Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Application
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 nine months of full-time study in order to be eligible for any kind of CPT.
2. The training must clearly be related to the student's field of study and not pursued simply for monetary gain.
3. Students who have already completed all course/unit requirements for their degree are NOT eligible for Curricular Practical Training.
4. Intensive English Institute (IEI / ELA) or ESL Students are not eligible for CPT
There are two types of Curricular Practical Training:
1. Required: To be considered Curricular Practical Training, the work must not only be related to your major field of study but must also be an integral part of your studies. Training which is required by your degree program always meets the requirements for Curricular Practical Training, regardless of whether or not you receive academic credit for your work. Even if the training is required, it MUST be approved.
2. Not Required: Training which is not required by your degree program may meet the requirements for Curricular Practical Training if you receive academic internship credit for the paid training experience and if the internship course is an integral part of your studies. WARNING: Failure to enroll in and complete the course credit will result in an immediate violation of your legal immigration status. It is your (the student’s) responsibility to fulfill all academic internship requirements of Curricular Practical Training with your academic department.
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 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 employment prior to or after the dates of CPT authorized on the I-20. If you work 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.
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 nine months of full-time study in order to be eligible for any kind of CPT.
2. The training must clearly be related to the student's field of study and not pursued simply for monetary gain.
3. Students who have already completed all course/unit requirements for their degree are NOT eligible for Curricular Practical Training.
4. Intensive English Institute (IEI / ELA) or ESL Students are not eligible for CPT
There are two types of Curricular Practical Training:
1. Required: To be considered Curricular Practical Training, the work must not only be related to your major field of study but must also be an integral part of your studies. Training which is required by your degree program always meets the requirements for Curricular Practical Training, regardless of whether or not you receive academic credit for your work. Even if the training is required, it MUST be approved.
2. Not Required: Training which is not required by your degree program may meet the requirements for Curricular Practical Training if you receive academic internship credit for the paid training experience and if the internship course is an integral part of your studies. WARNING: Failure to enroll in and complete the course credit will result in an immediate violation of your legal immigration status. It is your (the student’s) responsibility to fulfill all academic internship requirements of Curricular Practical Training with your academic department.
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 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 employment prior to or after the dates of CPT authorized on the I-20. If you work 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.