Extending Work Authorization For Recent Graduates Working On OPT

Many of you are planning on filing Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 H-1B cap cases for recent graduates working for you on a post-degree completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Those students with OPT EADs expiring between April 3, 2017 (the first day that FY 2018 H-1B cap cases will be accepted) and June 1, 2017, are eligible to continue working if they obtain an updated Form I-20 from their school reflecting they are work authorized. To obtain an amended Form I-20, the employee should go to the Designated School Official (DSO) with evidence of a timely filed H-1B petition (indicating a request for change of status rather than for consular processing), such as a copy of the petition and a FedEx delivery receipt. The employee's DSO will issue an updated Form I-20 reflecting an extension in work authorization until June 1. You will then update the employee's Form I-9 with the information contained in this new Form I-20.