What is the Cap Gap I-20?

The Cap Gap I-20 is an updated version of Form I-20 that the university issues to temporarily extend the F-1 status of a student who already has an H-1B petition pending with a change-of-status request.

It exists to address what is known as the cap gap: many students complete their program or authorized work period (OPT) during the H-1B filing season, and their F-1 status may expire before the H-1B takes effect. The gap between one status and the other is what the Cap Gap I-20 covers, keeping the student in lawful status in the country.

With the new cap gap-annotated I-20, the student keeps their documentation in order and avoids a status lapse while waiting for the H-1B to begin. The extension is generated by the academic institution itself based on the information in the petition.

Since the application depends on the calendar and the circumstances of each petition, it is worth confirming the current conditions with USCIS and the university’s international student office before relying on this benefit.

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Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.