A practical guide to understanding your options when your H-1B visa stamp or status expires, including grace periods, extensions, and alternative pathways.
If your H-1B visa has expired or is about to expire, the first thing to understand is the critical difference between your visa stamp (the physical sticker in your passport, used for entry) and your H-1B status (your legal authorization to work in the U.S., tied to your I-94 record). These expire independently, and your options depend on which one has expired and whether you are currently inside or outside the United States.
| Company | Total H-1B Filings |
|---|---|
| Amazon | 55,150 |
| Microsoft | 34,626 |
| 33,416 | |
| Infosys | 32,840 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | 28,950 |
| Cognizant | 26,700 |
| Deloitte | 18,200 |
| Apple | 15,800 |
| Meta | 14,900 |
| JPMorgan Chase | 12,400 |
The H-1B visa has two separate components that can expire independently. The visa stamp is the physical sticker placed in your passport by a U.S. consulate — it determines when you can enter the U.S. but does not control how long you can stay or work. The H-1B status is your legal work authorization in the U.S., documented by your I-94 arrival/departure record. Your I-94 end date (not your visa stamp expiration) determines when your authorized stay ends.
If your visa stamp expires while you're in the U.S. but your I-94 is still valid, you can continue working legally. You will need to get a new visa stamp at a U.S. consulate before re-entering the country after any international travel. If your H-1B status (I-94) expires, you have a 60-day grace period (established by the 2017 final rule) during which you can: (1) have a new employer file an H-1B transfer petition, (2) file a change of status to another visa category, or (3) prepare to depart the U.S. You cannot work during this grace period unless a new petition has been filed.
If you are approaching the 6-year H-1B maximum, you may be eligible for extensions beyond 6 years under two provisions: (1) if you have an approved I-140 (immigrant petition) or (2) if a PERM labor certification or I-140 was filed at least 365 days before your 6-year limit. These extensions, under Sections 104(c) and 106(a) of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act (AC21), allow 1-year or 3-year extensions, respectively.
A: You have a 60-day grace period after your H-1B status ends (or after employment termination, whichever is earlier). During this period, you cannot work but can arrange a transfer, change of status, or departure. If you overstay beyond the grace period without filing for another status, you begin accumulating unlawful presence, which can trigger 3-year or 10-year bars on future U.S. entry.
Q: What's the difference between visa stamp expiration and status expiration?
A: The visa stamp (sticker in passport) controls entry to the U.S. — it can expire while you're inside the country without affecting your work authorization. Your H-1B status (I-94 end date) controls how long you can stay and work. You need a valid I-94 to work, but not necessarily a valid visa stamp (unless you travel internationally).
If your H-1B is expiring and you need a new sponsor, use Wisa to search verified employers with active filing histories. Finding a new sponsor quickly is critical during the 60-day grace period. Search H-1B sponsors on Wisa →
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →It depends on whether your visa stamp or your H-1B status (I-94) has expired. If only the visa stamp expired, you can continue working in the U.S. — you just need a new stamp before traveling internationally. If your H-1B status (I-94) expired, you have a 60-day grace period to find a new employer to file a transfer, change to another status, or depart the country.
Yes, under two AC21 provisions. If you have an approved I-140 (immigrant petition), you can get 3-year extensions indefinitely until your green card priority date becomes current (Section 104(c)). If a PERM or I-140 was filed at least 365 days before your 6-year limit, you can get 1-year extensions until the I-140 is approved or denied (Section 106(a)).
When an H-1B worker's employment ends (due to layoff, termination, or expiration), they have up to 60 consecutive calendar days to find a new employer to file an H-1B transfer, change to another visa status (like B-2 or F-1), or prepare to depart the U.S. You cannot work during this grace period unless a new H-1B petition has been filed on your behalf.
No. You need a valid visa stamp to re-enter the U.S. (with limited exceptions for automatic visa revalidation for short trips to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands). If your stamp has expired, you must schedule a visa appointment at a U.S. consulate and obtain a new stamp before returning to the U.S. This process can take weeks to months depending on the consulate.