INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) FAQ's
(off-campus employment before graduation)

What is Curricular Practical Training (CPT)? Curricular practical training is an employment option available to F-1 students where the practical training employment is considered to be an integral part of the curriculum or academic program. This employment may be an Internship, cooperative education job, a practicum, or any other work experience that is either required for your degree (as defined in the course catalog) or for which academic credit is awarded.
What are the student requirements? To be eligible for Curricular Practical Training:
1. You must have been in legal F-1 student status for nine consecutive months.
2. You must be a matriculated student in good standing at the University of Utah.
3. You must have a 2.5 GPA.
4. Your employment must be an integral part of your degree program or requirement for a course and your job offer must be related to your major or field of study.
5. Undergraduate students must enroll in the Career Services Internship program for a minimum of one credit hour per academic term and agree to fulfill all requirements of the course.
If I use Curricular Practical Training, will the time be deducted from the 12 months of Optional Practical Training? The time you spend on Curricular Practical Training will not be deducted from the 12 months of allowable Optional Practical Training UNLESS you participate in more than 12 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training. If you participate in more than 12 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training you will NOT be eligible for Optional Practical Training after graduation.
What is considered part-time? Employment for 20 hours or less per week while you are enrolled for classes is considered part-time Curricular Practical Training. While engaged in part-time Curricular Practical Training you must be simultaneously enrolled as a full-time student in order to maintain lawful F-1 status.
What is considered full-time training? Employment for more than 20 hours per week is considered full-time Curricular Practical Training. You may only work more than 20 hours per week during vacation periods. If you participate in over 12 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training you will NOT be eligible for Optional Practical Training after graduation.
How do I apply for Curricular Practical Training?
1. Obtain a formal offer letter and job description from the employer.
2. If you are a graduate student, obtain a letter from a faculty committee member attesting that the work experience relates to your graduate work.
3. Contact the Career Services counselor who works with your major to set up an appointment.
4. During your Career Services appointment, you counselor will determine if the work experience is appropriate for Curricular Practical Training. If the job is approved for Curricular Practical Training you must follow these steps:
  - If you're an undergraduate student, the counselor will provide you with information to sign up for the Career Services Internship Program and provide you with a letter to take to the University of Utah International Center.
  
  - If you're a graduation student, the counselor will provide you with a letter to take to the University of Utah International Center.
5. Upon receiving the letter, you must take it to the University of Utah International Center to be processed. Please be aware that you will need to allow time for the Curricular Practical Training authorization to be entered into the Immigration website and have the I-20 with the authorization downloaded from Immigration. This may take several days and you are NOT allowed to start working until you receive the I-20 with the work authorization on it. For further information, contact the University of Utah International Center, Room 410 Union, 801-581-8876, ic-info@sa.utah.edu.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) FAQ's
(off-campus employment after graduation)

What is F-1 Optional Practical Training? Optional Practical Training is the opportunity apply knowledge gained in the classroom to a practical work experience off-campus after graduation. Optional Practical Training is authorized by Immigration Service. This authorization can take several months to obtain so you need to apply well in advance of graduation (Contact the International Center). The maximum amount of time granted to work in F-1 Optional Practical Training status is 12 months.
What are the eligibility Requirements for F-1 Optional Practical Training? To be eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training, you must
1. have been in full time student status for at least one full academic year,
2. be maintaining valid F-1 status at the time of the application, and
3. intend to work in a position directly related to your major field of study.

As of January 1, 2003, an F-1 student may become eligible for another 12 months of Optional Practical Training when he or she moves to a higher education level. This benefits, for example, a student who has used 12 months of optional training after completing a bachelor's degree and is now completing a masters or PhD program.

How long does it take to get authorization for Optional Practical Training and when should I apply? Authorization for Optional Practical Training is granted by the Immigration Service and can take several months to obtain. You must apply for Optional Practical Training before the end of the semester. You will no longer have a sixty day grace period after you graduate to apply. You will need to receive the employment authorization card by the end of the semester.
Do I need to have a job to apply for Optional Practical Training? You do not need to have a job offer before applying for Optional Practical Training.
How will I know if the Optional Practical Training application has been approved? You will receive a small identification card, called an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). This card will state the type and length of the period of employment authorized. When you receive this card, check to make certain all the information is correct.
Can I begin working before I receive the Employment Authorization Document (EAD)? No, you are NOT allowed to begin employment before you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Working before practical training has been authorized by the Immigration Service constitutes illegal employment that will jeopardize your legal status in the United States.

H-1B Visa Information Links
H-1B Visa Definition
Labor Certification Processing Times
H-1B: Specialty Occupation Workers Statistical Reports
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
H-1B Labor Certification Database - Potential Employers