• "Cap-gap" refers to the gap in non-immigrant status that occurs in a change of status to H-1B, when the student's current F-1 immigration status expires before the H-1B start date on October 1.

    For example, if an F-1 student has an OPT end date of June 30, the student's duration of status is for 60 days beyond that, until August 30. In this example:

    • The gap between August 30 and October 1 is a "cap-gap" in F-1 status.
    • The gap between June 30 and October 1 is a "cap-gap" of OPT employment authorization.

    Eligibility

    If a student is not in authorized OPT on the eligibility date, they are not eligible for an extension of employment authorization. If the student was still in their 60-day grace period, the student is eligible for an extension of status, but not work authorization.

    The automatic extension terminates when USCIS rejects, denies, or revokes the H-1B petition. However, the student would have a grace period after the termination during which they are authorized to remain in the United States for up to 60 days to prepare for departure from the U.S., change degree level, transfer, change status, etc. as long as the student has not otherwise violated status. The student's cap-gap employment authorization would no longer be valid during the 60-day grace period.

    Benefits

    The duration of status (D/S), and any post-completion OPT or STEM 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 first calendar day of the following fiscal year). This is commonly known as a cap-gap extension.

  • Contact Us & Office Hours

    72 Fifth Avenue, 3rd floor
    New York, NY 10011
    212.229.5592
    [email protected]

    Phone Hours
    Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

    Front Desk Hours
    Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 1:00–4:00 p.m.

    ISSS Closed Wednesday

    Virtual Advising Drop-In Hours
    Tuesday, 2:00–4:00 p.m. 
    Meeting Link

    In-Person Advising Drop-In Hours
    Thursday, 2:00–4:00 p.m. 

    One-on-One Virtual Advising
    Enrolled students sign up through Starfish.
    Non-enrolled students call the office to schedule.

    Emergency After-Hours Phone
    212.229.7001

  • Take The Next Step

Submit your application

Undergraduates

To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

Undergraduate Adult Learners

To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

Graduates

To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

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