CPT is defined by federal regulations to be “internships, cooperative training programs, or work-study programs which are part of an established curriculum” –– 8 CFR 274a.12(b)(6)(iv). Note that CPT employment may not delay completion of your academic program.
CPT is limited to part-time while classes are in session and full-time during school breaks. If you accumulate 12 months (365 or more days) of full-time CPT, you are ineligible for OPT. Part-time CPT (fewer than 12 months) does not affect your OPT eligibility. Note that students who utilize multiple CPTs in one semester or over the course of several semesters will be subjected to additional scrutiny by USCIS when applying for OPT; the result may be a deduction or elimination of OPT days.
NOTE:
CPT is NOT available to all F-1 students because it is dependent on the academic requirements of your program of study.
F-1 students may be eligible for CPT authorization for work experience or internship that is a required or an intergral component of your program of study. Additonally, CPT authorization is based on both program policy and federal regulations, and must be directly related to your major field of study - paid or unpaid. A request of authorization must be made to the Designated School Official (DSO) and students may begin employment only after receiving his/her I-20 with the DSO endorsement.
There are two types of CPT:
You may be eligible to apply for CPT if:
NOTE:
CPT is authorized semester by semester according to your program guidelines. Student may only begin working on the start date and must stop working on the end date listed under "Employment Authorizations" on page 2 of your I-20. Do NOT start working until you have received the new I-20 with CPT authorization.
For Master's students, note that non-required CPT is only allowed in your final term if you are also registered for other courses which are required for the completion of your program of study.
If you are enrolled part-time in your final term before program completion, you must request for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) authorization at least two weeks before the term/semester in which you will be enrolled part-time.
Email all of the documents listed above to WCM-ISS@med.cornell.edu
Do NOT start working until you have received the new I-20 with CPT authorization. Please allow up to 5 business days for us to process your application. We will email you when your new I-20 is ready to be picked up.
Generally, PhD students who have completed their coursework and working on their thesis will still be enrolled full-time. If you intend to participate in an internship or externship, you must adhere to WCGS policy in addition to the federal requlations. For more information, please refer to the WCGS Externship/Internship Policy document.
Email all of the documents listed above to WCM-ISS@med.cornell.edu
Do NOT start working until you have received the new I-20 with CPT authorization. Please allow up to 5 business days for us to process your application. We will email you when your new I-20 is ready to be picked up.