The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is an agency for the Department of Justice. The USCIS governs the laws and regulations which affect individuals of different visa classifications. Please follow these simple guidelines so you will comply with USCIS regulations:

• You must be a full-time student at the school that you are authorized to attend by USCIS. This means completing at least 12 undergraduate units or 9 graduate units each mandatory trimester (Spring & Fall).
• You must have a permanent home address outside of the United States. That address must be on file with the school granting your I-20.
• You must keep your passport valid at all times, up to six months into the future.
• You must be able to support yourself without working illegally during your entire stay in the United States.
• You should make photocopies of: Your passport, your I-20, your I-94 card (both sides). Keep the photocopies of these documents in a safe place. If your original documents get lost or stolen, having copies will make the replacement process much easier for you.
  
• You must not travel outside the United States without first consulting with the International Student Advisor at least 2 weeks before you travel. The Advisor will check your documents and sign your I-20 so that you will not have any difficulties re-entering the United States. International students from certain countries may need to obtain special "visitor visas" to enter Canada. If you have a family emergency and need to leave immediately, contact the Advisor for immediate assistance.
  
• Travel during your application request for Optional Practical Training (OPT): If you are eligible and would like to apply for Optional Practical Training, you will be advised that you should not travel outside the USA until you have been issued the work permit from DHS.
  VISA OVERSTAYS: Nonimmgrant visa stamp in your passport will now be void in the United Stated beyond the period of authorized stay. You cannot seek a new visa other than from your country of citizenship. (Illegal Immigration Reform & Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996)
  PERIOD OF AUTHORIZED STAY extends to the expiration date on your I-20, plus your grace period. (Illegal Immigration Reform & Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996).
  
  Any International student who is UNLAWFULLY IN THE UNITED STATES FOR MORE THAN SIX (6) MONTHS BUT LESS THAN ONE (1) YEAR IS NOT ADMISSIBLE TO THE UNITED STATES FOR THREE (3) YEARS. If the student is unlawfully present for MORE THAN ONE YEAR, THE INDIVIDUAL CANNOT BE ADMITTED FOR TEN (10) YEARS. (Illegal Immigration Reform & Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996)
  
  
• BE AWARE OF THE DATES ON YOUR I-20. Plan your education program so that you will not be out-of-status. Be enrolled in twelve (12) or more units, this means the completion of twelve (12) or more units at the end of Fall or Spring semesters. (Illegal Immigration Reform & Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996)
• Plan your extension of stay in a timely manner to meet the immigration deadline. (Illegal Immigration Reform & Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996)
• For additional information please call the IAU and schedule an appointment.

Curriculur Practical Training (CPT) is an off-campus employment option for F1 students when the practical training is an integral part of the established curriculum or academic program. CPT employment is defined as "alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school." To qualify, the work experience must be required for your degree, or academic credit must awarded. And yes, you can get paid for CPT employment. Prior authorization by IAU's international student office and notification to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) is required.

Eligibility to engage in CPT: You must have:

• Been enrolled in school full-time for one year on valid F1 status (except for graduate students where the program requires immediate CPT).
  
• Received a job offer that qualifies before you submit your CPT authorization request.
• A letter offering internship employment from your employer.

You must have been offered a specific training opportunity that must fall into one of the following categories:

• To satisfy an internship requirement expected of ALL students in your program and necessary for completion of your degree.
• To satisfy an internship elective which counts towards completion of your degree. The internship elective must be listed in your school's bulletin and must state in the official course description that it is specifically designed to allow students enrolled in the course to engage in off-campus internships.
  
• The internship may be done to engage in research necessary and integral to the completion of the doctoral dissertation.

Procedure: Submit the following documentation to the ISSO as early before you wish to begin employment. If this internship is tied to a specific course, you must register for the course before you apply for CPT and must apply for curricular practical training before or during the normal registration period.

1. Your current and all previously issued I-20s
   
2. Your passport and I-94 card
   
3. Letter from the faculty member who will supervise your internship stating:
   

   - The specific internship opportunity.
   - The specific degree requirement or elective course (e.g. BUS 505) that it satisfies
   - The minimum requirements to complete the internship.
   - A reasonable period of time needed to complete the internship (e.g., satisfying the requirements of a 1 semester, 3 credit course would normally be done in 1 semester or less)
   - If CPT is for dissertation research, the student's adviser should provide a detailed letter stating the dissertation topic, what research will be carried out, and why it is necessary for the dissertation.

4. Letter offering internship employment from your employer including the following information:
   - Beginning and ending dates of employment.
   - How many hours you will work weekly.
   - A description of duties in sufficient detail to clearly show them as appropriate to meeting the requirements for your degree.
   - Location where employment will take place.

An IAU DSO must authorize you for CPT. Once you receive CPT authorization, you can only work for the specific employer and for the specific dates authorized (unlike with OPT or severe economic hardship off-campus employment, where you can work anywhere in the US). Your CPT authorization will also specify whether you are approved for part-time (20 hours per week or less) or full-time (more than 20 hours per week) CPT employment. While in school, you can only be approved for part-time CPT.

Regardless of whether you are approved for full or part-time on CPT, there is no limit to how long you can work. However, if you work full-time on CPT for 12 months or more, you are not eligible for OPT. If you work part-time on CPT, or full-time on CPT for less than 12 months, you are still eligible for all of your allowable OPT. So make sure you watch the dates and hours closely – don't jeopardize your OPT!

CPT Request Form

IAU offers Post-Completion Optional Practical Training for eligible students. OPT is defined as "temporary employment for practical training directly related to the student's major area of study." Basically, once your OPT application has been approved by USCIS, you may work in the United States for up to 12 months after you complete your program. Students who would like to apply for OPT are required to mail their application to USCIS or apply online (www.uscis.gov). USCIS estimates that the application will take between two to four months to process.

The earliest you may apply for OPT is 90 days before your program end date. The latest you may apply for OPT is 60 days after your program end date.

Please see your Designated School Official (DSO) if you have any questions about this deadline!
Because of the long processing time, we recommend that you speak with a DSO at the beginning of the semester that you expect to graduate from LATTC. The DSO will determine if you are eligible to apply for OPT.

What are the requirements to apply for Post Completion OPT?

• Enrollment for at least one (1) full academic year (2 terms).
  
• Completion of your course of study as listed on your I-20 – you should be enrolled in your last semester.
  
• Student must file a Graduation Petition to the Office of Admissions & Records Office.
  
• Although you do not need to have a job offer in place in order to apply for OPT, your intent should be to pursue full-time employment in the area of your major.

You will need to submit the following documents to USCIS in order to apply for Optional Practical Training:

• Form I-765 with item 16 marked with (c)(3)(b)
  
• I-765 Filing Fee ($380 USD)
  
• 2 immigration-style photographs
  
• I-20 with OPT validation from DSO
  
• Copies of all former I-20's
  
• Copy of both sides of your I-94
  
• Copy of ID pages from your passport/visa
  
• Copies of previously issued EAD cards (if applicable)

Please note that this list serves as a guide. Read all directions on Form I-765 before sending in your completed application to USCIS. You must submit your application to USCIS within 30 days of when the DSO recommends OPT in SEVIS.

What do I need to do after I am approved for OPT?

• Submit a copy of your EAD card to IAU as soon as you receive it
  
• Report your employer information to IAU within 10 days of finding a job – OPT students are required to report the status of their job search to the IAU within 90 days of their OPT start date (see EAD card for this date)
  
• Report any employer changes or periods of unemployment within 10 days of the change
  
• Maintain health insurance coverage

OPT Request Form