There are numerous opportunities like CPT, OPT, and others, for international students to participate in meaningful, practical work in the United States. These experiences, which typically take the form of internships and job opportunities, allow students to apply what they have learned in their programs to real-world organizations while also gaining valuable experience in a variety of career fields and industries.
International Students’ Employment Authorization Options
In order to participate in these practical experiences, international students may be eligible to use various types of employment authorization.
Unpaid work and internships are generally permitted in F-1 and J-1 student statuses and do not necessitate any additional authorization. However, international students should check with their university’s international office to confirm any advice they may have on how to avoid unfair or illegal unpaid work arrangements.
Before beginning any type of employment, international students must first ensure that they have the necessary authorization. This authorization may be a benefit of their status, granted by their school’s international office. Moreover, the USCIS (United States Citizenship & Immigration Services).
Opportunities to perform any type of work or provide services in exchange for money, tuition, fees, books, supplies, lodging, or any other benefit would be considered employment under immigration law.
International students may be eligible for various types of employment authorization. Among the most common types of authorization are:
On-campus Employment
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Students on F-1 visas may be eligible to participate in practical training programs that are an integral part of an established curriculum and are directly related to the student’s major field of study. Curricular practical training, or CPT, is a term that describes this type of authorized employment.
The F1 visa CPT rules allow it to be used for internships, practicums, or other short-term positions. These must be necessary for a student’s degree, a specific course, or part of a co-operative education program that the student’s university has with an employer or group of employers.
Students must apply for CPT through their university’s international office because it is not an automatic benefit of F-1 status (like on-campus work).
Degree requirements, course requirements, and co-operative educational programmes vary greatly between universities and within each university. As a result, students must first confirm that their programme contains a CPT-eligible element (practical experience tied to a degree requirement,
course requirement, or co-operative education), and then apply for CPT authorization in accordance with specific guidance provided by their university’s international office.
CPT Qualification
Students must meet the following requirements to be eligible for CPT:
- Have a valid F-1 visa.
- Before performing the work, you must be enrolled full-time for one academic year.
- Be enrolled in a degree program at a U.S. institution of higher learning that is accredited and SEVP-certified.
- Have a specific job offer that meets the requirements of the school for the relevant course, degree, or co-operative opportunity.
CPT Characteristics
While CPT details, availability, and application procedures vary by university, the following are some common CPT features:
- CPT can be used only during one’s academic program (before the expiration date on one’s I-20).
- The university’s international office grants CPT for a specific time period and employer.
- There is no cap on the number of times an eligible student can participate in either part-time (less than 20 hours per week) or full-time (more than 20 hours per week) CPT.
- Students considering the CPT to OPT transition should be aware that if they have used 12 months or more of full-time CPT, they will be ineligible for the same degree level, OPT (another type of employment authorization discussed further below). Part-time CPT has no bearing on OPT eligibility.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
F-1 students may be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) .
OPT is a term used to describe temporary employment for practical training. Moreover, it is directly related to the student’s major field of study. OPT can be used both during and after a programme (before and/or after the programme end date on an I-20).
F-1 students may apply for up to 12 months of full-time OPT, depending on their degree level. The university’s international office recommends OPT. However, the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) reviews and approves it. Also, it can take up to 3-4 months to process.
Qualification for OPT
Students must meet the following requirements to be eligible for OPT:
- Have a valid F-1 visa.
- Before performing the work, you must be enrolled full-time for one academic year.
- Be enrolled in a degree program at a U.S. institution of higher learning that is accredited and SEVP-certified.
- Plan to do work directly related to their field of study (however, a job offer is not necessary to apply for OPT).
- Not having used at least 12 months of full-time CPT.
- No more than 12 months of full-time OPT at the same degree level, nor do any OPT at a higher degree level.
OPT Characteristics
Here are a few more important aspects of OPT:
If you are looking for CPT after OPT, keep in mind that students are not eligible to apply for CPT after they have completed their entire OPT period.
Pre-completion OPT (OPT used before the end date on one’s I-20) can be part-time (less than 20 hours per week) or full-time (more than 20 hours per week) (more than 20 hours per week).
Post-completion OPT (OPT used before the expiration date on one’s I-20) can only be used for full-time employment. F-1 students who complete the programme may apply for post-completion OPT through USCIS. In most cases, students can apply for it as early as three months before the course completion date and as late as one month after completing their degree requirements. Furthermore, if you have previously completed pre-completion OPT, USCIS will deduct your pre-completion OPT time from your post-completion OPT authorization time.
When a student is ready to apply for OPT, they should contact their university’s international office for more information on the application process and materials.
| OPT | CPT |
|---|---|
| OPT is a 12-month temporary authorization granted to students on F-1 visas to work in their related field. | CPT is a 12-month temporary work authorization granted to students on F-1 visas for work directly related to their majors. |
| The OPT work experience must be related to the student’s field of study but is not required to be part of the academic curriculum. This does not require a student to earn course credit. | Working with CPT must be related to the student’s degree, or CPT work must receive course credit. |
| OPT is not employer-specific and allows for employment rather than an internship or co- op. | CPT is a course that allows students to work in a paid or unpaid internship, practicum, or cooperative (co-op) education programme as part of their major. |
| OPT is valid for 12 months and can be extended for up to 24 months. | CPT can last up to a year. |
| Students with OPT authorization are not required to have any employment or job offers. | CPT Jobs require students to have an employment or job offer. |
| Students with OPT authorization can work for any employer in the United States. | Employers who are on the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and I-20 list are the only ones who can participate in CPT. |
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