Yalinu

Hi everyone!

I have a situation that I need some help on and it is very
urgent.

Right now I have got an offer from another firm, I took the
offer and they have started an expedited H-1B process. I have an H-1B
for my current job.

I was supposed to start work this week at the new
firm.
My current firm also asked me to give a formal resignation letter
(which I am delaying as much as possible).

Anyway I can't officially
start working with them until they atleast receive the processing
confirmation from the INS which they have not received yet.

I told my
current firm about the situation, there is not much for me to do here
but I can stay until the new start date but they will not let me drag it
on for weeks ofcourse.


I wanted to ask:

1. When can I start a new job
and stop working at the old job?

2. Also can there be some unemployed
time in between? How long?

Thanks in advance.