CPT-OPT

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) VS Optional Practical Training (OPT)

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What is CPT&OPT?

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) VS Optional Practical Training (OPT)

What is CPT and OPT???

MS/Phd/MBA/Pharmacy students in USA are allowed to have only on-campus employment(Working with in University Campus). But Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) provide opportunities for qualified F-1 visa status students to gain off-campus(Working outside the campus) employment.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT is off-campus employment in the form of an internship, co-op, or practicum. CPT is available to students who will continue to work towards their degree and are in legal F-1 student status for at least nine months before applying for CPT, who are admitted to a graduate program in full standing, and who are eligible to register (no holds).

YOU MUST HAVE AN JOB OFFER LETTER IN HAND to begin the CPT process.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

OPT is temporary employment that is directly related to a student's field of study. Students holding F-1 visas are eligible for a maximum of twelve months of OPT authorization for each level of study (BS, MS, PhD). Most students apply for OPT as they approach the end of their current degree program. Participating in OPT "after" completion of studies offers the opportunity to apply skills to "real world" situations.

OPT work cannot begin until the student has obtained an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Students should allow at least 120 days for the EAD to be processed. For this reason, students need to attend an OPT workshop and submit the necessary paperwork well in advance of their preferred OPT start date.

CPT vs OPT

CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING VS OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING

CPT requires a job offer

OPT does not require a job offer

CPT requires enrollment in a special class in which on-the-job training is required

and for which course credit is received during the quarter the employment takes place

OPT does not require you to enroll in any class

CPT issued for summer employment would require the student to pay summer fees for

3 unit minimum enrollment = $,$$$

OPT does not require the student to pay

$ for class registration, but would require

$340 USCIS processing fee

CPT is authorized for a specific employer for work related to student�s field of studies

OPT allows work w/ ANY employer based on student�s field of studies

CPT is issued by the I-Center within 5-10 working days

OPT is issued by the USCIS within 90 days

(after preliminary processing by I-Center)

CPT work permit is granted on the I-20 (page 3)

OPT work permit is called the EAD (Employment Authorization Document)

CPT may only be issued for work

prior to graduation, and prior to completion of course units required for degree

OPT allows for employment both prior to and after graduation

CPT usually does not affect OPT as long as the CPT issued does not reach 12 full- time months. Part-time (20 hours. or less) CPT is never accumulated or deducted from OPT. (NOTE: if you work 6 months of full-time CPT you will not affect the 12 months of OPT)

OPT issued part-time (20 hours or less)

is deducted at half-time rate, but full-time OPT (over 20 hours a week) is deducted at full-time rate from the 12 months of OPT. (NOTE: if you received 6 full-time months of OPT prior to graduating, you will have 6 months left upon graduation.)

� Both CPT and OPT require that the proposed employment be related to the student�s field of study.

� Both CPT and OPT do not allow the student to begin employment prior to completing the first academic year (unless required of the degree, and based on CPT).