Last week we
discussed on campus work options for F-1 students. This week we begin
our discussion of options for students to work off campus. One of the
ways students can be granted authorization to work off campus to be
granted practical training. Practical training is available to student
seeking to work in their fields off campus who have been enrolled for
at last an academic year (nine months).
There are two types
of practical training - curricular practical training and optional
practical training. Curricular practical training (CPT) includes
programs that are an "integral part of an established
curriculum." CPT programs include alternate work/study,
internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required
internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers
through cooperative agreements with the school.
Optional Practical
Training (OPT) is not tied to the curriculum and can be used for up to
a year full time (two years part time) on campus or off campus.
CPT programs should
be listed in a college's course catalog with the number of credits
included and the name of a responsibility faculty member. Also, the
course objectives should be listed.
Students may take an
unlimited amount of practical training. However, if they take more
than a year of CPT, they are barred from seeking OPT. Anything 364
days or less will not result in the loss of OPT. Note that part time
work using CPT for more than a year has recently been deemed to result
in the loss of eligibility for OPT.
Applying for CPT is
relatively straightforward for F-1 students. A student will apply for
CPT with the school's Designated Student Officer. Assuming the DSO
approves the request, the DSO will enter the information in SEVIS and
print out an I-20 with the CPT authorization for the student.
Finally, the DSO is
to sign and date the I-20 prior to returning it to the student. No
employment authorization document is needed for curricular practical
training. The student may not begin work using CPT until getting the
endorsed I-20.
Next
week - Optional Practical Training
