Working in the United States

An opportunity for international students in F-1 status to participate in professional, temporary employment such as an internship, co-op program, practicum or similar situation, which is undertaken prior to the completion of studies. The training must either be a required part OR an integral part of the established curriculum and the student must receive academic credit for the employment that will count toward degree requirements.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Curricular Practical Training, an F-1 student must continue to make reasonable progress toward degree completion, have at least a 2.5 for your grade point average (GPA) for CPT to be approved, AND satisfy one of the following requirements:

1. The internship, practicum, or field placement/study is a requirement for the degree program and confer course credit. Student may work for the length of time that the curriculum requires for the degree. Full-time (over 20 hours per week) training is allowed.
2. An F-1 student is required to have completed one academic year of studies to qualify under this criterion. The internship, practicum, or field placement/study is an integral part of the degree program and confer course credit, but is not a requirement of the degree program. Part-time (up to 20 hours per week) curricular practical training is allowed during regular semesters under this criteria. Full-time training is allowed only during vacation periods, such as summer vacation.

Application Steps

1. Find employment, an internship, or volunteer opportunity that qualifies for CPT.  You may find it helpful to speak with the Career Services Office or your Class Internship Coordinator.  
2. Complete the CPT Form (you will need to add your employer and deans email address to the form)
3. Register for the appropriate course/credits as agreed upon.
4. The form must be completed two weeks before your internship is expected to begin.
5. Receive the I-20 from International Programs with CPT work authorization.
   • If you do not already have a Social Security Number, please include a note that you need the Social Security letter from International Program staff. 

NOTE: The International Programs office will review each case submitted and determine the merit of each case. You may choose to speak to a member of International Programs to pre-determine your eligibility before submitting your documents. Please remember that you may NOT engage in practical training until approval is annotated on your I-20.

Eligibility

Optional Practical Training (Pre-completion or Post Completion) may be taken during or after a course of study, provided that the following conditions are met: 

• A. Pre-completion OPT 
  • For Pre-Completion OPT, the student must have been in F-1 status, in their current degree program, for at least one academic year before they may begin OPT. A student may submit an application for optional practical training up to 90 days prior to being enrolled for one full academic year.
  • The practical training employment relates directly to the student’s area of study and is sought in connection with one of the following stages of the course of study:
    • Part-time (no more than 20 hours per week) while school is in session
    • Full-time during the student’s annual vacation and at other times when school is not in session, IF the student is currently enrolled and intends to register for the next semester
• B. Post Completion OPT
  • Students may apply for Post Completion OPT between 90 days prior to his or her program end date and 60 days after his or her program end date (listed on I-20). 
    • Optional Practical Training must be requested (delivered to the USCIS) prior to the completion of all course requirements for the degree or prior to the completion of the course of study or within 60 day grace period that F-1 students have after graduation. A student must complete all practical training (for a maximum of one year) within a 14-month period following the completion of study.
    • The OPT application package should reach the responsible USCIS office within 30 days after it has been processed by the DSO. 

Application Steps

Assemble your documents in the following order and present them at the International Programs office:

1. Two (2) identical color passport photos of yourself taken within 30 days of the filing of the OPT application. Please print your name on the back of the photos.
2. $410 check or money order, made out to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security”  
3. A completed I-765 (this is a fillable pdf document; it is best if you fill it in and then print for legibility).
4. Photocopies of the following documents: 
   • Passport
   • Visa
   • Your most recent I-94
   • All I-20's that have been issued to you

Instructions for Students Who Have Applied For or Have Been Granted OPT

IMPORTANT: Please remember that your obligation to comply with regulations does not stop with the issuance of the Employment Authorization Card (EAD) card. In order for your SEVIS record to be kept updated and your status valid throughout the OPT period, you must pay special attention to the following requirements:

1. Provide our office with a legible copy of your EAD as soon as you have it 
2. If you move to a new address during this period, it is important that you inform our office within 10 days of the move. 
3. If you need to travel outside the U.S., you must verify that the most recent signature at the bottom of page 2 of your I-20 shows a valid date. A valid signature date for this purpose is a date within six months of your intended date of return. Please contact our office well in case you need the signature re-validated. 
4. If you change your immigration status, please provide a copy of your approval notice to our office. 
5. If you leave the country permanently, please notify International Programs.

By following these simple rules, you will be able to continue to live and work in the US legally.

Traveling on OPT

If you will be traveling outside the US while on Optional Practical Training, you must be able to prove that you have a job to return to. Also remember that the signature on your I-20 may not be more than 6 months old at the time of your re-entry to the US.

Types of OPT employment

Paid employment:
Students may work part-time (at least 20 hours per week when on post-completion OPT) or full-time.

1. Multiple employers. Students may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to the student’s degree program and for pre-completion OPT cannot exceed the allowed per week cumulative hours.
2. Short-term multiple employers (performing artists). The student should maintain a list of all events, the dates and duration. If requested by DHS, students must be prepared to provide evidence showing a list of all short-term employment opportunities.
3. Work for hire. This is also commonly referred to as 1099 employment where an individual performs a service based on a contractual relationship rather than employment relationship. If requested by DHS, students must be prepared to provide evidence showing the duration of the contract periods and the name and address of the contracting company.
4. Self-employed business owner. Students on OPT may start a business and be self-employed. In this situation, the student must work full-time. The student must be able to prove that he or she has the proper business licenses and is actively engaged in a business related to the student’s degree program.
5. Employment through an agency. Students on post-completion OPT must be able to provide evidence showing they worked an average of at least 20 hours per week while employed by the agency.

Unpaid employment:
Students may work as volunteers or unpaid interns, where this does not violate any labor laws. The work must be at least 20 hours per week for students on post-completion OPT. These students must be able to provide evidence from the employer that the student worked at least 20 hours per week during the period of employment.

Employment MAY be unpaid in the regular 12 month period of OPT
For post-completion OPT, the employment does not have to be paid employment. Therefore, a student who is self-employed, interning or volunteering in a position directly related to the academic field would be considered “employed” for the purposes of OPT employment.