AOS Pending Status to H4

Hi,

I and my wife currently have our H1/H4 validity till Feb 15th 2013. We also have our EAD/AP valid till Jan 23rd 2013. My wife has traveled to India and will be returning on Dec 25th 2012. She is planning to use AP to reenter since she does not have a H4 visa in her passport. I am assuming her status after she reenters will be "AOS Pending".
After she comes back to the US, we are planning to file for H1/H4 renewal in the last week of Dec 2012 through premium processing. After she gets her H4 extension, will she get back to H4 status or does she need to travel out and reenter with a H4 visa to get H4 status?

Anyone knowledgeable about this, please respond.

Thanks for your time,

hk

She will need to leave and come back if she wants to be under H4 status. I assume you have filed for renewing your EAD/AP ?