Curricular Practical Training

Getting an off-campus internship

While you are an F1 student, you are only authorized to work on campus or in an off-campus internship clearly related to your intended curriculum area.

Permission for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) can be granted after your first year, can be approved by the International Advisor (DSO), doesn't require USCIS filing fees, and can be processed in as little as 24 hours. CPT may be granted during the school year for no more than 20 hours per week. CPT is approved on a term by term basis.

1)  CPT needs to advance your understanding of your major/minor area of study.
Start by making a list of three to five things you want to learn while working, and take that with you when you meet with your academic advisor. Faculty endorsement is required for CPT approval.

2) Your faculty advisor needs to know how you plan to relate CPT to your studies.
Meet with your adviser to discuss what the internship will be and what you hope to gain from the experience. Ask them to send an e-mail to the international advisor indicating that they:

• understand the connection of the job to your academics
• agree that the work will enhance your academic development as an element of the
  experiential learning requirement, and
• state that they endorse your employment as described by you.

You may only ask for a CPT endorsement from your advisor or a professor in whose course you are enrolled.

3) You need to provide a formal letter from your employer to the DSO.
This letter should be on the company letterhead and give your name, along with the name and address of your employment site, the job title you will have, the duties you will perform, the name of your supervisor, and the start and end date of your employment.

4)  You need to make an appointment to complete a new I-20 listing the CPT.
At this point you turn in the endorsement e-mail from your advisor or professor and the job offer letter from the employer. You'll be set to begin work as early as the next business day.

5)  Your employer is required to maintain tax withholding records for you.
This is the same as is  done for any paid employee, with the exception that Social Security and Medicare taxes are not withheld on F-1 student workers. Be sure to provide your employer with your Knox mailing address for receipt of your W-2 wage statement at the end of the calendar year.