• Have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis while physically present in the US for one academic year (i.e. two consecutive long semesters) unless your academic program requires immediate participation for all students.
• Be in lawful F-1 status
• Have a job offer
• Not be enrolled in an intensive English language training program.

Students requesting CPT must submit documents listed below to the International Office. Incomplete  documentation will not be accepted!

• CPT Support letter from your Academic Department / Advisor
• Internship Approval Form (labeled "Attachment II - CPT Application")
  
  • There are two version of this form based on your Degree Level. Choose and fill out the appropriate form based on whether you are a Graduate or an Undergraduate CPT seeker.
• Employment offer on official company letterhead, which includes:
  • Brief description of the position
  • Company name, physical address, and telephone number
  • Starting and ending dates of employment
  • Part- or full-time employment

You will also require copies of:

• Most Recent I-94 (Retrieve here)
• SEVIS I-20
• Passport
• Copy of driver’s license (if student has one)

• Graduate (Masters/Doctoral) must obtain approval from the College of Graduate Studies.
• Undergraduate (Associates/Bachelors) must obtain approval from the Associate Provost's office.

With all forms ready and scanned, you will be required to fill out and submit OISPS' CPT application form here. In this form will be included spaces to upload scanned copies of your documents. Student are encourage to submit this application two months in advance of your CPT start date.

Please note that you are not authorized for your internship until you receive the updated I-20 from the LU International Office. I-20s cannot be backdated to retroactively authorize CPT employment. Remember, if you work without authorization while in F-1 status, you will lose your F-1 status.

 OISPS will review your documents to ensure your compliance with the F-1 visa regulations.

Curricular Practical Training is granted directly by the DSO through an update to a student's SEVIS record and by reissuing a Form I-20 annotated on page 3 with the grant of CPT. If approved, you will be contacted to receive this updated I-20. Students must receive and sign the updated I-20 before starting CPT. USCIS approval is not necessary.

Note: F-1 students approved for CPT must provide the original SEVIS form I-20 to Social Security Administration indicating their authorized CPT status to apply for a SSN.

Additional Information may be located on USCIS website at: http://www.uscis.gov/CPT

• CPT is integral to your major and the experience must be part of your program of study.
• When you enroll at the graduate level, your designated school official (DSO) may authorize CPT during your first semester if your program requires this type of experience. Ask your DSO for details.
• OISPS will need to provide you a new Form I-20 that shows that a DSO has approved you for this employment.
• If the CPT is approved, the student will be eligible for part time (20 hrs. or less per week) employment during Fall and Spring semesters. Any use of full-time CPT for one year or more eliminates eligibility for OPT (Optional Practical Training).
• CPT requires a signed cooperative agreement or a letter from your employer.
• If you have 12 months or more of full-time CPT, you are ineligible for OPT, but part-time CPT is fine and will not stop you from doing OPT.

CPT Quick -Reference

• A student may begin CPT only after receiving his or her I-20 with DSO endorsement. Students in English language training programs are ineligible for CPT. Below are the LU OISPS CPT policies:
• The International Office will only communicate using the Lamar University email account (MyLamar) regarding CPT Applications.
• Complete applications can take TEN BUSINESS DAYS for processing in the International Office.
• Provided CPT is approved, the first day of employment will be no earlier than the 1st day of class and will end on the last class day of the semester unless the employer states an earlier termination date.
• Because CPT is subject to wide varying interpretations and potential abuse, Lamar University takes a conservative view. CPT can be authorized only for a specific job with a particular employer for a specific length of time.
• CPT internship is not permitted for on-campus employment (employment by Lamar University). In this case, the student will be employed as a student assistant, graduate assistant, teaching or research assistant. CPT internships are designed for “off-campus employment”.
• In addition to the department’s approval, a CPT application may be denied by the P/DSO in the International Office due to discrepancies and/or unmet qualification(s) of DHS regulations.
• CPT employments must cease before the date of degree completion. Continuing CPT employment beyond the actual completion date is illegal and is a violation of F-1 status.
• Student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis at a SEVP approved school for one full academic year (9 months - i.e. Fall & Spring or Spring & Fall; summer enrollment does not count).
• Students who are returning for a second Master's or Doctorate at the end of their OPT, are required to have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year (12 months) before they will be eligible for CPT. Students will not be eligible for immediate CPT upon their return for a 2nd degree.
• Student must have a Lamar University grade point average of 3.0 (graduate students) or 2.0 (undergraduates). The student’s academic department may require a higher GPA.
• Student must be enrolled full time (9 hrs. for graduate or 12 hrs. for undergraduate) during a fall or spring semester; if the CPT is approved, the student will be eligible for part time (20 hrs. or less per week) employment during these semesters.
• All Students are required to obtain their major's respective academic Dean's approval & signature before submitting the CPT petition to the International Office (on CPT Attachment II). Failure to comply with this policy will delay your CPT petition process.
• Students will also be required to obtain additional signature based on their degree level:
  • Graduate (Masters/Doctoral) must obtain approval from the College of Graduate Studies.
  • Undergraduate (Associates/Bachelors) must obtain approval from the Associate Provost's office.
• Provided the student has met the full academic year of lawful enrollment, the student may be approved for full-time CPT during the summer sessions.
• The employment must be an integral part of an established curriculum in the student’s course of study.
• Student must have an original and currently dated employment offer letter from the company that you will be employed by.
• Student must register and receive a grade for the appropriate CPT course which is determined by the student’s academic adviser or chairperson. The CPT course must be listed in the institution’s catalog. The student must register for the CPT course before the DSO may approve/authorize the CPT. The student’s department will determine how the student will receive a grade for the specific CPT course. Student must continue enrollment in the specific CPT course for each semester that the CPT is authorized.
• A student must be registered for the summer sessions and may begin employment no earlier than the 1st class day and must cease employment by the last class day of the semester.
• Student may engage in CPT only for the specific employer, location and period approved and recorded by the DSO on their I-20 Form.
• Use of full-time CPT for one year or more eliminates eligibility for OPT.
• It is the student’s responsibility to receive written authorization from the DSO before the student may be employed.
• Failure to maintain lawful status (full-time enrollment, valid Form I-20, etc.) will result in immediate termination of employment.
• Full time CPT is permissible during summer sessions provided the student is eligible for this program. Student is required to enroll in the specific CPT course during the summer sessions.
• Students who have completed all required course work with the exception of the thesis, may engage in full or part-time CPT with their major department’s approval.
• Students may not defer graduation because of employment benefits.