{"id":31519,"date":"2023-12-13T05:45:52","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T05:45:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interstride.com\/?p=31519"},"modified":"2023-11-18T02:38:59","modified_gmt":"2023-11-18T02:38:59","slug":"whats-the-h-1b-cap-gap-extension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interstride.com\/blog\/whats-the-h-1b-cap-gap-extension\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the H-1B cap-gap extension?"},"content":{"rendered":"

For international students who are hoping to continue working in the US after your OPT or STEM OPT expires, the H-1B visa is a critical piece of your journey. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that permits international workers to be employed by US employers. Due to the popularity of these visas, there is a yearly cap or limit on the number that can be issued.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have applied for an <\/span>H-1B visa<\/a><\/strong> and you are wondering what happens next, or if you have already won the lottery and filed your petition, keep reading to learn more about the H-1B cap-gap extension.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the H-1B and how does the lottery process work?<\/b><\/h2>\n

In 2023, the cap on visas was set at 65,000 for candidates who have completed undergraduate degrees in the US, with an additional 20,000 for candidates who have completed graduate degrees in the US. H-1B visas are distributed by USCIS through an annual lottery each year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Each year, employers can begin registering their H-1B applicants in the first two weeks of March. On April 1, USCIS holds a lottery to randomly select the 85,000 total H-1Bs. Registrations that are selected then have 90 days (from April to June) to file their H-1B petition with USCIS. If the application is approved, the H-1B visa takes effect on October 1.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the H-1B cap-gap extension?<\/b><\/h2>\n

For many international students, their F-1 status or OPT will expire before their H-1B status becomes active on October 1. If you graduated in May, your OPT or STEM OPT Extension typically expires in the summer months (check your EAD card for the exact expiration date). <\/span>The H-1B cap-gap extension allows eligible international students to maintain their status and work authorization while their H-1B visa petition is pending.<\/b> The “cap” refers to the annual limit on the number of H-1B visas that can be issued each year, and the “gap” refers to the period between the end of the student’s F-1 status and the start of their H-1B status.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The H-1B cap-gap extension automatically extends an eligible student\u2019s work authorization to October 1. Without it, when a student\u2019s OPT expires, they would have to leave the US while they wait for their H-1B visa to be processed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who qualifies for the H-1B cap-gap?<\/b><\/h2>\n

International students are eligible for the H-1B cap-gap extension only if they meet all of the following qualifications:<\/span><\/p>\n