F1 visa holders may be entitled to work authorization. Enrolled F-1 students, as well as recently graduated foreign students may be eligible to engage in “practical training” in the field in which they studied. There are two types of Practical training:
· Curricular Practical Training(CPT)
· Optional Practical Training(OPT)
Curricular Practical Training(CPT)
1. Curriculum Practical Training is a program authorised by the USCIS to allow students on F1 status to use the skills obtained in the course of study in the industry.
2. Curricular Practical Training(CPT) is issued to students enrolled on a full time basis at an approved educational institution to obtain work experience in their field of study.
3. This is defined as an alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.
4. .CPT requires that the students have been on a F1 status in the USA for a minimum of 9 months and are in a proper standing in terms of academics and GPA. The Designated School Official(DSO) at the international office can provide more individual restrictions by the school on these programs.
5. CPT should be an integral part of the curriculum and has to be authorized by the DSO.
6. No employment should begin before the I20 is endorsed by the DSO and the person is authorised to work on CPT.
7. Request for CPT has to be accompanied by a job offer in the fied of study for DSO to authorize it.
8. The student usually receives academic credit for this training.
9. CPT is granted by the university and the students form I20 is endorsed with the employers name, address and dates the student is eligible to work, and the number of hours per week.
10. A student with CPT must present an original form I20 indicating CPT approval to an intended employer before employment may lawfully commence.
11. According to the immigration regulations, this employment may be an internship, cooperative education job, a practicum or any other work experience that is either required for the degree or for which academic credit is awarded.
12. There is no limitation upon the length of time, you may take up full time curricular practical training. If you undertake employment for twelve months or more of curricular practical training, you will not be eligible for post –completion optional practical training(OPT).
Note: Students may work as much as they are authorized on CPT, however should they work more than 12 months of full time CPT, they will no longer be eligible for OPT.
Optional Practical Training(OPT)
1. Optional Practical Training(OPT) is granted to students who wish to work in their field of study but are not going to work as a part of their academic program.
2. OPT is granted for a maximum of 12 months throughout the students academic career.
3. Students can work during their vacations or during the school year or save OPT to be used after graduation.
4. If working during the school year, the student is permitted to work only 20 hours a week.
5. If used after graduation, OPT must be completed within 14 months of graduation.
6. For OPT eligibility the student must apply with USCIS for an EAD card. The F-1 OPT employment cannot begin until actually receiving the EAD card in hand from the USCIS.(Upon approval, USCIS will mail this card directly to the applicant.)
7. As OPT is not employer specific, a student may change employers while working on OPT. However, they must report any employment changes to their school, including name of the employer, address of employer and any interruption in employment during their granted period of OPT.
8. USCIS has allowed F-1 students engaged in OPT who are in certain STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields to apply for an additional 17 months of OPT authorization beyond their initial 12 months of OPT(for a total of 29 months).
9. One must be already engaged in authorized OPT based on graduation from a program in an acceptable STEM field to be eligible.If eligible a student must obtain an updated Form I 20 evidencing their eligibility for the additional 17 month period and an additional form I 765, must be filled with the USCIS prior to the expiration of their current EAD card.
10. F-1 students are generally eligible for a maximum of 12 months of OPT for each degree level.
11. Most employers file H1B petition on behalf of F-1 students after their post completition OPT expires.
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