<p>I'm a college senior graduating in May 2014 with an undergrad degree. Going to begin work at my company in May 2014 using post-completion OPT. </p>
<p>Is it normal that the company is currently helping me petition/apply for H1B visa (H1B visa status should kick in 1st October 2014)?</p>
<p>I thought people would work on OPT for a full year, then use "cap gap", then have H1B visa status begin 1st October 2015? (ie: only apply for H1B in the 2015 cycle, not 2014)</p>
<p>But I guess the earlier one starts on H1B, the better :)</p>
<p>My concern is that, since I am not currently graduated from undergrad, some documents I won’t have (undergrad diploma, for example). Is this gonna affect a H1b visa application?</p>
<p>The company can file the petition for your H-1B as soon as you have received your Bachelor’s degree. If it can be processed at that time, your H-1B should kick in in October 2014.</p>
<p>However, due to the yearly cap on H-1B visas, the quota for this fiscal year might be reached before your application is complete (i.e. before you have received your colleg degree). In that case the company would have to wait another year and October 2015 would be the earliest you could get the H-1B.</p>
<p>Thanks Barium, knew I could count on a helpful reply from you as always.</p>
<p>It makes sense that one needs to have graduated/have the undergrad diploma in hand before H1B can proceed (because I believe H1B is a job based on/ specific to your academic degree). </p>
<p>Since graduation happens in May, I’m sure all the usual H1B quotas for bachelor’s holder will be filled in April already.</p>