• Quicklinks |

• Home
• About Us
• Services
• Campus Life
• Shopping

• ISS Home
• F-1 Visa Holders
• J-1 Visa Holders
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
• Optional Practical Training (OPT)
• H1-b Employment Visa
• Tax Information

General Information for Cap Gap Extension for F-1 Students who are the subject of an H-1B Petition

Effective April 8, 2008, duration of status and any post-completion OPT work authorization will be automatically extended for an F-1 student  who is the beneficiary of a timely-filed H-1b petition requesting change of status and an employment start date of October 1.  The extension of duration of status and OPT work authorization automatically terminates upon the rejection, denial, and revocation of the H-1 petition filed on the student’s behalf.

The cap gap extension starts when the student’s current period of F-1 status ends, regardless of whether the student was on OPT.  However, if the student was not on OPT, the extension of status starts on the day after the student’s initial grace period expires. 

To qualify for the H-1b cap-gap extension the student must be a beneficiary of an H-1B petition that has been timely filed; that requests an employment start date of October 1; and request a change of status.  The student must not have violated the F-1 status. 

Student’s Responsibility

The student must contact the ISS office to request an extension for the cap gap.   The DSO will need the following to support a data fix of the SEVIS record: 

• For a properly filed H-1b petition – A statement from the employer that an H-1b petition was submitted on behalf of the student and along with proof of deliver  to the USCIS Service Center.
• For a waited-listed H-1b – petition – A copy of the wait list letter from USCIS to the employer
• For a receipted or approved H-1b application – A copy of the I-797 receipt or approval notice.

The date of extension will depend on the scenario above for each student. 

The students with active OPT, the cap gap extension for both employment and F-1 status starts the date the student’s original OPT expires and ends September 30 unless the H-1b petition is rejected, denied, or withdrawn.  If the application is rejected, denied or withdrawn the student has the 60 days grace period to return home, apply for a change of status or obtain a new I-20 for further education.

For students whose OPT expired prior to the filing date of the H-1b petition (April 1, 2008), the cap gap extension starts at the end of their grace period and ends September 30 unless the petition is rejected, denied, or withdrawn.  These students will not have work authorization.

See the chart below for the possible dates of extension depending the student’s situation. 

notification

Students will not receive automatic notification when they have a cap gap extension.  Students must request an I-20 from the DSO showing the period of extension.  The student will need to notify the DSO in order to begin the process.  The DSO will need to create a data fix through the SEVIS Help Desk and when the SEVIS record is updated and an I-20 will be issued for the extension.  The timeline for the approval of the data fix is uncertain at this time.

It is essential that the students maintain contact with their employer who filed the petition for any updates related to the H-1b decision.  If the H-1b petition is rejected, denied or withdrawn it is the students’ responsibility to maintain their status.

Travel

Students can not travel outside the U.S. unless the EAD is valid while on the cap gap extension.  However, the student may choose to leave the U.S. and obtain an H-1b visa to return to the U.S. and begin employment as an H-1b.  The student will not be able to enter the U.S. except 10 days prior to the October 1 start date.

reporting

Students on a cap gap extension must report any change of address within 10 days as well as any unemployment dates.  The 90 day limitation on unemployment continues during the cap gap extension.