For international students in the U.S. on an F-1 visa, Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) offer great chances to gain work experience. OPT has two parts: pre-completion, which lets students work while still studying, and post-completion, which applies after they graduate. Non-STEM students can do pre-completion OPT for up to 12 months part-time (20 hours per week) and can also get 6 months of post-completion OPT. However, if they work full-time (40 hours per week) during pre-completion OPT, they lose their chance for post-completion OPT. STEM students get 12 months of pre-completion OPT and can extend their post-completion OPT by another 24 months, giving them a total of 36 months to work. OPT is approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), while CPT is approved by the university’s Designated School Official (DSO).CPT is different from OPT because it is directly connected to a student’s studies. It needs approval from both the employer and the school, and the job must be related to the student’s major. Students can work part-time or full-time under CPT.
Understanding these work options can be tricky, but our team is here to help you through the process. Contact us today for one-on-one support and to learn more about your choices.