Current International Students


For more info ...

Tempe, Polytechnic, West and Downtown Phoenix campus international students:

International Students and Scholars Office
Suite 150, Tempe Center
951 S. Mill Ave.
Phone: 480.965.7451
Email: iso@asu.edu

 

F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

(F-1 Students)

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Definition of Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of off-campus employment authorization for F-1 students who must complete an internship course in order to graduate from their current degree program.

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Eligibility for CPT

Maintenance of F-1 status for a minimum of one academic year in current degree program.

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Eligibility Requirements

  • Proposed employment must be an integral part of an established curriculum AND be either a) required of all candidates for a particular degree program or b) required of a particular student's degree program as a planned option in their degree plan (the intent to include internship is established between student and advisor early on and not added to accommodate employment opportunity).
  • Internship must appear on the Program of Study or the Degree Audit Reporting System as a requirement to complete the degree program and should NOT be added on in addition to coursework/academic requirements.
  • Student must receive academic credit for the work experience.
  • Internship must be listed as a course for your program/degree plan option in the appropriate University Catalog. Independent Study Research, Practicum and similar courses do not qualify as a class for CPT and cannot be substituted.
  • Employment starts at the beginning of the semester or summer session and ends at end of the semester or summer session. A period longer than a regular term will only be considered based on justification of the internship class/curriculum requirement.

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Characteristics of CPT

  • Department must certify that proposed work meets the eligibility criteria and requirements of the CPT work permit.
  • Employer must certify that this work will satisfy a degree requirement.
  • Student may engage in CPT only for the specific employer, location and period approved and recorded by the ISO in SEVIS.
  • Student must be enrolled full-time while on CPT unless the internship occurs during the summer, the last semester of their degree program and/or other ISO approved exception to the full-course-of-study requirement for immigration purposes.
  • CPT may be approved for either part-time or full-time depending on the number of hours student must work to complete the requirement for the Internship class.  Students who must enroll in full-time CPT for one year or more will become ineligible for OPT.
  • Internship class cannot be added to the POS after the degree requirements have already been met.
  • POS cannot be modified because of a work opportunity (OPT is the appropriate work permit for this).
  • Internship cannot be extended. Any additional work after CPT authorization ends would be OPT.

 

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Social Security Number

If you are not currently holding a Social Security Number please contact the ISO at ISOeadvisor@asu.edu for details on requesting for an SSN while on CPT.

If you do not meet the eligibility and requirements for CPT, please review the OPT information at http://www.asu.edu/international/opt.html. OPT processing takes 3 months so plan accordingly.

If you have further questions regarding CPT, please email ISOeadvisor@asu.edu or call 480-965-7451 to make an appointment with an advisor.

If you are certain that you are eligible to apply for CPT, please follow the application procedure as below.

 

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CPT Application Procedure

  1. Submit the following documents to the ISO. (Must be placed in a sealed envelope marked “CPT APPLICATION”, including your name and ASU ID)  Incomplete application will not be processed!

    1. Academic Advisor/Departmental Letter (Use the form or department form if applicable)
    2. Employer Letter (Use the form)
      3. * For both advisor’s letter and employer’s letter, use ISO form letters and submit original copies printed on official letterheads. You may use department forms if applicable. 
    3. Print-out of Unofficial Transcript from My ASU website showing continuous full-time attendance at ASU and internship class enrollment
    4. Complete OPT/CPT Student Information Form (Click here to download form).
    5. Copy of Program of Study (POS)/Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) indicating the internship requirement
      6. ** IPOS printout must indicate that it is either approved by department, pending DGS approval or DGS approved.
      ** DARS page showing internship requirement must bear initial of the academic adviser.
    6. Photocopy of Passport valid at least 6 months into the future
    7. Photocopy of recent I-94 (front and back)
    8. Print-out of updated address information from My ASU website showing local and permanent  address
    9. Social Security letter application form (if you are not currently holding a Social Security Number).

    Notes:
    a. You will receive an email or call from ISO for additional requirements and/or if you need to be called in for immigration advisement.
    b. Complete documents will be adjudicated within 10 to 14 working days.

  2. You will receive an email notification from ISO to pick up the processed CPT application. If you are unable to pick up the document yourself, you may give an authorization letter with your signature to the ISO naming a person to act as your proxy in picking up the document.

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