回复:need original I-797c also
if people apply H-1B but he/she is not in the U.S, lawyer/company should ask USCIS to send one of the original approve notice I-797c to the nearest U.S. oversea consulate, and then the U.S oversea consulate can start to accept your H-1B visa application.
F-1 is different story.
anyway, first of all, get H-1B approved and start to working at least 1 month, then go to try.