An Introduction to OPT and CPT for International Students

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What is OPT?

Are you an international student looking for ways to gain experience in the United States? If yes, then you may have heard of OPT and CPT. Both terms are important for understanding the F-1 Visa program and what employment opportunities are available for international students. In this blog post, we'll explore what OPT and CPT are, their major differences, and discuss Curricular Practical Training (CPT) status and Optional Practical Training (OPT) status in more detail.

III. Understanding Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Status

IV. Understanding Optical Practical Training (OPT) Status

V. Understanding the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension

OPT stands for Optional Practical Training. It allows F-1 visa holders to work in the US related to their field of study while they complete their degree program. For most STEM majors, the standard period of eligibility is 12 months with a possible extension of 24 months. Students must apply beforehand through the USCIS website to receive approval before working under this program.

CPT stands for Curricular Practical Training. This type of training is part of an educational program that provides practical experience related to a student's field of study that cannot be obtained in a classroom setting. Unlike OPT, students can start working immediately since it does not require prior approval from USCIS. However, students must obtain authorization from their school’s Designated School Official (DSO) before starting any paid employment activities.

For most STEM majors, the standard period of eligibility under the OPT program is 12 months with a possible extension of 24 months while CPT has no time limit on how long you can stay as long as you remain enrolled at your institution or school.

Under both programs, students are allowed to work in jobs that are related to their field of study but only OPT allows them to take on regular employment activities like full-time jobs or internships in any company regardless if it’s related or not related to their field of study whereas CPT requires that all employment activities must be related directly or indirectly to your studies at your school or institution (e.g., internships).