From my understanding, there are 26k students on OPT with STEM degree of which 12k might apply to extend their OPT to avoid the cap-gap.

But there are others on OPT and not doing STEM degree, and more still not on OPT who still stand to benifit from this policy "automatic cap gap extension"
Meaning that you will not loose your F1 status if you have already applied for H1-B. Unlike in previous years where you had to wait for the Federal Registrar to public a report regarding if people can file for extension of their F1 status.


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on a different note, can someone help me understand the following two paragraphs.

"A. Administrative Procedure Act
To avoid a loss of skilled students through the next round of H-1B filings in April 2008,
DHS is implementing this initiative as an interim final rule without first providing notice and the
opportunity for public comment under the "good cause" exception found under the
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) at 5 U.S.C. 553@). The APA provides that an agency may
dispense with notice and comment rulemaking procedures when an agency, for "good cause,"
finds that those procedures are "impracticable, unn-, or contrary to the public interest."
&g 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B)."

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"Accordingly, DHS finds that good cause exists under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) to issue this rule as
an interim final rule. DHS nevertheless invites written comments on this interim rule. Further,
because this interim final rule relieves a restriction by extending the maximum current postcompletion
OPT period for certain students from 12 months to up to 29 months, DHS finds that
this rule shall become effective immediately upon publication of this interim final rule in the
Fedenl Register. 5 U.S.C. 553(d)."
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I guess it much more reasonable to wait until there is an official announcement then go crazy with this thing.
I am sorry if i confused anybody else, i was just too excited.