Immigration
F-1 Curricular Practical Training
After students have been in legal F-1 visa status for one full academic year, immigration regulations allow them to apply for employment in areas related to their field of study through "Practical Training." There are two kinds of Practical Training: Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training. This handout only refers to Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
Only students pursuing a degree are allowed curricular practical training.
Special non-degree students do not qualify for any curricular practical training.
Students in Non-Resident status are not eligible for CPT. (They are eligible for OPT.)
Students have the option of using Curricular Practical Training only before completion of their studies. Curricular Practical Training may be authorized full-time during the annual vacations and part-time (20 hours or less per week) while school is in session, in the following cases where working off-campus with a company must be either:
- 1. a required component of the curriculum
(e.g. students enrolled in 6A, 2B, 3B, 13C, 16C,
and 22A internship programs) OR - 2. an internship that is evaluated by an MIT Professor and
granted academic credit under a specific course number.
In order to be authorized for CPT, you have to be registered for an internship course and receive at least one unit of academic credit for it during the time of work experience (for CPT in the fall, you have to register and get a credit in the fall; for CPT in the spring, you have to register and get a credit in the spring; for CPT in the summer, you have to register and get a credit either in the summer or in the immediate fall term;)
The International Student Advisor grants the authorization for Curricular Practical Training, provided that the student has maintained his/her visa status and has completed one full academic year. CPT can be authorized for only one semester at a time.
How to Apply:
In order to apply for Curricular Practical Training, you must bring the following letter to the ISO at least two weeks before the beginning date of employment. Bring the following with you to the appointment:
A letter signed by an academic advisor on departmental letterhead specifying:
a) that the student is in good academic standing
b) that the work is recommended and is integrally related to the student’s major field of study
c) how the work is integral to the student's major field of study (please explain)
d) the name of a faculty member who will evaluate your work
e) how will your work be evaluated
f) how many units of credit will be given, under what course number, and when the credit will be given (these are FEDERAL REGULATIONS and if the advisor signs such a recommendation letter for Curricular Practical Training, he/she MUST ensure that credit is given)
g
) name and address of company/organization (including the zip code)
h
) dates the student will work
Please be aware that students who use 12 or more months of Curricular Practical Training are ineligible to apply for Optional Practical Training.
IMPORTANT: As an international student at MIT, you are responsible for maintaining your own legal status. This means you must ensure that you are registered full-time every semester, and that the validity of your immigration documents does not expire. Be certain to report any changes in your academic level, funding, and/or completion of studies date within a timely manner to the ISO. If you allow the date on your I-20 to expire, you will fall out of legal status and may suffer serious consequences.
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