CPT and OPT Information

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a temporary internship or practicum for F-1 students to gain practical experience in their field of study. 

Note: Twelve months or more of full-time CPT will disqualify you for Optional Practical Training (OPT), however, no amount of part-time CPT will count against the 12-month total for OPT.

CPT Eligibility:

• CPT may be paid or unpaid and part-time or full-time, depending on the requirement of the curriculum.
• CPT can only be authorized if it is required by the major or you will be receiving academic credit. CPT can not be authorized for independent studies or individualized instruction. 
• Undergraduate students must be lawfully enrolled in full-time studies for at least one academic year to be eligible for CPT.
• Graduate students can participate in CPT immediately if it is required by the academic program; otherwise, the full-time attendance requirement for one academic year applies.

How to apply for CPT:

Step 1: You must have an offer of employment prior to requesting CPT.  Obtain a letter from the employer on company letterhead with the following information:

• • Student's job title
  • Student's job responsibilities
  • Start and End dates of the student's employment period - month, date, and year
  • Number of hours per week the student will work
  • Name and contact information for the student's direct supervisor
  • Employer Identification Number (required if you also need to apply for a Social Security Number)

Step 2: Meet with your academic advisor and request a letter. Obtain a letter from your advisor with the following information:

Option 1: CPT that will apply as an internship:

• Verification of full-time student status
• Anticipated program completion date
• Internship course number and title and number of credits
• A statement that, "The internship is an integral part of the student's curriculum." and a detailed description of how it is directly related to and meets the goals of the class
• Confirmation that the internship will count towards fulfilling degree requirements
• Start and End dates of the internship - month, date, and year

Option 2: CPT that will apply as a practicum or research for graduate thesis or dissertation:

• Verification of full-time student status
• Anticipated program completion date
• A statement that, "The internship is an integral part of the student's curriculum." and a detailed description of how it is directly related to and meets the goals of the class
• Start and End dates of the internship - month, date, and year

Step 3: Complete the CPT Request Form and email the above letters to international@kutztown.edu. Requests for CPT must be made at least 10 business days before you plan to begin the internship or practicum.

Step 4: The International Office will issue you a new I-20 authorized for CPT. You will receive an email notification when this is ready. 

The OPT application can be filed online or through U.S. mail. Instructions are included below for each method. Both online and paper forms collect the same information, so choose the method that works best for you. 

 OPT Eligibility:

• Enrolled on a full-time basis for at least nine months by the time OPT will begin.
• Does not have 12 months total of full-time CPT
• Has not used all 12 months of OPT during pre-completion OPT for the current educational level. 

 OPT Employment:

• Start Date: You can begin OPT employment on or after the start date indicated on the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by USCIS. Work cannot begin before the approved start date printed on the EAD card.
• Pre-Completion OPT: You may work up to 20 hours during the academic year or full-time during breaks
• Post-Completion OPT:
  • Required to work a minimum of 20 hours per week
  • Maximum of 90 days unemployment permitted
• Employment must be directly related to your area of study.

Student Application Process

Step 1: Review and prepare the OPT Filing Documents and Instructions.

Step 2: Complete the OPT request form.

Step 3:  The International Office will issue you a new I-20. You have 30 days from the issue date to apply for OPT. If you are filing online,

Step 4: Submit the I-765 form. Do not submit the I-765 until after you receive the new I-20. 

• Students may file for post-completion OPT up to 90 days before the academic program end date/graduation date, but no later than 60 days after the program end date/graduation date.
• Standard processing time for OPT applications by USCIS is 60-90 days. 

The STEM extension application can be filed online or through U.S. mail. Instructions are included below for each method. Both online and paper forms collect the same information, so choose the method that works best for you.

STEM Extension Filing Instructions

STEM Extension Process

1. A student with a STEM-qualifying bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from an accredited, SEVIS-certified U.S. educational institution, who is in a valid period of standard post-completion OPT, has an offer of paid employment for at least 20 hours per week from an employer enrolled in E-Verify.
2. The student and the employer complete a Form I-983 Training Plan, and the student submits the completed plan to the DSO.
3. The DSO reviews the Form I-983 submitted by the student, and determines that it is "complete, signed, and addresses all program requirements."
4. The DSO updates the student's SEVIS record with a recommendation for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, and issues a new Form I-20 that reflects the STEM OPT extension recommendation.
5. Within 60 days of the DSO's recommendation in SEVIS, and before the expiration of the student's post-completion OPT, the student files with USCIS: Form I-765, the Form I-765 filing fee, the STEM OPT Form I-20, and documentation of the STEM degree.
6. The 24-month STEM OPT extension period begins on the day following the expiration of the student's standard post-completion OPT. If the Form I-765 is still pending as of that date, the student is authorized to continue employment for up to 180 days after the expiration of the student's post-completion OPT.
7. USCIS will issue an EAD reflecting the approved STEM OPT extension.
8. Throughout the STEM OPT extension period, the student, employer(s), and school comply with all reporting, training, supervision, evaluation, wage, documentation, and other obligations specified in the regulations and on Form I-983.

STEM Extension Filing Deadlines

• Before the expiration of the student's current post-completion OPT (standard or cap-gap), but no sooner than 90 days before that date; and
• No later than 60 days from the date the DSO recommended the STEM OPT in SEVIS.

The SEVP Student Portal is a tool that F-1 students on post-completion optional practical training (OPT) or science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) OPT must report changes to their home address, telephone number, and employer information.

If you are on post-completion or STEM OPT, you are eligible to use the portal. The portal is accessible from both your mobile device and computer. As a student with approved OPT, it is your responsibility to update your employment information within 10 days of any change to your employment or contact information. The SEVP portal allows you to take responsibility for reporting employment or home address changes. Students who are on active post-completion OPT and STEM OPT period will receive an email with instructions on creating a portal account. This email will come from do-not-reply.sevp@ice.dhs.gov. This is a free account; no money is charged by the government to open this account.

The SEVP Portal will send the portal account creation email to the student if:

1. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) shows that the OPT is approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) AND
2. The OPT is for post-completion or STEM OPT AND
3. The email is sent on or after the OPT start date as listed on the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) otherwise known as OPT card.

The SEVP Portal will allow students on post-completion OPT to:

• View details about your post-completion OPT
• Report changes to your address, telephone and employer information
• View and update data on all your employers in one place

The SEVP Portal will allow students on STEM OPT to:

• View details about your STEM OPT
• Correct any errors in the employer’s name. The employer name must match the employer that completed the I-983 form
• Update employer address: this address should reflect the physical location in which the STEM OPT student is employed
• Job title
• Update the supervisor information
• Update full or part-time change: Any significant decrease in hours per week that a student engages in a STEM OPT training may be considered a material change to STEM OPT. The student will be required to update the I-983 form.
• Update employment end date. The student must complete a final evaluation report and submit OISS
• Update relationship to the field of study: any changes to the employer’s commitments or student’s learning objectives is considered a material change to STEM OPT. The student will be required to update the I-983 form.

SEVP has created an SEVP Portal Help (https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevp-portal-help) section on Study in the States with:

• Information about the portal.
• The SEVP Portal User Guide which provides screenshots and detailed step-by-step instructions for using the portal. https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/assets/sevp_portal_student_user_guide.pdf
• SEVP Portal videos, visit https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevp-portal-videos
• A useful one-page reference sheet on the portal. https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/assets/sevp_portal_onepager.pdf