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OPT/CPT

OPT (Optional Practical Training) and CPT (Curricular Practical Training) are employment benefits extended to qualified international students. If F-1 students meet the requirements for OPT, they can work in the U.S. for one year after they finish their program of study. CPT allows students to be paid for a required internship.

Please read on for program requirements and procedures for OPT and CPT.

OPT (Optional Practical Training)

Don’t forget to apply for graduation!

Optional Practical Training is a U.S. government benefit for international students holding F-1 or M-1 status, it is not a visa type. The benefit is available to students who have maintained F-1 or M-1 immigration status for the past three quarters (9 months) and have either completed their one-year certificate or two-year Associate’s of Applied Science degree.

A student is eligible for a maximum of 12 months of full-time OPT per academic level. For example, a student may apply for OPT after completing a certificate and then again after completion of an Associate of Applied Science degree.

Application Procedure and Forms

Bring the following items to the ISP office:

Completed I-765 form (.pdf)
Your SEVIS based form I-20 and any previous forms I-20
Passport and I-94 card
Two photos (Standard passport)
A check or money order for $340.00 made payable to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services)

After the materials are turned in, the advisor will recommend to USCIS through SEVIS that OPT permission be authorized. We will create a new OPT I-20, make a copy for your application, and give you the original. Our office will mail the documents to USCIS.

Our office should receive a receipt notice from USCIS within 30-60 days. The receipt will notify us the day the OPT packet was received and the process can take up to 3 months to be completed. USCIS will also include a special identification number on your receipt that can be used to check the process of your OPT at www.USCIS.gov. Go to "Case Status Online."

USCIS Approval

If USCIS approves your OPT application, you will be issued the EAD (Employment Authorization Document) card within a three to four month time period. The EAD card is the size of your driver’s license with a picture and information about your Optional Practical Training.

Our office will keep a copy of your EAD card in your file.

Common Questions About OPT

1) Can I leave the U.S. while my OPT is processing?
Although certain agencies have stated that students who have completed their studies may travel outside the U.S., the regulation says that an EAD card plus a letter from the employer are required for re-entry. The student must decide whether to take the risk or not.

2) Can I travel outside the U.S. after I receive my EAD card?

Once you receive your EAD card you are allowed to travel outside the U.S., however, you will want to make sure to have the following documents in your possession to be granted re-entry:

Signed I-20 within a 6 month period
EAD card
Valid U.S. visa
Valid passport
Letter from your employer verifying employment. This is required.

3) What happens after the EAD expires?

After your EAD card expires you must either leave the U.S. or start a new program of study with a new I-20 within 60 days.

4) What happens if I lose my EAD card?

Contact the ISP office at 206-878-3710. EXT. 3725

5) Do I have to inform Highline Community College ISP of address and phone number changes?

Yes. You must inform Highline Community College of any address or phone number changes within 10 days. USCIS requires you to update this information to our office to maintain your immigration status while engaging in Optional Practical Training.

6) What happens if I fail a class and don’t graduate in time?

OPT requests can be cancelled, but it is a complicated process. You should inform the ISP office as soon as possible that you will not be completing your program as planned, so that we can extend your program on your I-20, if necessary. If your I-20 expires, your options are limited, and you may lose your OPT benefit.

CPT (Curricular Practical Training)

You may be required to engage in temporary employment to earn credit toward the certificate or degree in your field of study. If you have F-1 status, you must request special permission for this kind of paid employment. The permission is called Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

Eligibility

You must have been enrolled full-time and in status for one full academic year to be eligible for CPT.
The training must be approved by the instructional department as an integral part of the established curriculum, fulfilling graduation requirements for your field of study. (Work is not required for an AA or AS degree.)
Optional internships are not approved for CPT.

Note: CPT is not available for students in intensive English language programs.

Characteristics

You may work up to 20 hours a week while school is in session and 40 hours a week during breaks and vacations.
CPT is approved for one quarter at a time. You must obtain approval must before the start of each quarter if the employment continues.

Application

Obtain a job in your field of study.
Obtain approval for the work from the instructional department for college credit toward graduation.
Bring proof of your job offer to the ISP office and request CPT.
Receive your new I-20 with the CPT endorsement.

Immigration service (USCIS) approval is not required-CPT is approved in our ISP office. You can do up to 364 days of CPT without affecting your eligibility for OPT (Optional Practical Training.) However, if you do 365 days or more of CPT, you will lose your eligibility for OPT.