Vault Guardian renewal education
H-1B renewal timeline: when to start and what to gather
H-1B extensions are routine but unforgiving. Employers file, but you carry the paperwork — and any missing piece delays everything.
H-1B extensions are routine but unforgiving. Employers file, but you carry the paperwork — and any missing piece delays everything.
6 months before expiration
USCIS accepts H-1B extensions up to 6 months before your current I-797 expires. This is when your employer's immigration team should start the LCA (Labor Condition Application) and Form I-129.
Gather: current passport (must be valid), all prior I-797 approvals, all I-94 records, three recent pay stubs, current employment verification letter.
The 240-day rule
If you file the extension before your current I-797 expires, you can continue working for the same employer for up to 240 days past expiration while USCIS decides.
This DOES NOT let you travel internationally or change employers. If you leave the U.S., you need the new I-797 approval and a valid H-1B visa stamp before reentering.
If your extension is delayed past 240 days
You must stop working. Continuing to work is a status violation that can affect future green card processing.
Options: unpaid leave, upgrading to premium processing (if not already), or filing a nunc pro tunc request in extraordinary circumstances.
H-1B holders should keep every I-797, I-94, LCA, and pay stub in one place — not scattered across email and HR portals. VaultGuardian is built for exactly this.
Download Vault Guardian to track renewals at 90, 60, and 30 days.