Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Authorization For F-1
International Students
Online Employment Workshop
International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
Georgia State University
Before you get started…
Download the following document:
Curricular Practical Training Application
Please refer to this form during the presentation.
Be sure to review this form carefully after the
presentation.
The estimated time to complete this presentation is
25 minutes. Please review all information and resources
prior to applying for CPT.
To navigate this presentation, simply click on each slide or
press the forward arrow key to advance to the next slide!
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Employment Authorization Overview
International students in F-1 status have limited work
authorization available since the primary purpose of an F-1 Visa is
study. However, international students can work under the
following circumstances:
1.
On-campus authorization: This type of work authorization is considered
to be part of F-1 status and no additional approval is needed. On-campus
work is limited to 20 hours per week during the fall/spring semesters (20
hour or more can be permitted in Summer & official university breaks).
2.
Off-campus authorization:
•
•
•
3.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)—before completion of studies (during
program)*
Optional Practical Training (OPT)—after completion of studies*
*For a complete definition of completion of studies, please see our
Completion of Studies Policy.
Severe Economic Hardship authorization: students who are facing a
severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstance beyond
their control may apply to the U.S. government for a EAD work
authorization card. This authorization is only granted in rare situations.
For more information see an international student advisor.
This presentation will focus only on CPT!
I’m not sure if I should apply for OPT
or CPT, what is the difference?
CPT
OPT
When can I use
OPT or CPT?
CPT can only be granted during
academic program. CPT cannot
be approved after completion of
program.
OPT is usually used after completion of studies.
Do I have to
have a job to
apply for CPT
or OPT?
Yes, approval is given for a
specific employer during a
specific time.
No, a student does not need a job before applying for OPT.
Can I work at
any kind of job?
No, the job must be considered
an integral part of your academic
program (see CPT workshop for
more details).
No, it is the student’s responsibility to find employment in his or her
field of study.
Who gives the
authorization?
ISSS can give CPT authorization.
Processing time is approximately
5 business days.
ISSS can only recommend OPT; USCIS gives OPT approval.
Processing time can take up to 90 days.
How long can I
use CPT or
OPT?
There is no limit to the amount of
CPT you can use. If you use fulltime CPT greater than 12 months
(365 days), you will lose OPT
eligibility.
The maximum length of OPT approval is 29 months based on the
possibility of the 17-month OPT extension.
12 months of post-completion OPT + 17 months of OPT extension
= 29 months . For more information on STEM eligibility, see the
ISSS webiste:
http://www.gsu.edu/isss/17-month_STEM_extension.html
CPT Process
View CPT
Presentation
online and read
CPT application
form
Collect appropriate
documentation &
register for class
CPT application
If you have questions,
review the FAQ on the
website or contact your
international student advisor
or
If you have no questions,
drop off CPT application at
ISSS for processing
Offer letter from employer
 Register for CPT class
ISSS processing time is
approximately 5
business days.
Click to advance to next slide!
What is Curricular Practical Training (CPT)?
• CPT is off-campus
employment authorization in
a student’s field of study
prior to completion of
studies.
• CPT is employment which is
an integral or important
part of your curriculum/field
of study.
• CPT employment is
temporary or short term (by
semester). Example: an
accounting student doing a
summer semester internship
at an accounting firm.
What is CPT? (continued…)
•
CPT is curricular because you must register for a “CPT Class” within
your major. The appropriate class will be assigned by your supervising
professor. Exception: If an internship is required for completion of your
degree, registration in the CPT class is not required. However, you will
need to submit proof with your CPT request that an internship is a
degree requirement.
•
You will receive a grade for your CPT course by a supervising professor.
•
Examples of appropriate “CPT courses”:*
Class No.
Class Name
CSC 8940
Computer Science Internship
BIO 6919
Internships in Biology
ACCT 4391
Field Study in Accounting
FI 4389
Directed Readings in Finance
*Please note that Thesis or Dissertation Research hours are typically not acceptable for the
CPT Class. For more information see our full CPT Policy.
•
Are you unsure what CPT course to take? Don’t worry! Your
supervising professor will help you choose the appropriate course within
your field of study.
Who is eligible for CPT?
F-1 students who:
•
Have been enrolled full-time for one academic year (9 months; 2 full
academic semesters) prior to authorization date and are in F-1 status at
the time of application. Example: If you began your studies Fall 2011, you
will not be eligible for CPT until Summer 2012. *Students must maintain F1 status while on CPT.
•
Have attended an employment workshop or completed the online
workshop in the previous year.
•
Are in good academic standing.
•
Are able to demonstrate that proposed employment is an integral part of
degree program.
•
Are registered and enrolled in the required internship course within your
major prior to requesting CPT authorization. See exception note in
previous slide if internship is required for completion of your degree.
Click to advance to next slide!
Example CPT Application
How to Apply?
Step 1. Find a job and complete Student
section of CPT Application
Step 2. Obtain an original employment
letter on official letterhead with the
following information:
•Student name
•Job title
•CompanyDon’t
name
address of
forgetand
to include
where you will dates!
working
•Start and end dates of employment
•Work hours per week
•Brief description of work to be
performed
Step 3. Meet with supervising professor
and have him/her complete section two
Step 4. Register for CPT class if
applicable (class must be in your major)
Step 5. Turn in all application materials to
ISSS front desk
I-20 Issuance
• Once you have all the
required documents, you
can drop off the forms at
the front desk of ISSS
for review by an
international student
advisor.
• An ISSS advisor will
review your application
materials, academic and
immigration record, and
will authorize CPT in
SEVIS.
• You will be notified by
email when your new
I-20 with CPT
authorization is
completed.
CPT Authorization will be on
page 3 of your new I-20.
When should you apply?
• You can apply as soon as you
have a job, completed the
CPT application, have the
employment letter, and are
registered for the CPT class.
***You cannot apply until
you have completed all the
application materials!
• CPT typically coincides with
the beginning and ending
dates of the semester.
• The deadline to apply is 2
weeks after the start of
semester, which usually
corresponds to the
Registrar’s late registration
deadline. See the latest
Academic Calendar for
dates.
Authorized Dates for CPT by Semester
CPT Semester
Authorized Dates
Summer 2013
5/8/2013 to 8/3/2013
Fall 2013
8/4/2013 to 12/17/2013
Spring 2014
12/18/2013 to 5/6/2014
*Please note that CPT may be
authorized any time during the above
dates. CPT may also be authorized prior
to the first day of classes of the
semester, but cannot go beyond the last
day of finals of that semester. Example;
For a Spring 2014 CPT, you can work
during Winter Break (12/18/2013 to
1/12/2014) and then during the Spring
semester until the last day of finals
(1/13/2014 to 5/6/2014).
*CPT is approved only by semester. You
must reapply each semester, which
includes registering for the CPT class
again (if applicable).
Employment Letter Specifications
•
As noted in the section, “How to
Apply?”, you are required to submit an
employment letter on official
letterhead with the following
information:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Student name
Job title
Company name and address of
where you will be physically
working
Start and end dates of
employment
Work hours per week
Brief description of work to be
performed
•
Failure to include all the necessary
information on the letter will result in
the denial or delay of CPT approval.
•
ISSS prefers you submit an original
letter with a ink signature. However, a
digitally signed copy of the letter is
acceptable if it meets all the
requirements for the letter and you
print out the email showing it was sent
directly sent from the employer’s email
CPT Letter Dates
•
Your offer letter must have the start
and end dates of your employment.
•
The start and end dates of your
employment must be within the
authorized CPT dates for the semester
(see previous slide).
•
Work hours per week must be noted
clearly on each letter
•
Part-time CPT (20 hours or less)
•
Full-time CPT (20 hours or
more)**
**Please see upcoming presentation
slide for information on what is the
difference between Part-Time (P/T)
or Full-Time (F/T) CPT and your
eligibility for either.
** If your internship will include both
P/T and F/T employment, your
employment letter MUST state
which dates you will be working
F/T or P/T and the hours for each.
Example letter
1.
Official letterhead
2.
Physical Address of
Company
3. Student Name
4.. Physical address
of where you
will be
working
8.
5
Internship Title
6.
Brief description
of job responsibilities
7.
Dates & Hours of
employment by
semester and break
period*** (see below)
Signature, Name
& Title of
Authorizer of
employment
**Ink signature
preferred
**If you will be working during an authorized
break period (Example; prior to beginning of
classes, Winter Break, etc), the employer must write
the corresponding dates & hours of this
employment for the break period and semester
dates. (SEE ABOVE EXAMPLE)
When can you do Part-Time (P/T) or
Full-Time (F/T) CPT?
Full-Time CPT
Part-Time CPT
•
•
•
•
Typically P/T CPT (20 hours or
less) is used during the Fall and
Spring Semesters, but can be done
any semester or break period
Break Period
You are ONLY permitted to do
P/T CPT when enrolled full-time
in classes (12 credit hours for
undergraduates and 9 credit
hours for graduates)
P/T CPT can be done in addition
to on campus work or a graduate
assistantship.
Typically F/T CPT (20 hours or more) is used
during Spring, Summer, and Winter Breaks as
described in the chart below:
Authorized Dates
Summer Break
5/8/2013 to 6/9/2013
Summer Semester
Fall Break
6/10/2013 to 8/3/2013
8/4/2013 to 8/25/2013
Winter Break
12/18/2013 to 1/12/2014
**Please note that if you will be working F/T during an
authorized break period, you must indicate the dates and hours
on your employment letter (see previous slide for example).
F/T CPT can also be used during these situations:
•
When a F/T position is a requirement of
the degree (must be explicitly stated in
course bulletin).
•
Can be done for unlimited
semesters, but requires new
authorization every semester.
•
When a graduate student has completed
all coursework and is ONLY working on a
thesis or dissertation and has no
Graduate Assistantship.
•
You must also register for the
CPT class every semester you do
CPT
•
During the student’s last semester IF the
student is officially under-enrolled. You
must complete an Academic UnderEnrollment Form and be approved first.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(FAQs)
In the next few slides, some
FAQs will be answered.
However, for a more
exhaustive list of FAQs,
please see the ISSS Website.
You’re almost finished with
the presentation…!!!
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Can I have a Graduate
Assistantship and do FullTime CPT at the same
time?
No. F/T CPT can only be done if (a) it is your
last semester (b) you have been approved for
an under-enrollment by ISSS and (c) you
DO NOT have an assistantship. Per GSU
Graduate Assistant Policy, students receiving
assistantships must be enrolled full time (9
credit hours fall or 6 credit hours summer) to
receive a full tuition waiver and maintain
their assistantship.
For more questions about course enrollment
requirements and tuition waivers, please see
the academic department who supervises your
assistantship. You may have to choose
between maintaining your assistantship or
pursuing F/T CPT. You can always pursue
P/T CPT and maintain your assistantship.
Click to advance to next slide!
Can CPT be the
ONLY course I take
in my last semester?
No. You cannot delay your completion of studies
for the sole purpose of doing CPT. If you want to
work after you complete your last degree
requirement, you need to apply for OPT.
Exception: If you have only one degree
requirement remaining and that course is CPT
appropriate (Example: field study, internship,
etc), then CPT could be authorized. You would
also have the submit an Academic
Under-enrollment Request Form. Your advisor
will have to review this special exception for
approval.
Click to advance to next slide!
Do I need CPT
authorization for an
unpaid internship?
No. You can work off-campus in an unpaid
internship without CPT approval. Please note that
some employers may require CPT approval even
for an unpaid internship. If this is your situation,
you will need to apply for CPT which includes
registering for the CPT course.
Click to advance to next slide!
If working is a
required part of my
academic program, is
CPT class
registration required
for CPT approval?
No, but you must submit proof of
the requirement along with the CPT
request.
Click to advance to next slide!
Now that I have a
new I-20 for CPT,
what do I do with my
other I-20’s?
The new I-20 with CPT approval is
considered your current I-20 and
should be used. It is recommended that
you keep all of your I-20’s issued from
ISSS for your records. You will need
your old CPT I-20s if you apply for
OPT.
Click to advance to next slide!
If I work with a company
full-time over the summer
with CPT approval, can I
continue working with them
in the fall? Do I have to apply
for CPT approval again?
Since CPT permission is semester
specific, a new CPT will need to be
approved each semester. If you want to
extend your CPT work authorization, you
will need to register for the CPT class
again, submit the CPT application form
and offer letter from company to your
international student advisor again.
Click to advance to next slide!
If I work on parttime CPT for one
year will I lose
my OPT?
No, you will only lose your eligibility for
OPT if you work 12 months on full-time
CPT. Part-time CPT does not count
against your OPT time.
Click to advance to next slide!
Please don’t…
• Work off-campus without employment
authorization.
• Work beyond the end date of your CPT
authorization. If your employer wants you to
continue, you must get additional CPT approval.
• Begin working before you receive your CPT
approval. CPT approval cannot be given for work
done in the past.
Click to advance to next slide!
Remember…
• To make sure your CPT application is complete
before turning it into the front desk. Incomplete
applications (omitted lines, incorrect information,
no signatures, etc) will delay your application.
• To apply in a timely manner. Please allow at least
5 business days to pass before inquiring about
the status of your application. ISSS works
diligently to approve CPTs in a timely manner
before your CPT start date.
• CPT is a benefit you apply for and approval is not
guaranteed. You must meet ALL eligibility
requirements.
Click to advance to next slide!
Contact ISSS
If you have questions that this presentation could
not answer, ISSS strongly recommends you first review
the FAQs section on the CPT webpage and the CPT
policy prior to meeting with an international student
advisor. If your question(s) are still unresolved, you can
attend a Q&A Session or ask an international student
advisor.
International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
252 Sparks Hall
Georgia State University
404-413-2070
isss@gsu.edu
Click on the next slide to submit proof of your completion of
Click to advance
to next slide!
the online
workshop…
CPT Workshop Attendance Submission
Congrats! You are now ready to apply for CPT!
Please click on the link below to submit proof you
completed the online workshop. Failure to submit
your information via the link below will result in
denial or delay of your application:
CPT Online Workshop Completion Form (click)
Or copy and paste hyperlink:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_
US&formkey=dDVKQ2pUXzFHZWlNa1hyYldTdF9xQ
Wc6MQ#gid=0
Thank you!!! We wish you the best in your CPT Experience!
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