Foreign Students Alert – Students who travel abroad during a cap-gap extension period may not return in F-1 status. They will not be able to return to the U.S. until they obtain an H-1B visa stamp at a consular post abroad. Therefore, the earliest they might reenter is 10 days prior October 1, 2011, and should plan to travel accordingly. For Q&A’s regarding this issue, click on the attached link.

USCIS Q&As