[URGENT]Can I delay start date of my job after signing the offer?

[hyunwoona]

Hi.

I got an offer for a company in Silicon Valley, for an intern position during the Spring semester. I'm an international student, and I checked with the international student's office in my school that I can work using full-time CPT during semesters. The offer letter specifies the beginning and end dates of work.

I signed it because I thought I can work during the summer, but the director of international student's office considered my application, and told me that I may not be able to work during this semester.

So maybe I will have to delay the start date of my work to summer vacation. They are finishing the paper work and preparing everything for my spring intern. If I tell them my situation this will piss them off and I am worried about them cancelling my offer. This is my first and only offer after 6 months of soul-sucking and desperate job search.

What do you think? There's nothing I can say to them even if the cancel my offer, but might there be anything that I can do to avoid it?

[onion2k]

If I tell them my situation this will piss them off...

If you don't tell them, it'll piss them off a lot more. The single most important rule with this sort of thing is to make sure everyone knows what the situation is. Surprises are a very bad thing.

[nostrademons]

Usually you can, but it depends on the particular company. I'd explain the situation to your employer ASAP and work with them to adjust your start date.