CPT is an acronym for Curriculum Practical Training, and the most common type is the Day 1 CPT for international students.
Has it occurred to you that most foreign students who are looking for jobs to fund their bills in schools find it difficult? This is one of the major reasons they find a way to obtain day 1 CPT.
The reason for this is to ensure the job process is easier for them like their counterparts (the domestic students). The function of the guide is to aid students to highlight the different criteria for securing a well-paying job in a foreign country (USA).
The type of Visa being issued for obtaining employment in the USA is the F1 visa, and this is accompanied by the option of either getting a part-time or full-time job.
In several countries across the Western world, some international students are allowed to work in any organization for a period of 20 hours per week. In the United States of America, it is somewhat different because even the possession of the F1 Visa does not guarantee employment from a foreign employer for international students. The job acquired is usually related to their field of study to enable them to acquire more valuable experiences. Luckily, when they are being certified, they usually are given the opportunity to work for more than 20 hours depending on the case.
The Major Difference Between Day 1 CPT and CPT
Normally, CPT is a prime option for foreign students after they have been accredited in the first year of their studies.
For day 1 CPT, things happen straight away, and for this reason, it allows students the option of making a choice between working part-time or full-time. Therefore, any international student who desires to gain entrance into an institution that offers a Day 1 CPT has to meet some basic requirements that must be followed.
Basic Requirements for Day 1 CPT Students
International students are compelled to attend all the lectures relating to their course of study, and for this reason, students are advised not to embark on some kind of job based on their studies. However, it’s important to state that some universities have their courses online for their students to learn. Additionally, there is a minimum grade point average (GPA) that should be met by the foreign student to make them eligible for the Day 1 CPT.
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These conditions are crucial for eligibility for any student who wants to land a job in the USA. Some students have been hesitant in time past in checking if what they possess matches with the requirements to pursue a move for a day 1 CPT. Then later, find they’ve missed great opportunities by not properly checking the different conditions for the curriculum practical training, and this is the reason this guide has to be properly understood to avoid terrible errors.
Eligibility for Day 1 CPT for International Students
For the practical training curriculum to take place, it has to be a great contributor to the education of the foreign students. This means that the institution must have included the curriculum practical training as one of their mandatory requirements for international students to perform their studies.
It can’t be ignored that internships are vital in many courses for students to have wide knowledge in their course of studies. Therefore, day 1 CPT shouldn’t be an option in several educational degrees. Some courses don’t require practical experience before they complete courses.
Furthermore, in these types of circumstances, international students won’t be given the chance to work under any circumstances. Ensure to always remember that any exchange student is not eligible for Curriculum Practical Training. The only students eligible for the CPT are students who have in one way or another enrolled for programs that have stretched for more than one year.
A student is mandated to have their letter of employment before their application for any day 1 CPT authorization. But there are some anomalies to this requirement, specifically when the course requires sufficient practical experience from the first semester for undergraduate students.
Different Types of Day 1 CPT
There are multiple kinds of CPT and each depends solely on the terms and conditions of the institution involved in the CPT. There are three major types of Curriculum Practical Training, and they are:
- Cooperative CPT:
When there is an understanding between an international employer and your institution, this type of Curriculum Practical Training is utilized as an educational agreement.
- Course-Based CPT:
This kind of day 1 CPT is utilized when a particular course offers the opportunity of earning a degree using supervised employment. Another option here is for the student to generate a research project that requires employment.
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- Degree Based CPT:
This type of CPT involves those specific degrees that involve compulsory internships. In this case, the student is compelled to find a way to gain valuable experience before they can be eligible to graduate from such programs.
Different Things to Know About Day 1 CPT
As a result of various changes going on in immigration laws and regulations, it is paramount to take note of the fact that the approval of the day 1 CPT by the institution must not be considered as a priority of Homeland Security. Under normal circumstances, you shouldn’t have any difficulty with your day 1 CPT if it is to a vital part of your coursework.
Therefore, if you are attending lectures regularly, there is no need to moan because your F-1 visa happens to be a student visa.
Additionally, if you’ve obtained a Master’s degree in the United States of America already, and you desire to go for a Master’s or even a doctorate degree, it is crucial to abide by every rule and regulation when applying for the Day 1 CPT.
Sometimes, consulting an immigration lawyer might be the best way to avoid breaking any laws attached to your Curriculum Practical Training for your employment in the United States of America.
