CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING VS OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING
| CPT requires a job offer | VS | 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 | VS | 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 = $,$$$ | VS | 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 | VS | 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 | VS | 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) | VS | 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 | VS | 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) | VS | 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).
Both CPT and OPT require the student to have received the authorization to work prior to beginning employment.
NOTE: In cases where the student may have accrued at least 9 months in F-1 status, then the USCIS will allow for an application pre-completion OPT to be submitted as early as 120 days before the start date of employment. Students applying for CPT must keep in mind two restrictions concerning processing of CPT: 1] Paperwork must be submitted by deadline indicated on CPT info sheet (see web site below) 2] Paperwork must be submitted for consideration NO LATER than 5 working days prior to requested start date.
