• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
• Optional Practical Training (OPT)
• Economic Hardship
• On-Campus Employment

Health insurance

• Overview and Requirements
• Waiving Health Insurance
• Access your HTH account

Immigration

• Applying for a new F-1 visa
• Canadian visa
• Extension of F-1 status
• Maintenance of Status
• Change of Local Address
• Change of Immigration Status
• Exception to full time requirement

Life in the U.S.

• Social Security and Non-Driver State ID
• Driver's license

Academic Issues

• Foreign Language Waiver

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Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is defined as an "alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school." You qualify for CPT as long as it is "an integral part of an established curriculum." CPT can be either part-time employment (20 hours or less per week) while school is in session (spring & fall) or full-time employment (maximum 40 hours per week) while school is not in session (winter or summer breaks).

CPT Forms

• CPT Advisor Authorization Form (PDF file size 48kb)
• CPT Departmental Letter Template (PDF file size 12kb)

Eligibility:

• Completion of one academic year (fall & spring semesters) of full-time enrollment in valid F-1 status
• Full-time matriculated student status

What you need to do:

• Register for a full course load (minimum 12 credits)
• Obtain a CPT package from the International Student Services office (ISS)
• Obtain a job offer letter from your prospective employer, stating start and end dates of the employment, tasks on the job, number of hours to be worked, and the address of the employer on company letterhead
• Meet with your academic advisor to review your internship and have him/her approve it by signing the appropriate form in the CPT package
• Bring a copy of the job offer letter from your prospective employer, your current SEVIS I-20, and your academic advisor approval to ISS
• ISS will evaluate the documents and authorize CPT in the SEVIS system and issue a new I-20 to reflect the CPT approval

ISS will authorize the CPT in SEVIS indicating:

• Whether the CPT is full-time or part-time
• The name of the employer
• The dates for the period of CPT
• Give you an updated I-20 with the CPT authorization printed on it

Important:

1. Make sure you know if the position is full-time or part-time and whether that will change during the time of your employment. If it does change, you will need to re-apply for a CPT approval from ISS.
2. Make sure that you obtain authorization from an International Student Advisor to engage in CPT each time you change employers and each time you extend the dates of your employment. You MUST get authorization BEFORE beginning the new job or working longer at the same job
3. Make sure you know how long your CPT will last
4. If you use 365 days or more of full-time CPT, you will be ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT)
5. Show your SEVIS I-20 with the CPT authorization to your employer as a proof that you have permission to work in the United States
   Do not start working until you have authorization from the International Student Services Office