My current H1B will expire on Sep 1st. I485 is pending for three months. I am thinking to use EAD card instead of renewing H1B. Here comes a few questions.
1) My EAD card is only good for one year. So, if I485 is still not Current within one year (or hasn't processed yet) and I have to renew the EAD card, can I renew it by myself without an employment letter (i mean if I don't have an employer at that time)?
-Yes. You can renew it in advance up to 120 days before the old EAD expires no matter whether you have a job or not.
2) If I use EAD cross the border (say, Canada to US), will I get a new I-94 even if my current I-94 associated with H1B is still valid?
-You can not use the EAD card to travel unless the card is EAD/AP combo card. If your current H1 I-94 has not expired yet, you can use this I-94 to enter Canada and return if you will return to US in 30 days from Canada (no new I-94 is issued in this case), but if you stay in Canada for > 30 days, you need to get the H1 visa to come back and get the new I-94.
If you use AP or EAD/AP combo card to travel, you will get the new I-94 (parolee I-94) when you return to US.
Thank you.
