F-1 Immigration

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit of F-1 status that permits off-campus employment for the purpose of gaining practical experience in the student’s major field of study as indicated on the Form I-20.

• Pre-Completion OPT
• Post-Completion OPT
• STEM OPT Extension
• Cap-Gap Extension

OPT authorization allows a student to work for any employer in the United States, as long as the job duties are directly related to the student's major area of study and commensurate with the student's educational level. Practical training experiences that are unpaid are also permitted within certain limitations.

OPT is recommended by an OISS advisor, however authorization is granted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Official work authorization is issued in the form of an ID card known as an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), or EAD card. It may take USCIS 3-5 months or longer to approve OPT and issue an EAD card. Students must have the EAD card in hand and must wait until the start date of the EAD to begin work.

An F-1 student completing a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in the U.S. is eligible to apply for a total of 12 months of full-time OPT at that degree level. Once a student has been authorized for 12 months of OPT at one educational level, that student only becomes eligible for another 12 months of practical training when they change to a higher educational level. For example, students who use 12 months of OPT during a master's program are eligible for another 12 months of OPT if they advance to a doctoral program, but not if they enroll in a second master's program or bachelor's program.

Students who have been authorized for 12 months of OPT based on terminal degrees, such as a PhD, are not eligible to receive additional OPT since all terminal degrees are considered equivalent in level.

OPT work authorization may be used either before or after degree completion, or a combination of the two. Students are limited to a total of 12 months of OPT authorization, including pre-completion (during degree program) and post-completion (after graduating) OPT.

To be eligible for OPT, a student:

• Must be maintaining lawful F-1 status.
• Must have been enrolled as a full-time degree-seeking student for at least 9 consecutive months or one academic year (fall and spring semester).
• Must be in good academic standing with UNCW. Students who are currently on a leave of absence are not eligible.
• Must be making normal progress towards their degree or have completed it.
• Must not have already engaged in post-completion OPT for that particular level of study.
• Must not have worked 12 months or more on full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT). If a student has engaged in a total of 12 months of full-time CPT during a program of study, the student is not eligible for OPT at that degree level.
• Must file their application for OPT with USCIS while they are physically present in the U.S.
• Can only engage in employment that is directly related to their major field of study.

A job offer is not required to apply for OPT. However, any OPT period approved by USCIS will count against the total standard 12-month period of OPT allowed per educational level, regardless of whether the student ever secured employment.

There are two types of OPT:

• Pre-Completion OPT is training that is completed before a student completes their degree program, either during the academic year or during summer or winter break. When classes are in session in the fall and spring, a student may be authorized for part-time pre-completion OPT to work 20 hours or less per week. During summer or winter break, a student may be authorized for full-time pre-completion OPT, 20 hours or more per week.
• Post-Completion OPT is full-time training, at least 20 hours per week, that will begin after the student has completed their program.

Post-Completion OPT may be extended beyond 12 months in two ways:

• STEM OPT Extension: Students with a degree in an eligible STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) may be eligible to apply for a 24-month extension of OPT. See the Study in the States website for a list of eligible CIP codes (majors).
• Cap-Gap Extension: Students with a receipted or approved H-1B change of status application filed with USCIS by a cap-subject employer may be eligible for an extension of OPT from their original OPT expiration date to the effective date of their H-1B status.

Please review detailed application information for OPT using the links above and speak to your F-1 advisor in the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) if you have any questions.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is defined as an “an integral part of an established curriculum” and "directly related to the student's major area of study." Students must receive academic credit to participate in CPT. This may include internships, cooperative education programs, thesis research, or independent study.

CPT Eligibility Requirements

• Students must be enrolled full-time in active F-1 status for at least one academic year (continuous fall and spring semester).
• Student must receive academic credit specifically for participating in the CPT.
• Students must be maintaining F-1 status and be in good academic standing. "Good academic standing" is not defined by OISS, but by university policy. See the Registrar's website for more details.
• Students must continue to make normal academic progress towards their degree program and must continue to meet the full-time enrollment requirements.
• CPT will be revoked if a student does not maintain good academic standing throughout the CPT.
• All work on CPT must be directly related to a student's major field of study and coursework.

Semester Eligibility Dates

Because students are required to be in good academic standing and receive academic credit for the CPT, CPT is only authorized on a semester-by-semester basis. Students will need to submit individual applications for each semester of CPT requested. Check the UNCW Academic Calendar for semester dates.

Fall Semester

• Earliest Start Date: Day after last day of exams in Summer Session II
• Latest End Date: Day before first day of classes in the spring semester

Spring Semester

• Earliest Start Date: Day after last day of exams in the fall semester
• Latest End Date: Day before first day of classes in Summer Session I

Summer Semester

• Earliest Start Date: Day after the last day of exams
• Latest End Date: Day before first day of classes in the fall semester

Note: If a student is completing their degree requirements in the semester they are participating in CPT, the CPT cannot extend beyond the I-20 program end date.

CPT Application

To apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), students must submit a complete CPT application through the OISS Immigration Portal. After you submit your CPT application with all required documents, your OISS advisor will authorize the CPT in your SEVIS immigration record and will issue a new I-20 with CPT authorization. You must apply for CPT at least two weeks before your employment start date to allow adequate time for processing of your new I-20.

• Students must receive a new I-20 with CPT authorization before beginning employment.
• Students are only authorized to work on CPT for the specific employer, hours, and the dates listed on the I-20 with CPT authorization.
  • Immigration defines part-time employment as 20 hours per week or less, and full-time employment as anything more than 20 hours per week.

The CPT application includes

• Employer's Certification for CPT Authorization, completed by your employer. You will send a link to the certification to them through the online application.
• Academic Advisor's Recommendation for CPT, completed by your academic/faculty advisor. You will send a link to the recommendation to them through the online application.
• Upload a screenshot of your transcript or class schedule in SeaNet that includes your name and the course(s) for which you are enrolled to receive academic credit specifically for participating in the internship.
• You must login to the OISS portal with your UNCW account credentials (username without "@uncw.edu").

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CPT Extensions

Students who would like to extend their CPT for an additional few days or weeks within the same semester may request an extension of CPT, as long as nothing will change except the CPT end date. Students requesting an extension must email their OISS F-1 advisor at least 2 weeks before the CPT end date to allow adequate time for processing of a new I-20 with the CPT extension.

Eligible students who would like to extend their CPT through the next semester must submit a separate application with new materials, as listed above, for the additional semester of CPT.

Students cannot work on CPT past the CPT end date authorized on page 2 of their I-20.

Additional Information

• Time spent working on CPT is not deducted from the 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) available, however;
• A student who participates in 12 or more months of full-time CPT (anything more than 20 hours per week) will lose eligibility to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) at that degree level.
• Students are required to meet the full-time enrollment requirements while participating in CPT.
• Students must have a social security number to accept a salary or wages from their U.S. employer.