H Visa

A two-party approach requesting assistance from local Congressmen and Senators is recommended. If congressional inquiries fail, consulting a litigator to potentially threaten a lawsuit against the US Attorney's office can help compel USCIS to resolve the delay.

While widespread stops are not commonly reported, they are possible. It is best to avoid optional travel. If you must travel, carry your passport, I-94, approval notices, and proof of your ongoing status (like pay stubs or transcripts).

It is very difficult. Because the second petition (the "bridge") is failing, an approval within the US for a third employer is unlikely. You may need to travel abroad for a new visa stamp, but be aware that fraud allegations are serious and can lead to a permanent bar from the US if not cleared.

This is a common bottleneck. Have your employer contact their local congressman’s office to push for adjudication. If that fails, reaching out to a litigator to threaten a lawsuit against the US attorney's office can often resolve such delays.
 

Unpaid leave does not provide status protection. The most conservative and safest approach is to consider the day physical work stops as day one of the 60-day grace period.

214(b) denials are difficult to overcome. If the primary applicant has an H-1B, it is often better to apply for an H-4 visa, which is a dual-intent visa and not subject to 214(b) denials for immigrant intent.