My H-1B extension just got approved with expiration date 12/12/2018.I am travelling to India from January 29,2016 to March 18,2016. My Indian passport expires on March 10,2016.This passport as all the H-1B stamps from all my previous employers including the current employer.

1) My question is that when I return back to U.S.A on March 18, will the immigration officer at port-of-entry issue me a I-94 based on my passport expiry OR the I-94 that I have on my I-797?

2) I am planning to renew my passport once I am in India on Feb 1,2016 and then use this new passport of H-1B stamping using dropbox to be on safer side. I am wondering if I should renew my passport from Houston,TX OR from India using the "tatkal" process ?Which one is better?