F1 to H1B with future start date of Dec 2012?

[b898]

Hello All,

I am currently working on my OPT extenstion which ends in December 2012. Can my company apply for H1B visa this April 2012 but have a h1B START DATE of December 2012?

If I do go to India after my H1B approval but before my OPT ends (say in June 2012), do I need to get H1B stamping in India or can I come back in OPT and convert to H1B on the actual start date?

Thanks,
Balu.