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Applying for CPT or OPT

Students holding an F-1 visa who have not graduated and who wish to work off-campus (i.e., during summer semester), must apply for appropriate work authorization. There are two options: Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training. Most students choose to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) 

Students may not engage in CPT for the primary purpose of employment. Rather, the work must be an integral part of an established curriculum, directly related to the student's major area of study, and essential (though not "required") for completion of the program.

To obtain the CPT work authorization, the department must confirm that:

  • The student is in good academic standing;
  • The student is enrolled for an internship course worth at least 3 academic units that count toward a degree;
  • The course is listed in the regular schedule of course offerings;
  • A faculty member is assigned to "teach" the course;
  • The Course has a clearly defined description and course objectives;
  • And the advisor must complete a form certifying that they will supervise the work conducted in your practicum. If the advisor feels that the work does not meet the requirements listed above, they should not make the recommendation. In that case, the student could/should apply for Optional Practical Training instead.

 

Steps for applying for CPT - Department Requirements

  1. Fill out and ask your advisor to sign the Research Advisor Certification Form, and email it to CSD-PhD-Support@cs.cmu.edu
  2. OIE provides the following items you should access directly from their site to complete this process. Links for these and full OIE instructions for CPT can be found on the OIE page for Curricular Practical Training:
    1. Required Canvas CPT e-Learning Course
    2. Employer Template Letter (under CPT Application Steps, form to be shared with your employer)
  3. After you complete the mandatory e-learning course, the doctoral program manager will prepare your CPT Academic Advisor Recommendation Form, and you can submit your CPT eForm Request to OIE through your MyOIE Portal account. 
  4. The doctoral program manager will register you for 36 units of 15-998 Computer Science Practicum. Check your courses enrollment page (at the Hub) to make sure you are enrolled before you go to OIE.

The foreign student advisor will review the paperwork, and if everything is in order, will authorize the training on the back of your I-20 form.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Information about OPT is provided on the OIE Optional Practical Training webpage.