H1B Change of status (F-1 visa to H-1B visa) vs no change of status (outside the US to H-1B visa)

Didn't know where else to post. Does anyone know the difference between filing for an H-1B Change of status (F-1 visa to H-1B visa) compared to filing for H-1B without change of status (not an F-1 student and outside the US to H-1B visa)? 

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Changing status - stay in the US on OPT and can work on cap gap / OPT. Once approved, you are automatically on H-1 status from October 1 or whenever your job stars. You don’t need visa stamp unless you want to travel internationally. 
 

Outside: Wait to get a stamp, can only start working once you are approved for the visa, enter the US and activate status. Can take much longer than CoS due to visas being sent randomly into administrative processing. 

 

i'm at a BB and the bank's immigration counsel has applied for my H1B through the Outside method for me without asking me which method I'd prefer. would you know why my BB would do that considering it seems like CoS is much simpler? I'm already in the US and just recently graduated and working right now

 
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normally you'd file for consular processing when...

  • H1-B lottery application was filed as as Consular Processing
  • your new firm is an H1-B employer B on receipt and the old H1B extension from the previous firm gets RFE & I-94 expiry
  • you are between firms and the H1-B transfer gets RFE while the old firm is extending
  • Some would want to go the H1-B consular processing route without waiting for the old firm to extend
  • With C/P you can travel while it is pending
  • your firm wants to know when you can start to work, easier with C/P
  • It is easier to file through c/p when you are doing the lottery for the first time (f1 to h1b), so your lawyer might be right
  • you don't have to go to your home county with C/P
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very insightful thanks.

  • It is easier to file through c/p when you are doing the lottery for the first time (f1 to h1b), so your lawyer might be right

regarding that point, could you walk through why c/p filing is easier for first time? assuming that's the case with me as i'm a 2020 grad and my firm's counsel filed on my behalf before i started FT back in April

i need to fly out of the country and come back in which is not easy to schedule when working 90-100 hour weeks lol. feels so stressful to plan

 

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