Curricular Practical Training F-1 Off-Campus Employment

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Curricular Practical Training F-1 Off-Campus Employment

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training, or CPT, is work authorization that allows F-1 students to gain practical work experience in their field of study prior to the completion of their academic programs. To be eligible for CPT, you must have completed one academic year in the United States. Per 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10):

Practical training may be authorized to an F-1 student who has been lawfully enrolled on a full time basis, in a Service-approved college, university, conservatory, or seminary for one full academic year.

Curricular Practical Training is authorized by the Office of International Services in accordance with 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i) and structured office policies that have been developed with this regulatory backing.

Please Note: Working off-campus without confirmation of authorization from the Office of International Services is never lawful for students in F-1 status. You must have authorization from the OIS before you start working.

What are the requirements for CPT?

To be eligible for CPT authorization, you must:

Have been a full-time student for at least one full academic year
Be in F-1 status
Work with your academic advisor (see additional information below)
Have letter from your employer that meets requirements listed below.

In addition the employment must be in your major field of study.

To receive CPT authorization, you will be required to register for an appropriate course which covers the duration of the employment that you seek. What course you are required to register for depends on what CPT option you will pursue.

There are four ways in which F-1 students can apply for and receive CPT authorization.

The work fulfills an optional or required internship or practicum in your academic program (registration in an internship or practicum course required);
The work fulfills the course requirements of a standard course or independent study course in your academic program (registration in the standard course or independent study course required);
(Graduate Students Only) The work benefits your thesis/dissertation/final project in a material and substantial way (registration in credit-bearing thesis/dissertation/final project credit(s) required);
(Ph.D. Students Only) The work allows you to fulfill a specific deficit in your overall program, or provides you an opportunity to have an experience that is an integral part of the Ph.D. program which is otherwise not available to you (registration in dissertation research or G901 credit(s) required).

CPT authorization is granted on a semester-by-semester basis only. If you wish to continue your employment beyond the semester for which you’ve been authorized, you must follow the entire application process again, including the appropriate course registration for the option that you choose. It’s best to do this as soon as you register for the next semester so that our office will have the time to process your application.

To apply for CPT, you must take the following steps:

For all students except PD, AD, and MM music students:

Communicate with a qualified academic advisor.
In order to be authorized for work authorization, an academic advisor from within your department must certify that you will register in an appropriate course/independent study, internship credit(s), or dissertation credit(s). Your academic advisor will be able to provide guidance for you as to the suitability of certain options available for registration that will qualify for CPT. If your advisor has questions, please have them contact OIS for assistance. Additionally, the Office of International Services must have a signed form that connects registration in CPT-qualified credits to the work that will be done. Advisor forms are available at the bottom of this webpage; simply print them and bring them to your academic advisor for assistance.
Get a job offer letter.
You must provide OIS with an offer letter from your prospective employer. This letter should be on company letterhead. The letter will need to state the following:
1. The specific start date and specific end date for employment.
2. The number of hours that will be worked per week.
3. The physical location where the job will be conducted (an address listing street, city, state and ZIP code). P.O. Boxes are not accepted for this requirement.
4. A description, as detailed as possible, of the job duties entailed in your work.
Register for the appropriate course.
Registration in appropriate credits is always required for terms in which you wish to have CPT authorization.
Print and complete the Application for Curricular Practical Training.

Application for Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Submit your job offer letter, academic advisor form and completed CPT application form to OIS.

At this time we will need to see your I-20, your I-94 card and your passport. Your complete application for CPT must be submitted to OIS at least two weeks before the employment is expected to begin. Please apply earlier when the university will be closed for the winter break or at the beginning and end of a semester, as those are particularly busy times in the office. Failure to do so can result in delays in processing, during which time you are not eligible to begin work.

For PD, AD, and MM Students Only:

Please download and complete the Application for Curricular Practical Training. You must then provide confirmation to OIS that you have registered for a performance course for the term in which you would like to work. For PD, AD, and MM students who wish to have CPT authorization for specific gigs or appointments, a job offer letter will be required. However; for students who wish to apply for CPT based on various regional performances, gigs, and lessons; no job offer letter is required.

Of Special Note When Applying for CPT:

If you have found an internship or other work opportunity which is unpaid, OIS strongly recommends that you apply for CPT authorization prior to beginning that volunteer opportunity. On the chance that you would be offered compensation for your experience, you would only be able to accept it if you have CPT authorization. Apply for authorization before you begin working to ensure that you won’t run into problems.

Note: Working off-campus without authorization is a violation of status that will require termination of your SEVIS record!

Part Time versus Full Time CPT

Part-time CPT is for work up to 20 hours per week. Full-time CPT is for work at or above 21 hours per week.

If you plan to work with part-time CPT authorization, you must enroll as a full-time student for the duration of the CPT. If you plan to work with full-time CPT authorization, your enrollment in CPT-qualified credits will be considered full-time.

Time Limitations

If you hold a current position on campus (hourly or as a graduate research assistant, etc.) and you wish to accept additional employment, please keep in mind that you are only eligible for a total of 20 hours/week for all jobs. If you wish to work more than 20 hours/week for all jobs combined, you must apply for CPT authorization for all jobs.

F-1 students can use an unlimited amount of part-time Curricular Practical Training and still get 12 months of Optional Practical Training following completion of studies. However, if a student uses more than 12 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training, s/he will no longer be eligible for Optional Practical Training.

Tax Issues Social Security (FICA) should not be withheld from the wages of an F-1 student on CPT if the student is classified as a non-resident for tax purposes. Earnings are, however, still subject to federal, state, and local taxes. Look at IRS publication 519 (www.irs.gov) pages 5 and 42 for more information.

CPT authorization results in a new page 3 of your I-20. Please staple this new page 3 to your current Continued Attendance I-20. This page will have a travel signature that will be valid for entry into the U.S. for one year.

Office of International Services Policy Statements Regarding CPT

The Office of International Services, in an effort to provide students with correct and pertinent information, would like to share some of our policy statements regarding the CPT authorization.

You may not use incompletes for CPT authorization.
You may receive CPT for no more than two terms of a particular independent study. Registration in both terms is required. Further independent study work will be required to have a different course number and different academic requirements.
The OIS enforces an enrollment policy for CPT that requires employment to correlate directly to academics. Enrollment in each semester (pursuant to the CPT option chosen) is mandatory.

Please note: Withdrawing from or dropping credits that are tied to CPT work authorization immediately cancels the CPT authorization. Work done without this authorization is illegal and a violation of status.

Office of International Services

A Division of the Office of the Vice President for International Affairs