@Queasy up here is wrong. I recently did phone interviews with FB and got an invite for onsite. After knowing I have 18 months left on OPT recruiter mentioned it’s not their policy to continue interviews. So yes, FB doesn’t hire people with less than 20 months or some amount of time about that left on OPT. There are lot of posts relating to that on blind. Google on the other hand hires you. Microsoft and Amazon does as well.
Do Google MS Amazon not care at all how many months left on OPT?
To add to above comment Microsoft needs at least 1 year or more so that they can file twice for h1. Source : friend who had less than a year was rejected after phone screen. Amazon not sure but seems similar.
Just OPT out instead
Short answer, no. They typically apply for H1B in April and you get it in October. If your degree is in stem, the extension from April to October is generally given. So minimum you need it through end of April next year. To be safe you’d need more in case you won’t get it the first round.