To enter the U.S. for the first time after receiving an H-1B approval notice and H-1B visa stamp, you should be prepared to present the following documents to U.S. Customs and Border Protection:

Valid passport
H-1B visa stamp (citizens of Canada & Bermuda are exempt)
Original H-1B Approval Notice (Form I-797A)
Copy of Labor Condition Application (ETA Form 9035)
Copy of H-1B petition (Form I-129)
Copy of USCIS Letter of Support submitted with the petition

To re-enter the U.S. after international travel, you should be prepared to present the following documents to U.S. Customs and Border Protection:

Valid passport
H-1B visa stamp (citizens of Canada & Bermuda are exempt)
Original H-1B Approval Notice (Form I-797A)
Original employment verification letter on Penn State letterhead from the department
Copy of Labor Condition Application (ETA Form 9035)
Copy of H-1B petition (Form I-129)
Copy of USCIS Letter of Support submitted with the petition
Copy of three most recent payslips, printed from Workday

Visa Stamp: You must apply for an H-1B visa stamp the first time you travel internationally after receiving H-1B status or an extension. If you obtained or extended your H-1B status while in the U.S., this process does not generate a visa stamp; it only updates your status within the country. You are not required to apply for a new visa immediately after a change of status; this requirement arises only when you decide to travel internationally. If you decide to travel internationally, you will need to secure a visa stamp before returning to the U.S. (As mentioned above, citizens of Canada and Bermuda are exempt from the visa requirement.)

Expectations of Those in H-1B Status