导言
本文转自北美工程师求职顾问合作伙伴,泰勒展开时。
下面就结合一篇来自文学城的网友帖子,将这个问题的多面性和多种情况为大家解惑。
本文载自 泰勒展开时
版权归于原作者
北美工程师求职顾问 诚意推荐“
文学城网友经历:
“多被问起这一话题,加之本人OPT转H1B经历比较纠结,期间多次回国,几乎把各种可能的情况都经历过,所以把自己知道的写下来,供大家参考。
总共三个阶段:
1, 研究生毕业至拿到EAD卡(OPT正式生效)期间
2, OPT期间
3, OPT转H1B期间(Cap-Gap)
1. 研究生毕业至拿到EAD卡(OPT正式生效)期间
这一阶段如果没有EAD卡,是绝对不能回国,因为你收不到EAD卡就没有回来的合法身份。即便有EAD卡和美国境内的实习或工作offer,也强烈不建议回国,因为很有可能在入境过海关时被拒绝入境。
这个阶段我没有出过境,所以具体到底怎样也不知道。但是学校International Service Office(ISO)的老师是这么说的。
2. OPT期间
我的OPT是2011年5月底到2012年5月底,期间我回去过两次,分别是2012年1-2月和2012年4-5月。
第一次回去时(2012年1月),还没有开始申请H1B,所以是纯的F1签证,只是在OPT期间。回国时,F1签证已经失效,需要续签。我是在上海的中信银行直接使用的代传递项目(这是使领馆强烈推荐的,现在必须都要发到广州了)。上的要求准备好资料,包括:
护照,申请费收据,照片一张,DS160,所有I-20的复印件(含travel signature),成绩单原件,毕业证书复印件,雇主的employment letter原件,之前三个月的工资单复印件,EMS单子。
签证顺利拿到,依旧是F1,又给了一年(2012年1月-2013年1月)。2012年2月初,入境时候也很顺利,基本没问什么。
第二次回去时(2012年4月),这个时候H1B的申请已经于2012年4月1号递给USCIS去,而且H1B的receipt(USCIS发的I797- C)已经拿到,同时OPT在有效期内(2012年5月30日失效)!因为1月份拿到了1年的F1签证,所以这次回去不用签证。带好各种证明文件(基本就是上面所列的,加上H1B的receipt)就回去了,然后赶在5月30号之前回来,入关时也很顺利,没有问题。
但是!这趟回国会产生一个副作用,而且比较麻烦。USCIS规定,在你提交H1B申请之后,你一旦离境,意味着你自动放弃在美国境内直接从F1转换成H1的权利。换言之,如果你从4月申请到10月1日H1生效期间不出美国国境,你可以不出境就直接转换身份,直到你下一次需要出境时再申请H1的签证。所以这次出境,直接导致了两个后果:一是我的H1的审核时间被大大拖长(至少增加2个月,总共花了5个月);二是USCIS在通过我的H1申请后,规定我必须在9 月30日之前离境,并到指定的使领馆(上海)去获得H1的签证,并重新入境。
于是就有了我的第三次回国(2012年9月),我在上海使领馆顺利通过面签获得H1的签证,并于2012年10月以H1身份进入美国。H1签证需要的材料只要按照律师的要求准备好就行。
3. Cap-Gap期间
所谓Cap-Gap就是指OPT失效到H1B生效(10月1日)期间,学校的ISO可以将你的I20自动延期到9月30日,这段时期叫做Cap-Gap。(详见USCIS官方网站) USCIS在其网站上明确规定,在此期间如果出境,必须要等到H1生效(10月1日)并成功获得签证后,方可入境。所以大家就不要试图在Cap-Gap期间出入境了。
根据网友的提示,搜索了USCIS的官方网站关于Cap-Gap的解释,下面大家贴出原文提供权威参考:
Extension of Post Completion OptionalPractical Training (OPT) and F-1 Status for Eligible Students under the H-1BCap-Gap Regulations
The period of time when an F-1 student’sstatus and work authorization expire through the start date of their approvedH-1B employment period is known as the "Cap-Gap".
Cap-Gap occurs because an employer may notfile, and USCIS may not accept, an H-1B petition submitted more than six monthsin advance of the date of actual need for the beneficiary’s services ortraining.  As a result, the earliest datethat an employer can file an H-1B cap-subject petition is April 1, for thefollowing fiscal year, starting October 1. If USCIS approves the H-1B petition and the accompanying change ofstatus request, the earliest date that the student may start the approved H-1Bemployment is October 1.
Cap-GapExtensions
Current regulations allow certain studentswith pending or approved H-1B petitions to remain in F-1 status during thecap-gap period. This is referred to as filling the "cap-gap," meaningthe regulations provide a way of filling the "gap" between the end ofF-1 status and the beginning of H-1B status that might otherwise occur if F-1status is not extended for qualifying students.
Eligibilityfor an Extension
H-1B petitions that are timely filed, onbehalf of an eligible F-1 student, that request a change of status to H-1B onOctober 1 qualify for a cap-gap extension.
Timely filed means that the H-1B petition(indicating change of status rather than consular processing) was filed duringthe H-1B acceptance period which begins April 1, 2013 while the student'sauthorized F-1 duration of status (D/S) admission was still in effect(including any period of time during the academic course of study, anyauthorized periods of post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT), andthe 60-day departure preparation period, commonly known as the "grace period").
Once a timely filing has been made,requesting a change of status to H-1B on October 1, the automatic cap-gapextension will begin and will continue until the H-1B petition adjudicationprocess has been completed.  If thestudent’s H-1B petition is selected and approved, the student’s extension willcontinue through September 30.  If thestudent’s H-1B petition is denied, withdrawn, revoked, or is not selected, thestudent will have the standard 60-day grace period from the date of therejection notice or their program end date, whichever is later, to prepare forand depart the United States.
Students are strongly encouraged to stay inclose communication with their petitioning employer during the cap-gapextension period for status updates on the H-1B petition processing.
Please note: F-1 students who have enteredthe 60-day grace period are not employment-authorized.  If an H-1B cap-subject petition is filed onthe behalf of a student who has entered the 60-day grace period, the studentwill receive the automatic cap-gap extension of his or her F-1 status, but willnot become employment-authorized (since the student was notemployment-authorized at the time H-1 petition was filed, there is noemployment authorization to be extended).
ThoseNot Qualified for an Extension
F-1 students who do not qualify for acap-gap extension, and whose periods of authorized stay expire before October1, are required to leave the United States, apply for an H-1B visa at aconsular post abroad, and then seek readmission to the United States in H-1Bstatus, for the dates reflected on the approved H-1B petition.
Proofof Continuing Status
To obtain proof of continuing status, astudent should go to their Designated School Official (DSO) with evidence of atimely filed H-1B petition (indicating a request for change of status ratherthan for consular processing), such as a copy of the petition and a FedEx, UPS,or USPS Express/certified mail receipt. The student’s DSO will issue a preliminary cap-gap I-20 showing an extensionuntil June 1.
If the H-1B petition is selected foradjudication, the student should return to his or her DSO with a copy of thepetitioning employer’s Form I-797, Notice of Action, with a valid receiptnumber, indicating that the petition was filed and accepted.  The student’s DSO will issue a new cap-gapI-20 indicating the continued extension of F-1 status.
DeniedH-1B Petitions
If USCIS denies, rejects, or revokes anH-1B petition filed on behalf of an F-1 student covered by the automaticcap-gap extension of status, the student will have the standard 60-day graceperiod (from the date of the notification of the denial, rejection, orrevocation of the petition) before he or she is required to depart the UnitedStates.
For denied cases the 60-day grace perioddoes not apply to an F-1 student whose accompanying change of status request isdenied due to the discovery of a status violation, misrepresentation, orfraud.  The student in this situation isnot eligible for the automatic cap-gap extension of status or the 60-day graceperiod.  Similarly, the 60-day graceperiod and automatic cap-gap extension of status would not apply to the case ofa student whose petition was revoked based on a finding of a status violation,fraud or misrepresentation discovered following approval.  In both of these instances, the student wouldbe required to leave the United States immediately.
Travelduring Cap-Gap Extension Period
A student granted a cap-gap extension whoelects to travel outside the United States during the cap-gap extension period,will not be able to return in F-1 status. The student will need to apply for an H-1B visa at a consular postabroad prior to returning.  As the H-1Bpetition is for an October 1 start date, the student should be prepared to adjusthis or her travel plans, accordingly.
UnemploymentLimits
The 90-day, or 120-day for STEM OPT,limitation on unemployment during the post-completion OPT authorizationcontinues during the cap-gap extension.
STEMOPT Extensions
F-1 students who receive science,technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees included on the STEMDesignated Degree Program List, are employed by employers enrolled in E-Verify,and who have received an initial grant of post-completion OPT employmentauthorization related to such a degree, may apply for a 17-month extension ofsuch authorization.  F-1 students mayobtain additional information about STEM OPT extensions on the Student andExchange Visitor Program website at www.ice.gov/sevis.
Students who are eligible for a cap-gapextension of post-completion OPT employment and F1-status may apply for a STEMOPT extension during the cap-gap extension period.
However, such application may not be madeonce the cap-gap extension period is terminated (if the H-1B petition isrejected, denied, or revoked), and the student has entered the 60-day departurepreparation period.
StartDate Issues
If the students' OPT end dates areshortened to September 30, even though their H-1B employment would not beginuntil a later date, the student should contact their DSO.  The DSO may request a data fix in SEVIS bycontacting the SEVIS helpdesk.
Changesin Employment
Laid Off/Termination from H-1Bemployer:  If the student has an approvedH-1B petition and change of status, but is laid off/terminated by the H-1Bemployer before the effective date, and the student has an unexpired EAD issuedfor post-completion OPT, the student can retrieve any unused OPT. The studentwill remain in student status and can continue working OPT using the unexpiredEAD until the H-1B change of status goes into effect.  The student also needs to make sure thatUSCIS receives a withdrawal request from the petitioner before the H-1B changeof status effective date.  This willprevent the student from changing to H-1B status.  Once the petition has been revoked, thestudent must provide their DSO with a copy of the USCIS acknowledgement ofwithdrawal (i.e., the notice of revocation). The DSO may then request a datafix in SEVIS, to prevent the student from being terminated in SEVIS on the H-1Beffective date, by contacting the SEVIS helpdesk.
If USCIS does not receive the withdrawalrequest prior to the H-1B petition change of status effective date, then thestudent will need to stop working, file a Form I-539 to request reinstatement,and wait until the reinstatement request is approved, before resumingemployment.
Student finds a new H-1B job:  The student can continue working with his orher approved EAD while the data fix in SEVIS is pending if the (former) H-1Bemployer timely withdrew the H-1B petition and the following conditions aretrue:
The student finds employment appropriate tohis or her OPT;
The period of OPT is unexpired; and
The DSO has requested a data fix in SEVIS.
Note: If the student had to file Form I-539to request reinstatement to F-1 student status, the student may not work orattend classes until the reinstatement is approved.
PendingRequest to Change OPT End Date
Working during request: If the H-1Brevocation occurs before October 1, the student may continue working pastOctober 1 while the data fix remains pending, because the student will still bein valid F-1 status.
If the H-1B revocation occurs on or afterOctober 1, the student will need to stop working before October 1, apply forreinstatement, and wait until the reinstatement request is approved beforeresuming employment.
Maintaining Valid F-1 Status:  If the H-1B revocation occurs before the H-1Bchange of status effective date, the student is still in F-1 status while thedata fix is pending.
If the H-1B revocation occurs after theH-1B change of status effective date, the student will not be in valid F-1status and will therefore either need to apply for reinstatement or depart theUnited States.
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