Curricular Practical Training

For International Undergraduate Students with F-1 Status

Undergraduates holding F-1 visa status, whose work will be an integral or important part of their curriculum, may apply to the Cranwell International Center for employment authorization. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service classifies such employment as Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

At Virginia Tech, such employment authorization may be for:

• Cooperative Education through Career Services
• A departmental internship
• An activity that is an important part of a course requirement, thesis, or dissertation

Please read the information below carefully. You should contact the Cranwell International Center if you have questions or if you have employment opportunities that do not meet Curricular Practical Training requirements.

Employment Limitations

There are no limitations on the amount of Curricular Practical Training F-1 students can receive, as long as each authorization meets U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service requirements. However, students will lose their eligibility for one year of Optional Practical Training (OPT) if they work one year or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training during their studies in all academic programs under F-1 status.

Part-time Curricular Practical Training is employment for 20 hours or less per week. If a student’s work exceeds that limit, the work will be unauthorized. There is no limitation on the length of time you may participate in part-time Curricular Practical Training, but you must be simultaneously enrolled full-time in school in order to maintain lawful F-1 status.

Full-time Curricular Practical Training is employment for more than 20 hours per week

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations require that you obtain employment authorization before beginning work. Failure to do so is a serious violation of your status.

General Eligibility Requirements:

• The employment must be directly related to your field of study.
• The employment must be an integral part of a course for which you receive academic credit. The course must be listed in the university’s schedule of classes and a faculty member must be assigned as a course instructor.
• You must be enrolled full time and be maintaining F-1 status.

Note: Students who have worked without authorization or who are not authorized to study at Virginia Tech in the current program of study or who have not been continuously full-time are considered “out-of-status” and are ineligible for employment.

• You must have been full-time for the previous academic year (summer session may be counted as a semester if you were enrolled full-time during that period).

Application Procedures:

For co-op employment

• Work must be part of an academic program
• Need to have a job offer in writing indicating name and location of employer, beginning and ending dates of employment, and a summary of job duties.
• Completed one academic year of an academic program as a full-time student
• Must have documentation from Career Services
• Valid Virginia Tech I-20
• Bring all documents to the Cranwell International Center for work authorization before beginning employment.

For Departmental Internship (available only in departments which have established program requirements.)

• Work must be part of an academic program
• Need to have a job offer in writing indicating name and location of employer, beginning and ending dates of employment, summary of job duties and beginning and ending dates of employment.
• Letter from faculty member assigned as the course instructor indicating name of course, course number and company the student will be employed with
• Completed one academic year of an academic program as a full-time student
• Valid Virginia Tech I-20
• Bring all documents to the Cranwell International Center for work authorization before beginning employment.

The Cranwell International Center will review the student’s eligibility and if appropriate criteria are met, the designated signature official will authorize the employment by issuing a new SEVIS I-20. This authorization is valid only for the specified employer, the employment dates, and the number of hours of work per week

Employer Eligibility Verification

When you begin work, you and your employer must complete a form entitled “Employment Eligibility Verification” (form I-9) which the employer will retain. The I-9 form must be updated each time you receive renewal of your work permission.

Social Security and Other Taxes:

In general F-1 students who have been in the United States less than five years are exempt from Social Security (F.I.C.A.) taxes. Your earnings are subject to applicable federal, state and local taxes. Students must file a tax return on or before April 15 each year, which will determine if any of the withheld taxes can be refunded to you. It is the responsibility of each F-1 visa holder to file federal and state taxes each year even if there is no employment.