Applying for Curricular Practical Training a.k.a. Pre-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Who should buy this package?
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a great way for international students to gain practical experience in their fields while they are studying. CPT allows a student to work for a company up to 20 hours per week on a part-time basis. The process for obtaining Employment Authorization requires the approval of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You should buy this package if you think that you are interested in working part-time while studying for your degree and you are up for the challenge of applying for it without the assistance of an attorney!
What is in this package?
- Overview of the process of applying for CPT, from start to finish.
- Checklist of forms and evidence that you will need to submit with your application.
- Step-by-step instructions for applying for CPT. The step-by step instructions will guide you through the process of collecting necessary evidence, filling out your paperwork, and everything in between.
- Sample Cover Letter. You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but USCIS does sometimes judge immigration applications by their cover letters! Following this template will help to ensure that your application is not erroneously rejected in USCIS’s mailroom.
- Blank Immigration Forms, including the most common forms filed with applications for OPT.
- Frequently Asked Questions, answering some of the most common questions that applicants have when applying for OPT.
How to use this package?
Follow the step-by-step instructions to complete, assemble, and file a successful application for CPT with USCIS. The package starts with an overview of the process, provides a checklist of the documents that you’ll need to submit with your application, and provides detailed instructions for how to complete each form. The package also contains instructions for preparing your application for mailing, and an explanation as to what happens after you file. Following the instructions in this package can help you to secure employment authorization as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Special instructions
Please note that CPT does not authorize general employment within the United States. Any employment must be approved by your Designated School Official (DSO), and must be directly linked to your field of study. Please further note that you cannot qualify for CPT unless you currently have F-1 status, and you are enrolled in a full course of study at your school.