One of the largest blocks ofapplications for the H-1B cap is foreign students who are currently working onOPT (optional practical training). Students who are authorized to work on OPTwill hold an employment authorization document (EAD) or card. The validity dates of the student’s workauthorization under OPT will be printed on the face of the card.
Students with work authorizationunder OPT whose H-1B has been chosen under the cap are eligible for cap-gapwork authorization. The student should present the H-1B receipt notice tohis/her international student office. The school will issue a new I-20 tothe student extending his/her work authorization to October 1 when the H-1Bwill take effect.
If the student’s H-1B has not beenchosen under the cap, the student must stop working on the end date of his/herOPT authorization. The student then has the following options:
1. If the employer participates ine-verify and the student’s degree is in a STEM (science, technology,engineering, and mathematics) field, the student may qualify for an extensionof their OPT.
2. The student can change to adifferent immigration status, such as H4 or L2.
3. The student can return to schoolto seek a new degree. The student should contact his/her school to havehis/her SEVIS record updated or transferred to a new school.
4. The student can depart the USand return to his/her home country.
At the end of the OPT period, the studenthas a sixty day grace period during which the student is not authorized to workbut is authorized to remain in the US to conclude his/her affairs and pursueone of the options above.