Curricular Practical Training

The BCIS regulations define the following criterion for eligibility for CPT:

• The student must be in valid F-1 status at the time of application and have been in full-time student status for one academic year preceding the CPT application. If a graduate program requires the training program to begin immediately, this requirement can be waived.
• The training must be an important and integral part of the student's program of study.
• The training must be part of a course, which is either required by the student's degree program, or part of a course for which the student receives academic credit.
• The course must be listed in the WTAMU catalog as "Internship" or "Practicum."
• The training may be either full or part-time. Full-time curricular practical training may affect post-completion practical training. Part-time curricular practical training does not affect a student's post completion practical training.
• Part-time curricular practical training is limited to 20 hours per week and requires full-time enrollment in school.
• Full-time curricular practical training requires at least part-time enrollment in school in order to keep the student's F-1 status.
• Part-time CPT authorization is 20 hours per week and less. Full-time CPT is 21 hours per week and more.
• You must have an offer of employment to apply for CPT because CPT allows you to work for a specific employer for a specific educational objective.
• An immigration adviser at the International Student Office grants work authorization for a specific employer and for a specific period of time, usually corresponding to a semester.
• In order to grant work authorization, the immigration adviser must have a letter from the department describing the work experience, naming the employer, specifying the dates of employment, and indicating how the department will oversee the work experience.
• The CPT authorization on page 3 of your I-20 is your proof to accept employment. Therefore, your I-20 and I-94 may be used to complete your Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) that all U.S. employers are required by law to complete within three days of the start of employment.
• You are authorized for specific dates of employment on your I-20. You may not begin before the start date or continue working after the end date on the I-20.

Students interested in applying for CPT should make an appointment with the International Student Office adviser at least one week prior to the desired employment start date (ISO).

Please bring the following items with you to your appointment:

• Passport
• Form I-94
• Sevis I-20 Form
• Verification letter from your graduate adviser (graduate students) or from your undergraduate academic adviser with the following information:
  1. A description of the program (internship or cooperative education program)
  2. Name and course number of the internship or research course for which you will be earning credit, name of the professor supervising the course and when the course credit will be earned
  3. Name and location of the company/institution where you will be working
  4. Beginning and ending dates of employment and the hours per week worked
• See sample letter