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Practical Training for F-1 Students

The Immigration Service's Final Rule on the F-1 Regulations was published October 29, 1991 in the Federal Register. The portion covering curricular practical training reads:

Curricular Practical Training Programs

1. Certify the Form I-538 and send the form to the Service's data processing center.

2. Endorse the student's SEVIS I-20 with "full-time" (or part-time) curricular practical training authorized for (employer) at (location) from (date to (date); and

3. Sign and date the SEVIS I-20 before returning it to the student. A student may begin curricular practical training only after receiving his/her SEVIS I-20 with the DSO endorsement.
   
   

1. The student must have been enrolled full-time in school for at least 9 months, and must currently be in F-1 status. This 9-month requirement is waived for graduate students who are required to begin their training program immediately. There is no academic program at TWU which has this requirement.
2. The training must be an important and integral part of the student's program of study.
3. The training must be part of a course which is either required by the student's degree program, or part of a course for which the student receives academic credit.

4. The course must be listed in the TWU catalogue.

5. The training may be either full or part-time. Full-time curricular practical training may total one year without affecting post-degree practical training. Full-time curricular practical training which continues more than 12 months makes the student ineligible for Optional Practical Training. Part-time Curricular Practical Training does not affect a student's Optional Practical Training.

6. Part-time Curricular Practical Training is limited to 20 hrs per week and requires full-time enrollment at school. A student may not work part-time on campus while engaged in part-time Curricular Practical Training.

7. Full-time Curricular Practical Training requires at least part-time enrollment at school in order to keep the student's F-1 status valid, since the student must be enrolled in the course to which the Curricular Practical Training is related. There is no restriction on being enrolled full-time at school while working full-time in CPT.

8. Work authorization is granted by the International Office for a specific employer and for a specific period of time, usually corresponding to a semester.

9. In order to grant work authorization, the International Office must have a letter from the professor of the course, describing the work experience, naming the employer, specifying the dates of employment, and indicating how the professor will oversee the work experience.
   
   If the student is enrolled in independent study, thesis or dissertation courses and the work experience contributes significantly to the student's independent research, it may qualify for curricular practical training. In this case, the International Office will need a detailed description of the research project, a description of the work experience, and an indication from the professor how the student will be graded for the course.
   If the student is enrolled in a regular course, the professor of that course needs to determine if the employment can be related to the course and if the employment will count significantly towards the student's grade for the course. While this may be difficult to do in courses in which the grade is based only on tests, it might be possible for a course which requires all students to complete a research paper or project. If the professor can determine that the work experience will be the basis for the research paper or project, it might be possible for the course to qualify for curricular practical training. If the professor feels that he or she is unable to say either that the employment is related to the course or will count significantly towards the grade, then the Curricular Practical Training will not be authorized.
   
   

PROCEDURE

1. Enroll in a course which allows curricular practical training.

2. Find a job which qualifies for curricular practical training.

3. Request a letter from the supervising professor, which includes all the information in the attached sample letter.

4. Bring the professor's letter and your SEVIS I-20 to the International Office.

5. Fill out Form I-538

6. If the International Office determines that you are eligible for curricular practical training, work authorization will be written on your SEVIS I-20, and you will be free to work.
   

OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING

A student may apply for Optional Practical Training at the following times:

1. Application must be submitted to BCIS no earlier than 120 days before the completion date.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Student must have been a full-time student at least one full academic year (9 consecutive months), and must currently be in F-1 status.

2. Student must maintain full-time enrollment during the academic year.

3. Application must be submitted to BCIS no earlier than 120 days before the completion date.

4. Student does not have to have a job in order to apply for Optional Practical Training, but because it is limited to 12 months total, it is wise to have a job lined up before applying for the EAD. Keep in mind, however, that it can take several months to get the EAD card from BCIS. Keep in mind also that if you wait to apply more than one month after your completion date, the application will still take several months to process and therefore, because the practical training must end 14 months after the completion date, you may have less than 12 months of practical training authorized by BCIS.

5. Student may not begin working until the EAD is issued and may not begin working before the start date noted on the EAD.

6. Once the EAD is issued, the time authorized counts against the 12 month total, whether or not the student finds a job.

7. Post-completion practical training may be split between educational programs, if the student is intending to pursue another degree in the future. If less than one year of practical training is desired, it must be requested at the time of application.

8. The BCIS will not cancel an EAD once it is issued.

9. If the employment is outside the Dallas area, you may be able to apply at another BCIS Office which takes less time to process the application.

PROCEDURE:

1. Student brings to International Education Office:

1. Letter from Department
2. SEVIS I-20
3. Completed I-538
4. Completed I-765
5. Check made out to Department of Homeland Security for $340
6. 2 photos (directions at bottom of page)
7. Copy of passport identity page, showing expiration date
8. Copies of previously-issued EAD's, if any
9. Signature card (available in the International Office)
10. Copy of I-94 (front and back)
2. International Education Office will:

1. Complete the I-538 and send it to the BCIS data entry service in London, KY
2. Endorse the SEVIS I-20 as follows:
   "Full-time (or part-time) optional practical training in (subject) is recommended beginning (date) to (date)." signature, date.
3. Mail to the BCIS Texas Service Center the following items: a copy of the endorsed SEVIS I-20, a copy of the I-538, the I-765, check for $340, photos, identity page, and copy of I-94.
4. Give the original SEVIS I-20 back to the student.
3. BCIS will mail a notice of receipt in about two weeks to the address on the application. The EAD will be mailed to the same address, unless BCIS is informed of a change of address. It is VERY IMPORTANT to notify BCIS of a change of address since the Post Office will not forward mail issued by a government agency.

Instructions for Photograph: