Study in US: Difference between CPT and OPT

CPT full form is Curricular Practical Training, which is for overseas students holding an F-1 student visa and actively studying. It gives them temporary authorization to gain employment training and to do paid internships, practicums and co-ops which are related to their study area. Students can work full-time (more than 20 hours per week) or part-time (20 hours) or less per week, earn in US dollars, and gain work experience in their area of interest. CPT is employer-specific and must be completed before graduation as candidates are allowed to do part-time or full-time jobs. One significant point to note is that if you work full-time for 12 months in CPT, you will lose your eligibility for OPT.

Applicants must meet the degree and course requirements to be eligible for this.

Documents Required for CPT Visa:

Usually, the following documents may be required to apply for CPT:

• CPT online workshop completion certificate
• Academic recommendation form
• In-depth description of training by your employer
• Copy of present I-20 form
• Print out of electronic form I-94

Eligibility for CPT Visa:

A student should:

• Possess an F1 status
• Be enrolled for one academic year before the employment begins
• Be carrying a particular employment offer which meets the requirements of the institution for the relevant course

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to F-1 students' major areas of study. OPT allows international students with an F-1 Visa to work up to 12 months about their area of study. Eligible students can apply for OPT employment authorization before completing their studies (pre-condition) or after completing their studies (post-completion). Although students are allowed to work for 12 months, however, students with a STEM degree are allowed to extend it to 17 months. Moreover, all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT. Usually, it so happens that you're not permitted to do a job in a country, without relevant documents, of which you are not a citizen. So if you're an international student in the US, you won't be allowed to work there without the same. OPT is therefore mandatory.

Documents Required for OPT Visa:

Applicants are recommended to approach the international office at their respective institutions directly to get details regarding the documents required. But generally, the below-mentioned documents may be relevant:

• 2 passport-size photographs 
• I-765 (original)
• Present passport copy
• A printout of I-94 
• US$380 (subject to change) personal check which should be addressed to the Department of Homeland Security
• Copy of OPT recommendation and I-20
• Copy of all the earlier issued I-20s
• Any earlier issued EAD card copies
• F-1 visa stamp's copy on passport

Eligibility for OPT Visa:

A student should:

• Possess an F1 status
• Be enrolled full-time for one academic year before the employment begins
• Not have used 12 months or more of full-time CPT

CPT vs OPT: Key Differences

The main difference between the CPT and OPT is the period for which the candidate is eligible to work. OPT can be completed before or after graduation, CPT must be completed before graduation. Another major difference is that CPT is required for a candidate's major and if not candidate must receive course credit whereas for OPT a candidate has to earn course credit.

Factors	CPT	OPT
Purpose	CPT allows an F-1 student to work in a company to get practical experience before graduation	OPT allows an F-1 student to gain practical experience in the same field after completing graduation
Full Form	CPT full form is Curricular Practical Training	OPT full form is Optional Practical Training
Requirements	Working on CPT is part of a candidate’s degree requirements	OPT is not related to a candidate’s degree requirements
Organisation of training	When the student is enrolled	After graduation
Training host	Needs consent from ISS and the academic department	Needs consent from USCIS (US government)
Application mode	Online	Paper
Duration of employment	CPT can be done for up to 12 months	The duration of OPT is 12 months which can be extended up to 24 months
Employment Authorization Document (EAD)	The student does not get EAD from USCIS in CPT	Students working on OPT will get EAD from USCIS after getting approval for OPT
Application fee	CPT does not have any application fee	A student working on an OPT should pay an application fee of $470 to USCIS for I-765 applications filed electronically or $520 if filed on paper
Working part-time or full-time	CPT can be either part-time or full-time and is usually done 20 hours part-time during school and 40 hours during summer	Generally, OPT is done full-time after graduation
Employment type	Students are permitted to work with any employer across the US	Only the employers who are featured on the I-20 list and Student and Exchange Visitor Information System can get involved.

Difference Between CPT & OPT Visa

Let's discuss in detail each rule that is valid for CPT and OPT Visa below:  

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Visa Rules

• CPT allows you to intern in the US during your course period. To work as an intern you need to first find an internship, then the college has to issue a Curricular Practical Training (CPT) to the interning student.
• CPT may only be used before completing one’s studies as it is supposed to be undertaken during the curriculum.
• You don’t need a different visa for CPT, you can complete your CPT on an F1 visa.
• Technically speaking, employment or experience must be integral to the established curriculum of the degree program and is seen as supplementing the existing understanding of the curriculum.
• A student must be registered for a course related to employment or experience and vice-versa.
• CPT is supposed to be semester-specific; CPT is only authorized on a semester basis i.e. fall, spring, or summer CPT. Its duration is from one semester up to 364 days.
• Students can work either part-time (20 hours/week or less) when college is in session or full-time during summer break.
• CPT is employer-specific i.e. a student can work only for those employers listed on the student’s I-20 and SEVIS.
• International Student and Scholar (ISSS) authorizes CPT by issuing a new I-20 with a CPT recommendation.
• The processing time of a CPT is 5 to 7 business days, as is a fairly quick process.
• Employment is only permitted for the duration of dates in the CPT recommendation on the I-20 and in SEVIS.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) Visa Rules

• OPT is a one-year work permit given to students after completing a degree program in the US. You have to find a job within 90 days after graduation.
• OPT may be used during one’s studies (Pre-Completion OPT) and after completing one’s studies (Post-Completion OPT). Pre-Completion OPT allows you to work legally before graduation, in case you have finished the entire duration of your CPT period.
• Technically, the job must be directly related to one’s major field of study.
• No course registration is required.
• OPT is not semester-specific.
• Pre-Completion OPT may be part-time (20 hours per week) when college is in session, full-time during school breaks (winter or summer) or completely full-time (when working on one’s thesis/dissertation). Post-Completion OPT may be authorized for full-time employment. 
• OPT is not employer-specific and the student can work for any employer as long as the position is related to their field of study.
• International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) and USCIS both must authorize OPT. ISSS issues a new I-20 with OPT recommendation. USCIS then issues Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card. Read more here
• Processing times for OPT may vary, but it generally takes between 1 to 3 months.
• Employment is permitted during the validity dates on the EAD card, after that, you will have to apply for an H1 visa (work visa).
• USCIS requires a $520 application fee to issue the EAD card.

Read: What is STEM OPT Extension and how to get it?

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