Curricular Practical Training
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is work authorization
that allows a student to work in a job related to his/her field.
There are three categories of CPT:
General Eligibility Requirements
- Student must have been enrolled full-time for at
least one full academic year and be legal
F-1 status.
- Student must possess valid U of MN I-20.
- Student must possess valid passport.
- See additional eligibility requirements under each category
of CPT.
General Information
- A student may not begin employment until s/he has
the CPT authorization in hand.
- CPT authorization must be based on the academic program reflected
on student’s current I-20.
- ISSS authorizes CPT; authorization is noted on new I-20 issued.
- Authorization for CPT is employer specific and reflects a start
and end date.
- CPT authorization cannot be voided if a student terminates
employment.
- CPT can be used on a pre-completion basis only.
- USCIS regulations state that a student is not able to deliberately
prolong his/her date of completion to take advantage of CPT.
- CPT authorization cannot exceed the period of one year per
application.
- CPT authorization may be part-time or full-time depending on
eligibility requirements.
- Non-degree seeking students are eligible to apply for CPT.
- Students who have received one year or more of full-time CPT
are not eligible to apply for Optional
Practical Training and/or a Program
Extension.
- Students who have been granted a Program Extension are not eligible
to pursue full-time CPT.
CPT - Internship (paid) Required
by Program
- Internship must be required for the completion of
the degree program.
- Authorization may be part-time or full-time depending on the
internship requirement.
- Students be required to document the program’s internship
requirement.
Eligibility
- Student must have been enrolled as a full-time
student for at least one full academic year and be in legal
F-1 status (exception: students in a graduate program where
the internship is required within the first academic year of study—evidence
of this requirement must accompany CPT application).
- Student is able to document the internship requirement of the
program.
- Student possesses a valid U of MN I-20 and passport.
Application
Attend a Curricular/Optional
Practical Training Workshop to obtain information and application
forms and to have the opportunity to ask questions. The completed
application must be submitted to an ISSS adviser during scheduled
walk-in hours or an appointment.
Submit to ISSS Adviser (Forms
Pages)
- Student Request/Academic Adviser Verification
- Evidence of internship requirement
- Transcript
- I-20
- Passport
- Reduced Course Load Form(s), if needed
It may take ISSS one week or two or longer to process the authorization.
ISSS cannot backdate authorization to accommodate employment already
started. Students should not accept salary for employment not covered
by CPT authorization. A student cannot begin CPT employment until
s/he has the authorization in hand.
CPT - Co-op Program
- Available to students selected to participate in
a bona-fide co-op program through their college or department.
- Employment authorization may be part-time or full-time depending
on the co-op agreement.
- Student will need to provide evidence of college/department
co-op approval.
Eligibility
- Student must have been enrolled as a full-time student
for at least one full academic year and be in legal F-1 status.
- Student possesses a valid U of MN I-20 and passport.
Application
Attend a Curricular/Optional Practical Training Workshop to obtain information and application forms and to have the opportunity to ask questions. The completed application must be submitted to an ISSS adviser at least one week prior to the start of CPT employment. Submit your application during scheduled walk-in hours or make an appointment.
Submit to an ISSS Adviser
( Forms
Pages)
- Student Request/Academic Adviser Verification
- Course Description Form completed by Course USCIStructor
- Transcript
- I-20
- Passport
- Reduced Course Load Form(s), if needed
Important:
- ISSS requires 5 business days (1 week) to process CPT authorization.
- ISSS cannot backdate authorization to accommodate employment already started.
- Students should not accept salary for employment not covered by CPT authorization.
- A student cannot begin CPT employment until s/he has the authorization in hand.
CPT - Elective Internship/Employment
- Available to students who want to gain practical
work experience related to their field of
study.
- Must be based on the student receiving course credit to participate
in the employment. Some established curriculums have courses that
would meet this requirement or a student can arrange a Directed
Study or Independent Study course. It is important that the course
requires the employment with a specified begin and end date.
- Student must receive an Incomplete in the course until the period
of CPT has been satisfied
Eligibility
- Student must have been enrolled as a full-time student
for at least one full academic year and be in legal F-1 status.
- Student has arranged to enroll for a course that requires employment
related to field of study.
- Student possesses a valid U of MN I-20 and passport.
Application
Attend a Curricular/Optional
Practical Training Workshop to obtain information and application
forms and to have the opportunity to ask questions. The completed
application must be submitted to an ISSS adviser during scheduled
walk-in hours or an appointment.
Submit to an ISSS Adviser
(Forms
Pages)
- Student Request/Academic Adviser Verification
- Course Description Form completed by course instructor
- Transcript
- I-20
- Passport
-
Reduced Course Load Form(s), if neededd
Please Note:
ISSS requires 5 business days (one week) to process CPT authorization.
ISSS cannot backdate authorization to accommodate employment already
started. Students should not accept salary for employment not covered
by CPT authorization. A student cannot begin CPT employment until
s/he has the authorization in hand.
Other Information
Extension of CPT
- Available if student has not completed program requirements.
- Extension of one month or less is possible based on current
authorization by submitting to an ISSS adviser the Form I-20 and
the letter/document described below:
- Required internship: Letter from college/department
verifying need to extend internship to complete program requirement.
Letter must state the revised end date.
- Co-Op: Revised co-op agreement or letter from U of MN co-op
program sponsor that reflects co-op extension requirement.
Agreement or letter must state the revised end date.
- Elective Internship/Employment: Letter from course instructor
stating the requirement of the course has been extended. Letter
should state the revised end date.
- Extensions of more than one month of CPT require a new application
and, for elective CPT, a new course registration.
Employer Change Under CPT
- Submit to an ISSS adviser Form I-20 and letter from
course instructor stating the requirement of the course has changed
in terms of employer. instructor’s letter must state the
name of the new employer, address, and the effective date.
- CPT authorization for new employer must be in hand before a
student can begin new employment.
Full-time CPT Authorization
- Work hours that total more than 20 hrs/week require
full-time CPT authorization.
- CPT authorization cannot exceed a total of 40 hrs/week during
the academic year. Note: On-campus employment, including assistantships,
counts towards the total hours of work. Summer vacation CPT authorization
can exceed 40 hr/week.
- Students with full-time CPT authorization during the academic
year are required, under USCIS regulations, to maintain full-time
progress on their degree program. Employment cannot delay the
completion of a degree program.
- Full-time CPT authorizations that total 12 months or more will
cause a student to become ineligible for Optional Practical Training and/or a Program Extension.
- Students with full-time CPT authorization must file an Reduced Course Load of Study Form for each semester they are
enrolled less than full-time. The reason on the Reduced Course Load
cannot be “participating in a required internship” when
the employment is elective.
- Students who have received full-time CPT for employment at the
University will need to have a new Form
I-9 processed at University
Payroll.
Who Is Eligible for Full-time CPT Authorization
- Students meeting the general eligibility requirements
are able to participate in full-time CPT during the summer vacation.
- Students who have completed all course requirements for their
degree and are working on their Plan B, thesis, etc. and meet
the general eligibility requirements.
- Students who have been granted a Program Extension are not eligible
for full-time CPT.
Part-time CPT Authorization
- Twenty hours/week or less requires part-time CPT
authorization.
- On-campus employment, including assistantships, counts toward
the total hours of work.
- Part-time CPT authorization can be requested during the academic
year or summer.
Who is Eligible for Part-time CPT Authorization
- Any F-1 student who meets the general eligibility
criteria may apply for part-time CPT
authorization.
- Part-time CPT authorization can be requested during the academic
year as well as
summer.
Please Note:
ISSS offers CPT/OPT
Workshops
Last Update: May 1, 2008
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