Heber, CA Immigration Law Firms & Lawyers

Reinstatements are rarely granted, but if you have a good reason and your DSO is willing to file for you, then file immediately. If not, you need to leave the US and file for the F-1 visa again at the US consulate. They will not like the fact that you did not maintain your status and that is a factor in issuing out the new F-1 visa.

You cannot get an open-ended EAD as an H-1B. All H-1B's are "employer-specific". If you find other H work, the company can file a concurrent part-time H for you.

Your return trip after 4 months means you haven't yet been gone for a year.  You'll have to calculate the total time outside the US from that last visit back to the US.  If that period exceeds one year, your wife will be presumed to have abandoned her permanent resident status and they will likely take her green card from her upon her re-entry.  Is there a reason you cannot return sooner?  Obviously, that is the easiest solution.  Your wife will not be able to keep her green card if she is planning to spend long periods outside the US.  You are no longer eligible to file for advanced parole (since you must be in the US to apply), so you won't need that filing fee.  You can apply for a returning resident alien visa at the nearest US consulate if you end up being gone more than a year, but there is a filing fee associated with that application as well.