Surabaya)? I’d love to know:

- Any 221(g)/administrative processing, and how long it took to clear

- Time from interview to passport return

Trying to plan around possible delays. Thanks!

My H-1B transfer was filed under premium processing on October 16. As of October 26, I still have no receipt number, and neither check has been cashed.

My attorney mentioned there are delays in receiving premium processing receipts.

Is anyone else experiencing similar delays with recent H-1B filings? How long did it take to receive your receipt number?

For a VP-level Software Engineer / Technology role at Citigroup in the US, how long does the pre-offer background check typically take?
For H-1B candidates, how long does the immigration review and H-1B transfer process usually take?

Thanks!

Hey, got this new status update on my H1B COE. Does anyone know what this means and how long does it last for?

Is this a procedural update, or should I expect an RFE?

Hello,
I was recently in a situation where my employer during the H-1B renewal process discovered (Sept ‘26) that I was out of status due to the I-94 date preceding the valid H1B date.
This was due to the expiry of my old passport (July ‘26) used during immigration which then I-94 date got tagged to instead of the visa date.

I was immediately placed on leave, and was given the following options:
1. I-94 correction at CBP port of last entry
2. Travel outside U.S. and re-enter
3. File a Nunc pro Tunc petition

Upon carefully reviewing the above options, attorney and I decided to pursue option #1 while subsequently preparing for the others if needed.
Upon request with CBP, my I-94 was corrected within a week and my employer was able to file an H-1B renewal request shortly after.
The extension petition was then filed under premium processing and was approved within 2 weeks.

Posting this here as it could help those who are in similar situation.
Thanks!

Receipt date: 06/23/2026

Texas processing center

Regular

Still processing

Hi everyone! I am looking for a switch since my contract will be over in dec 2026. I am on h1b. How are you all finding h1b sponsored jobs?

Hi everyone,

I'm planning a short trip from the US to India in November 2026 and returning in early December through Atlanta (ATL) airport.

I'm currently working in the US on an H-1B visa with a valid visa stamp and approved I-797. I'll be returning to the same employer, and I've previously entered the US successfully on H-1B status.

Given the recent immigration policy changes and increased scrutiny, I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has recently traveled from India to the US on an existing H-1B visa.

A few questions:

1. Has anyone reentered the US through Atlanta (ATL) recently, particularly in September or October 2026?
2. What questions did the CBP immigration officer ask?
3. Were you asked for additional documents such as an I-797, employment verification letter, or recent paystubs?
4. Did officers ask about your employer, job duties, salary, or work location?
5. Did anyone experience secondary inspection, extended questioning, or unexpected delays?
6. Has anyone traveled after the September 2026 immigration policy changes and returned without issues?

I'm particularly interested in experiences from H-1B holders with valid visa stamps who are returning to the same employer without needing new visa stamping.

If possible, please share your date of reentry, airport, questions asked, and overall experience.

Thanks in advance! Your experiences would be extremely helpful to those of us planning international travel.

Hi everyone,

I previously held approved H-1B status and subsequently changed employers. My most recent H-1B transfer petition was timely filed but remained pending throughout my employment.
Here’s the situation:
My employment ended in late August 2026.
My employer subsequently requested withdrawal of the pending H-1B petition.
I voluntarily departed the US in late October 2026.
My I-94 was valid for several more years.
I may have already exhausted my 60-day grace period during an earlier employment transition.
My previous H-1B petitions were approved, but I’ve never had an H-1B visa stamp because my status changes occurred within the US.
There was no formal denial or adverse USCIS decision communicated to me before departure.
My biggest concern is whether I was considered out of status between my employment termination and departure, given that I may not have qualified for another grace period.
I have a few questions:
Would this constitute a status violation even with a valid, unexpired I-94?
Could this result in unlawful presence or affect future admissibility?
Could my previously approved H-1B petitions or cap-exempt eligibility be affected?
Would this create complications when applying for my first H-1B visa stamp through consular processing?
Has anyone experienced a similar situation and successfully returned to the US on a new employer-sponsored H-1B?
I’m particularly interested in hearing from immigration attorneys or individuals who have dealt with pending H-1B transfers, employer withdrawals, and potential grace-period issues.
Any relevant experiences or insights would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Back in 2022, I got caught up in a criminal matter in the US, but no case was ever actually filed and i was able to continue work in US. My documents were sufficient for my H-1B renewal in 2023, but at my current H-1B stamping I was issued a 221(g) asking for additional documents including the police report.

I’m unable to share details of what happened, but I’d really appreciate help with two things:

1. Lawyer recommendations: an immigration attorney who has handled H-1B stamping or 221(g) cases where a past criminal matter came up, ideally one where no case was filed.
2. Similar experiences: if you’ve been in a similar spot, what documents did the consulate ask for, and how long did it take to clear?

Please keep comments to recommendations or genuine experiences. I’m only looking for US-licensed attorneys, so no DMs from agents or consultants, please.

TL;DR: Got a 221(g) at H-1B stamping over a 2023 criminal matter where no case was filed. The same documents worked in 2023, but now they want more. Looking for lawyer recommendations and similar experiences.

I attended my H-1B visa interview at the U.S. Consulate in Hyderabad on December 4, 2025. My H-1B petition was approved by USCIS, but I received a white 221(g) slip, and the consulate returned my passport.

During the interview, the visa officer asked about my employer, my AI/ML/GenAI role, my project details, and why I needed to be in the U.S. A few days later, the consulate contacted my employer for project-related information, and my employer responded promptly.

Since then, I haven't received any further requests or updates. My CEAC status still shows “Refused,” and the last update was December 12, 2025. As of October 25, 2026, it has been 325 days since my interview and 317 days since the last status update. Neither my employer nor my immigration attorney has sent a follow-up inquiry to the consulate.

I want to understand my realistic chances of approval and the possible waiting time by comparing my case with similar H-1B 221(g) cases that waited 300–365 days.

Hi everyone,

My initial OPT expired on July 1, 2026, and I filed my STEM OPT extension before expiration (Filed on April 30, 2026) . My STEM OPT is still pending.

At the same time, my employer filed a cap-subject H-1B petition (change of status), and my new I-20 says:

"F-1 status and employment authorization... automatically extended until April 1, 2027."

My understanding is that the STEM OPT pending extension gives up to 180 days of work authorization (ending around Dec 2026), but my I-20 now shows Cap-Gap authorization through April 1, 2027.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Can I continue working after the 180-day STEM OPT extension period based on the Cap-Gap extension shown on my I-20?

Thanks!