Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

• Overview

  
  Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

  Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is the authorization type F-1 students must receive prior to engaging in off campus employment, regardless of whether the job is paid or unpaid (this includes internships, practicums, field placements, etc). The primary purpose of CPT is to achieve a specific academic objective in accordance with your academic program. 

  Authorization for CPT is given in the form of an I-20 endorsed by a Visa & Immigration Services Advisor.  Students may engage in CPT employment only after they have received their updated I-20 listing the specific employer/field site, location, time period as evidence of their authorization.

  Important Considerations

  • CPT can be part-time during the academic year or full time during summer sessions, but may not run past the first day of the subsequent term of study. Part-time is defined as being 20 hours or less per week and full time as 21 or more hours per week.
  • CPT cannot be authorized after course requirements, thesis/project or dissertation are completed.
  • An accumulation of 12 months of full-time CPT makes you ineligible for OPT for that degree level.

    You may engage in CPT employment only after you have received the I-20 with your CPT authorization from VIS. The work authorization will only be valid for the specific employer, location, time period and on a part-time or full-time basis as approved and recorded by a VIS advisor and evidenced on your I-20 issued for CPT.

    You must not continue employment beyond the date authorized unless you apply and are granted an extension of your permission to work from VIS. To do so would be a violation of your nonimmigrant student status, and such violation would jeopardize your ability to remain in the US.

• Eligibility

  
  Eligibility Requirements

  
  In order to be eligible for CPT, you must meet the following requirements:

  1. You are currently in F-1 status and maintaining status.
  2. You have been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year (two semesters) in your current field of study/major.
     • Students who changed degree levels at Stony Brook or transferred from another U.S. college/university may be eligible for CPT after one semester at SBU. Please contact VIS to determine eligibility.
     • An exception to this requirement is given to graduate students whose academic program requires immediate participation in an off-campus internship or field placement.
  3. You have an internship/training experience offer that is directly related to your field of study and integral to your curriculum.
  4. You are registered for a course that requires the practical training experience. This course must be listed in the course catalog, specifically designed for a practical training experience, and be a minimum of one credit.
  5. If you have completed all required course work except thesis or dissertation, your CPT must contribute data to your thesis or dissertation.

  You must also attend a CPT Workshop. In lieu of attending a CPT Workshop, you can review the CPT & Pre-Completion OPT Presentation or recorded webinar.

• How to Apply

  
  Application Process

  To apply for CPT, follow the directions below. We recommend submitting your application at least 7 business days before your expected employment start date.

  If you are submitting a last minute request, it is your responsibility to notify your department AND VIS that you have submitted this request, and ask if expedited processing is possible.

  Important: Submission of this request in accessVIS does NOT authorize you to begin working. You must not begin working (with or without pay) until you have received authorization from VIS in the form of an updated Form I-20.

  Step 1: Register for an approved internship course

  You must be enrolled in an approved internship course for each semester you will request CPT authorization (including Winter and Summer terms). The course may be mandatory for all students in the degree program or may be optional, but must be in the major area of study and must apply toward completion of the degree requirements.

  Step 2: Submit the Curricular Practical Training request in accessVIS

  Complete the Curricular Practical Training request in accessVIS in order to receive your new I-20.

  Step 3: Submit the employment offer letter with your application

  A signed offer letter from your employer must be printed on official letterhead and address the following points:

  • Description of your specific duties
  • Dates of employment (start and end dates)
  •  Number of hours of work per week
  •  Physical address of the employment (do not use P.O. Box)
  • Name of your supervisor

  This letter must follow our template. If your employer does not know what our template looks like, please ask them to reach out to us.

  Step 4: Wait for your new I-20 to be issued

  Allow 5-7 business days for processing. If your CPT request is approved, a new I-20 will be issued and you will be contacted via email.

   

• CPT Workshops

  
  CPT Workshops

  Our Pre-Completion OPT/CPT Workshop provides detailed information regarding the U.S. regulations and application procedures associated with Pre-Completion OPT and CPT. Attendance and/or review of the CPT workshop is required for any F-1 Student who wishes to obtain work authorization to engage in Curricular Practical Training/Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training.

  Fall 2023 CPT Workshops

  Date	Time	Location
  Wednesday, September 6th	1pm - 2pm	Zoom - Register here
  Thursday, October 12th	11am - 12pm	Zoom - Register here
  Wednesday, November 15th	1pm - 2pm	Frey 100

• FAQs

  
  Frequently Asked Questions

   

  I have just been offered an internship opportunity. Can I begin working right away?

  No. You must apply for CPT at least ten business days before you wish to begin work.

  You must have been approved for and have received an updated I-20 signed by an International Student Advisor and endorsed for CPT before you may begin work.

  My degree program does not require an internship. Does this mean I cannot participate in an off campus internship?

  Not necessarily. If you have a job offer in your field of study, but the work is not required for you to make academic progress, you may not qualify for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), but Pre-Completion OPT may be an option. Speak with your VIS Advisor.

  Can I use my current CPT authorization for another internship since it has not yet expired?

  No. A CPT authorization is a job-specific authorization, so you must complete and a new CPT Request in accessVIS if you wish to extend or add additional employment.

  Can I do full-time CPT and still be eligible for the full 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT)?

  No. Students who have received one year or more of full time curricular practical training (CPT) are ineligible for post-completion academic training (OPT).
  
  Part-time CPT does not impact OPT eligibility.

  What should I do if I quit my training before the original anticipated CPT authorization end date?

  You should contact your International Student Advisor immediately so that we can amend your authorization dates.

  This is especially important if you were authorized for full-time CPT, so that this time will not count against your eligibility for optional practical training (OPT).

  Do I need to submit proof of enrollment for the past academic year?

  No, your VIS Advisor will verify your enrollment history through the university system. However, if you recently transferred to Stony Brook and wish to begin work on CPT prior to having been enrolled here for one academic year, you will need to provide us with transcripts from your previous school to show that you have fulfilled the enrollment requirement.

  I work at the library for five hours a week and have been offered an internship off campus. Am I eligible to apply for CPT?

  Yes, the amount of hours you work on-campus under on-campus work authorization does not infringe on the amount of hours you can work under CPT.  While school is in session, your on-campus work has to be 20 hours a week or less, and you must follow the hours guidelines for the specific CPT you are authorized for (either part-time or full-time).

  Do I need to apply for CPT for an unpaid internship?

  Yes! You should apply for work for authorization for any internship, even if you will not be paid.

  May I volunteer for an off-campus organization without CPT authorization?

  Even if you are not being paid for work you are performing off campus, you may still require CPT authorization.

  From an immigration standpoint, volunteering is considered a selfless act of donating one's time to the benefit of others. It is not unpaid employment. True volunteers donate their time without expecting anything in return professionally or monetarily. If the activity relates to your studies or intended profession, it is likely considered training, and requires advance authorization from our office or USCIS.

  If you intend to work for a company and the activity is related to your field of study or intended profession, this would be considered "unpaid employment," and would indeed require work authorization such as CPT.

  How do I know that I am authorized for CPT? When may I begin work?

  You will receive an e-mail that your updated Form I-20 has been issued. Prior to beginning your training you must be in possession of this updated Form I-20, which will be properly endorsed with the CPT authorization on page two.

  Employment before or after your authorized dates of training will jeopardize your F-1 status.

  Do I have to take classes while on CPT?

  Yes. Enrollment in an approved internship course is required. The course may be mandatory for all students in the degree program or may be optional, but must be in the major area of study and must apply toward completion of the degree requirements.

  Is there a minimum credit requirement for the independent study and/ or internship course?

  You must be enrolled in an approved internship course for at least 1 credit.

  I have been enrolled as a full-time student for the past two years but in H4 status and just recently changed to F-1 student status. Am I eligible to apply for CPT?

  Yes. As long as you are currently in F-1 status and will maintain this status throughout your CPT, and have been enrolled as a full-time student for at least one academic year, you are eligible to apply for CPT.

  Do I need authorization to work/intern for a company located abroad while I'm present in the US?

  Based on regulatory guidance and the true definition of CPT, we advise against students participating in virtual internships through foreign companies while they are physically present in the U.S. because this may jeopardize their immigration status and access to future immigration benefits.

  Students who wish to pursue this type of employment should speak with an immigration lawyer.