from my understanding, PR and H1 are completely two different process. so u can do one or both at a time. since u've to  wait until to apply PR, i suggest u to work on ur PR now. its gonna take some time for PR process anyway. if u r lucky, u might get  labor by march. if not  u can apply H1-B in april. good luck. 

last year my H1-B was denied. i paid the fee by myself. though i wrote the check to my attorny and he wrote the check to IRS. and as 'daka" mentioned earlier, i believe that was the main reason  for my H1-B rejection.