F-1 International students- CPT/OPT and STEM OPT

Having previously written two articles on Day 1 CPT (Curricular Practical Training) I keep being asked whether I would recommend Day 1 CPT and what are the potential consequences of taking it. If you haven’t read my previous articles, please find the links below: https://patel-law-group.local/why-day-1-cpt-is-not-a-good-idea-and-can-cause-more-problems-than-it-solves/ https://patel-law-group.local/day-1-cpt-revisited/ Please note that the first article was written during...

On April 12, 2021 USCIS announced that F-1 students can file OPT and STEM OPT applications online using form I-765. This applies to the following applications: Pre-completion OPT; Post completion OPT; and 24- month extension of OPT known as STEM OPT. USCIS has also warned that anyone else that attempts to file I-765 online that...

2 years ago I wrote an article on the problems of taking Day 1 CPT and thought it was time to revisit this issue. Click here to see my previous article. At the time of writing my previous article, USCIS was taking a very firm stand on Day 1 CPT cases.  In fact, students applying...

On Monday, July 6, 2020 SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program (a division of ICE) announced that students taking a full online course load in the fall semester are not allowed to remain in the US. This new rule was a departure from a previous exemption announced in March 2020, allowing students to study online...

There are a number of potential employment options for International students on an F-1 student visa to gain work experience that is directly related to their field of study. On-campus employment On-campus employment is permitted once classes have started provided it is on the school’s premises or at an off-campus location that is educationally affiliated...

Filing for H-1B change of status while working as F-1 student under Curricular Practical Training (CPT) The regulations allow international student visa holders (F-1 students) to participate in practical training and accept employment while still under F-1 status if the F-1 students have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis in a qualified educational institution...

Recently I have found myself regularly consulting with clients on the pros and cons of taking day 1 CPT to enable a student to continue working. The typical scenario is when a student has exhausted their OPT/STEM OPT options and wants to continue working for the same employer. There are a handful of Universities offering...