CPT and OPT Regulations - Slutzker Center for International Services
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Transcript CPT and OPT Regulations - Slutzker Center for International Services
Curricular Practical Training
Seminar
1st & 3rd Wednesday and 2nd Friday of each
Month at 3:00 pm
Slutzker Center for International Services
Curricular Practical Training
(CPT)
Temporary employment (e.g., internship) that is an
integral part of an established curriculum.
• Only available prior to degree completion
• Directly related to major field of study (item 5 on I-20)
Cannot be in a minor field of study
Cannot be in a previous field of study if different than
your current major field of study
• Employer specific (must have job offer letter)
• Must be authorized by the Slutzker Center in a new I-20
• Not intended for general, ongoing work authorization
• Even unpaid internships require CPT authorization
Requirements
• Complete 1 academic year (Fall and Spring semesters) in
F-1 status
Exception may be made for programs that require an internship
from graduate students in their first year of study
• Job offer in major field of study
• Receive departmental approval (recommendation letter)
• Maintain full-time student status for the duration of the
CPT
• May not begin CPT until new I-20 authorizing CPT is issued
• Continue to make normal degree progress
I-20 Program Extensions
The duration of an I-20 should provide sufficient a
time to complete the academic degree for which it
was issued.
Participation in CPT should not delay one’s program
completion.
A student’s desire to continue working on CPT, under
immigration regulations, cannot be the basis of an
I-20 extension.
Types of CPT
Required for the Degree
Internship required for everyone in degree program in order to
complete degree.
Student does not need to register CPT for credit.
Integral to the Curriculum
Internship is not a required part of the program’s curriculum, but
the internship is considered integral to the academic experience.
CPT experience must be registered for at least 1 credit
Dissertation Research
Doctoral student must engage in off-campus work to complete research
necessary for a dissertation.
SU student must register for GRD 998 and/or a department-specific
dissertation credit and file a Certificate of Full Time Status.
CPT: Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Part-Time: 20 hours or less per week
No limitation on number of part-time CPT experience
you can complete, as long as you remain eligible.
Full-Time: More than 20 hours per week
364 days or more of full-time CPT makes you ineligible
for OPT at this degree level.
SCIS recommends limiting full-time CPT to 11 months
On-campus employment and CPT together cannot
exceed 20 hours of work a week while school is in
session. This includes assistantship and CASE center
placements.
Duration of CPT
• CPT is authorized by semester
Participation in CPT may begin on or after the first day of the
semester. CPT must end before the first day of the following
semester.
• CPT may be extended if recommended by
academic department and authorized by SCIS
Submit a new CPT request, including Training Data Sheet,
Recommendation Letter, and Job Offer Letter, for each semester and
each employer, including summer session(s).
• You may participate in CPT as much as program
will allow and department will authorize.
•
A student will be ineligible for OPT if he/she participates in greater
than 364 days of full time CPT.
CPT Application Process
Make a PT STEP 2 appointment and bring :
Recommendation Letter on department letterhead
Proof of registration (CPT registered for at least 1 credit if
not required for program)
CPT Application Process (cont.)
Photocopy of official job offer letter
Training Data Sheet
Please type responses directly into the fillable form.
CPT Application Process (cont.)
Student Responsibility Checklist
CPT Application Process (cont.)
Original of all of your I-20’s since entering the U.S.
Original of passport, visa, and I-94 card
Photocopy of health insurance card/plan indicating the
validity period.
Health insurance should include Medical Evacuation
and Repatriation coverage; if your plan does not
include this (e.g., POMCO), you may purchase a
supplemental FrontierMEDEX plan for $27.30 per
year.
Health insurance should be valid 1 full academic year and
renewed each year thereafter.
Enrollment
Full-time enrollment or equivalent is required for CPT
application processing.
Undergraduate Students:
- SU students enroll in 12 credits; or
- If it is your last semester and fewer than 12 credits are required
to graduate, file a last semester memo with the SCIS.
Graduate Students:
- SU students enroll in 9 credits or file a Certificate of Full-Time
Status with the Registrar’s Office (copy to SCIS)
- If it is your last semester and less than 9 credits are required to
graduate, file a last semester memo with the SCIS.
I-9, Social Security, and Taxes
• I-9: All employees in the U.S. must complete Employment Eligibility
Verification I-9 Forms with their employers within 3 days of starting
employment.
• Social Security: Employment in the U.S. requires a Social Security
Number (SSN). If you do not have an SSN, you must have the SSN
memo completed for you (by employer and SCIS) and apply for a SSN
• Taxes:
Social Security and Medicare Taxes
Typically, non-resident F-1 students with authorized CPT or OPT are
exempt from Social Security (F.I.C.A) and Medicare taxes as long as
you continue to declare non-resident status for tax purposes.
Federal, State, and Local Taxes
Federal, state, and local taxes will be withheld from your paycheck by
employers unless you qualify for a tax treaty exemption.
(More information also available at the IRS website)
Questions?
Questions/Concerns/Queries