Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Application
On August 12, 2026, SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) released broadcast message 2608-01 https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/bcm260801.pdf and 2608-02 https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/bcm_260802.pdf regarding CPT (Curricular Practical Training) Authorization.
In the message SEVP clarifies that:
Definition of Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) allows students to accept paid training in a student's major field of study as part of their program of study. USCIS defines Curricular Practical Training as employment that is an integral or required part of the course curriculum, including internship or cooperative education. A department that recommends "Curricular Practical Training" must list the training opportunity as a course in the course catalog.
Conditions:
1. The student must have been in valid F-1 status for one academic year. In other words, students must have completed 2 semesters of full-time study at UW - Whitewater in order to be eligible for CPT.
2. CPT authorization requires the "absence would make the attainment of a degree an impossibility" (BCM Number: 2608-01)
3. CPT authorization requires that the "CPT is required for all students pursuing that degree."(BCM Number: 2608-01)
4. The training must clearly be related to the student's field of study and not pursued simply for monetary gain.
5. Students who have already completed all course/unit requirements for their degree are NOT eligible for Curricular Practical Training.
6. CPT cannot be authorized solely for the purpose of employment or for experiences that are not required or otherwise formally recognized as part of the academic program (BCM Number: 2608-01)
Part-Time vs. Full-Time Curricular Practical Training
Part-Time CPT: Paid training for 20 hours or less per week is considered "Part-Time CPT”. The employment authorization on your SEVIS I-20 will, therefore, specify permission to engage in "part-time" training and you must limit your work to no more than 20 hours per week. You must simultaneously be enrolled as a full-time student at UW-Whitewater during the part-time CPT to maintain lawful F-1 status.
Full-Time CPT: Paid training for more than 20 hours per week is considered "Full-Time CPT” and the employment authorization on your SEVIS I-20 will, in this case, specify permission to participate in "full-time" training. Students may engage in Full-Time CPT during the summer break. Students engaged in Full-Time CPT during a semester must also be enrolled as full-time students.
If you participate for a total of one year or more of full-time CPT, you will not be eligible for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Deadlines and Allowable Employment Dates Under Part/Full-Time CPT
For CPT during Fall and Spring semesters, when students are required to be enrolled full-time, the proposed start and end dates should closely follow the academic calendar. For Full-Time CPT, the proposed employment dates must also follow the academic year calendar for Spring and Fall terms. CPT can only be approved for the time when CPT takes place. If a student engages for CPT an additional semester, the student must fully complete the CPT application process for each term / semester.
Application and Authorization Procedures
To apply for Curricular Practical Training, you should submit the following paperwork via the WISP CPT request:
1) Upload copy of your current I-20, Passport, Visa, and I-94
2) F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) recommendation from your academic adviser (routed through the verification/recommendation form in WISP).
3) Upload a letter of hire from your employer: The letter MUST:
(1) be on organization/company letterhead,
(2) have a full address of where you will be working,
(3) have a specific beginning and ending dates of paid training,
(4) include the number of training hours per week
(5) have a detailed job description.
4) Any other documents from your department, internships course enrollment, etc.
CPT can take up to 2 weeks to process – so plan ahead. CPT authorization must be obtained before beginning employment. You may not begin or continue CPT prior to or after the dates of CPT authorized on the I-20. If you participate even for one day outside of your authorization, this is a serious immigration status violation which results in termination of your I-20, required departure from the United States, and potential bar on re-entry.
Social Security and Other Taxes:
To begin paying you, your employer will need your Social Security Number. You are responsible for managing your taxes. ISSS staff are not able to answer tax questions.
In the message SEVP clarifies that:
- “CPT cannot be authorized solely for the purpose of employment or for experiences that are not required or otherwise formally recognized as part of the academic program.”
- CPT must be “a core and essential part of the student's studies, without which, they would be unable to complete their degree”
- CPT can only be authorized “if its absence would make the attainment of a degree an impossibility and if the work associated with CPT is required for all students pursuing that degree.”
Definition of Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) allows students to accept paid training in a student's major field of study as part of their program of study. USCIS defines Curricular Practical Training as employment that is an integral or required part of the course curriculum, including internship or cooperative education. A department that recommends "Curricular Practical Training" must list the training opportunity as a course in the course catalog.
Conditions:
1. The student must have been in valid F-1 status for one academic year. In other words, students must have completed 2 semesters of full-time study at UW - Whitewater in order to be eligible for CPT.
2. CPT authorization requires the "absence would make the attainment of a degree an impossibility" (BCM Number: 2608-01)
3. CPT authorization requires that the "CPT is required for all students pursuing that degree."(BCM Number: 2608-01)
4. The training must clearly be related to the student's field of study and not pursued simply for monetary gain.
5. Students who have already completed all course/unit requirements for their degree are NOT eligible for Curricular Practical Training.
6. CPT cannot be authorized solely for the purpose of employment or for experiences that are not required or otherwise formally recognized as part of the academic program (BCM Number: 2608-01)
Part-Time vs. Full-Time Curricular Practical Training
Part-Time CPT: Paid training for 20 hours or less per week is considered "Part-Time CPT”. The employment authorization on your SEVIS I-20 will, therefore, specify permission to engage in "part-time" training and you must limit your work to no more than 20 hours per week. You must simultaneously be enrolled as a full-time student at UW-Whitewater during the part-time CPT to maintain lawful F-1 status.
Full-Time CPT: Paid training for more than 20 hours per week is considered "Full-Time CPT” and the employment authorization on your SEVIS I-20 will, in this case, specify permission to participate in "full-time" training. Students may engage in Full-Time CPT during the summer break. Students engaged in Full-Time CPT during a semester must also be enrolled as full-time students.
If you participate for a total of one year or more of full-time CPT, you will not be eligible for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Deadlines and Allowable Employment Dates Under Part/Full-Time CPT
For CPT during Fall and Spring semesters, when students are required to be enrolled full-time, the proposed start and end dates should closely follow the academic calendar. For Full-Time CPT, the proposed employment dates must also follow the academic year calendar for Spring and Fall terms. CPT can only be approved for the time when CPT takes place. If a student engages for CPT an additional semester, the student must fully complete the CPT application process for each term / semester.
Application and Authorization Procedures
To apply for Curricular Practical Training, you should submit the following paperwork via the WISP CPT request:
1) Upload copy of your current I-20, Passport, Visa, and I-94
2) F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) recommendation from your academic adviser (routed through the verification/recommendation form in WISP).
3) Upload a letter of hire from your employer: The letter MUST:
(1) be on organization/company letterhead,
(2) have a full address of where you will be working,
(3) have a specific beginning and ending dates of paid training,
(4) include the number of training hours per week
(5) have a detailed job description.
4) Any other documents from your department, internships course enrollment, etc.
CPT can take up to 2 weeks to process – so plan ahead. CPT authorization must be obtained before beginning employment. You may not begin or continue CPT prior to or after the dates of CPT authorized on the I-20. If you participate even for one day outside of your authorization, this is a serious immigration status violation which results in termination of your I-20, required departure from the United States, and potential bar on re-entry.
Social Security and Other Taxes:
To begin paying you, your employer will need your Social Security Number. You are responsible for managing your taxes. ISSS staff are not able to answer tax questions.