Current Student Employment Information

• Included in this category is employment in a required internship or practicum, or research/field studies directly related to a thesis or dissertation.
• This requirement must be formally documented in school publications/course catalog.
• The training is required and necessary for research/fieldwork directly related to your thesis or dissertation.
• For master’s and PhD level students only. Must be clearly detailed and documented by your graduate program director or faculty advisor.

• Included in this category is employment for a course specifically designed to award academic credit for an employment experience.
• This may include graduate students in dissertation/thesis status where the training opportunity is an integral component of the student’s dissertation/thesis.
• In both of these cases, you must register and complete the CPT-related course during the semester that you are working under CPT authorization.
• For example, if you will be working in the summer, you must register and complete the CPT-related course in the same summer semester.

• Rutgers University-Camden will only authorize CPT to begin and end within the fall/spring semester or summer/winter session start or end date. There are no exceptions to this rule.
• If you decide to extend your internship, you must receive a new authorization for CPT from the OIS.
• If you decide to change employers for your internship, you must also obtain a new authorization.
• Both would entail the same process as your initial authorization.
• If you fail to obtain proper authorization prior to beginning or extending your work experience, you will violate your student status.

• The deadline to apply for CPT is one week prior to the start of each semester. (Students applying for CPT during Summer Session must apply one week prior to the start of Summer Term I).
• If all required documents for your CPT application are in order (see CPT Application Instructions), your international student advisor will evaluate your application and, if approved, authorize your CPT by submitting it to SEVIS electronically.
• Once you receive your new I-20, you are authorized for CPT.
• You are required to apply for a new CPT I-20 for each new employment.
• You must also apply for a new CPT if your employment carries over from one semester to another.
• You are required to register for corresponding credit(s) each semester/session that you apply for CPT and for each new employment.

• Attend a Curricular Practical Training Workshop prior to applying for CPT.
• Submit “Academic Official’s Certification,” signed by your Undergraduate Dean or your Graduate Program Director.
• Upload your CPT internship offer letter as well as a copy of your unofficial transcript to your CPT request in the RGlobal portal.

CPT Internship Offer Letter Requirements

• Your CPT internship offer letter should be on company letterhead and include:
• Official name of employing organization
• Physical address of work location
• Job title
• Brief description of responsibilities
• Specific start and end dates of employment (month, day, year)
• Number of hours of CPT activity each week

• Yes, CPT may be either part-time or full-time.
• While school is in session, students may work 20 hours or less per week.
• Full-time CPT is anything more than 20 hours per week.
• You may engage in full-time CPT during official University breaks and vacation.
• A PhD student can also engage in full-time CPT during his/her dissertation, and CPT authorization ends when the student defends the dissertation.

• If you engage in part-time CPT during the academic year (spring and fall semesters), you are required to enroll in a full course of study.
• Full-time CPT does not require you to enroll in a full course of study. However, you may need to register for an internship/research course during the CPT period depending on the basis of your CPT authorization.
• If CPT is for your last semester, you must have at least one other remaining degree-required course for which to register, in addition to the CPT course unless the CPT course is the degree-required course.
• Graduate students working on their thesis/dissertation may be exempt from this requirement on a case-by-case basis.
• Program extensions will not be granted only for the purpose of working with CPT.

• Part-time CPT does not affect your OPT eligibility. However, students who have engaged in 12 months or more of full-time CPT are not eligible for OPT at the same educational level.

You can continue or start on-campus employment while engaged in Curricular Practical Training. However, on-campus employment must be part-time (less than 20 hours per week) during the fall and spring semesters. 

CPT can be authorization for paid or non-paid work experiences. If you are being paid, within three days of your start date, you and your employer will complete an Employment Eligibility Verification form (I-9), which the employer keeps. You must show your passport and your I-20 with the CPT authorization on page 2 at the time you complete the I-9. You will also need a Social Security Number (SSN). See the OIS if you have not applied for the SSN already.

CPT authorization does not require a fee, however enrolling in a course over the summer or other registration requirements for the university may require a university tuition fee.

• While authorized to engage in CPT, and as an F-1 student, income from practical training is exempt from social security taxes if you have been in the United States for less than five years.
• If you have been in the U.S. for more than five years, you will be required to pay social security taxes.
• Whether you are liable for income taxes on income earned from practical training depends on your individual situation and tax status.
• Most F-1 students earning income from practical training will pay federal and state income taxes.
• It is recommended that you consult the resources of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for details.
• Refer to the following IRS publications for clarification:
  • Publication 519: U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens
  • Publication 515: Withholding of Tax on Non-Resident Aliens & Foreign Corporations
• These publications can be found online at: www.irs.gov

An F-1 academic student who has attended an SEVP-certified college or university on a full-time basis for at least one academic year may be authorized up to 12 months of OPT per program level. However, F-1 students who have completed one year or more of full-time curricular practical training are not eligible for OPT for that degree.

Pre-completion OPT is OPT authorized to be worked before the student’s program end date. Students with approved pre-completion OPT may work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) while school is in session. Students who are eligible to register for the following semester may work full or part time during vacation periods.

Post-completion OPT is OPT that begins after the student’s program end date. It is for full time employment only.

• You are eligible for a maximum of 12 months of full-time Optional Practical Training during or following each advancing degree level.
• Part-time pre-completion OPT accrues at a rate of 50%, e.g., 6 months of part-time OPT count as 3 months of the total 12 months allowed.
• If you are a student in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), you are eligible to apply for an extension of 24 additional months, increasing your OPT total to a maximum of 36 months.
• If you are the beneficiary of a timely-filed H-1B petition, you are eligible for:
  • An OPT extension or work authorization extension (if on post-completion OPT at the time of filing), OR
  • An extension of your F-1 status (if in legal F-1 status at the time of filing).
• This extension applies until the effective date of your H-1B (October 1 of the year in which the petition was filed). This is known as a “cap-gap” extension.
• If you have used full-time Curricular Practical Training for 12 months or more, you are no longer eligible for OPT at your current degree level.
• Use of part-time CPT does not affect eligibility for OPT.

Workshops are offered once per month, virtually and in-person. It is recommended you attend a workshop at least once, during the semester you plan to apply for OPT.

Submit a completed Academic Official’s Certification for OPT form (with Section I completed by you).
After submitting the form, enter the name and email address of your academic advisor/graduate program director so the form can be sent to the appropriate advisor for review.
**Note:** Your academic official is **not** a staff member in the OIS.

Be sure to sign the new form I-20 before uploading it to the online portal or mailing the application.

• Digital 2″x2″ color passport photo that meets USCIS specifications
• A scan of your passport photograph page
• A scan of the front and back of any previous EAD cards (if applicable)
• A scan of any previous I-20s with CPT or OPT information (if available)
• A digital copy of your I-20 with an OPT recommendation
• Apply for OPT with this I-20 within 30 days of issuance. You must receive a new I-20 before filing for your OPT online.
• The I-20 must be signed by an OIS advisor and by you.
• Your most recent Form I-94: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home
  – Select “Get Most Recent Form I-94”
• A credit card to pay the filing fee

These materials will be attached in the “Evidence” section of the online application.

Complete the application for OPT (I-765 Application for Employment Authorization):
https://www.uscis.gov/i-765

1. Create an online account with USCIS by clicking on “Sign In” and selecting “Create an Account”.
2. Go to “My Account” → “File a Form Online” → Select I-765 “Application for Employment Authorization”.
3. Select your eligibility code:
   For the first year of OPT, select (c)(3)(B) – Student Post Completion OPT.
4. Answer: “What is your reason for applying?”
   Select “Initial permission to accept employment” for the first year of OPT.
5. If you have ever previously applied for OPT, you will answer “Yes” to “Have you ever filled out Form I-765?”.

This is where you will upload the materials you collected in Step 4.

• Under “Employment Authorization Document,” if you have previously been issued an EAD, upload it here. Otherwise, upload the photo page of your passport.
• The Form I-20 should be the one issued by OIS with the OPT authorization indicated on page 2.
• If applying for Post-Completion OPT (c)(3)(B), upload any I-20s or previous EAD cards showing CPT or OPT authorizations under “Previously Authorized CPT or OPT”.

Note: In approximately 2-3 weeks, USCIS will send you a Form I-797 Notice of Action confirming receipt of your application. This notice includes a case number (e.g., EAC-11-222-3333) you can use to track your application status online at www.USCIS.gov.

If approved, USCIS will send your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Card to either OIS or the address provided on your I-765.
If USCIS requires additional information before approval, they will send a “Request for Evidence.” Please contact OIS for assistance in responding.

Submit Originals of:

• Signed and completed Form I-765.
• OPT endorsed I-20.
• A check or money order for $470 made payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.”
  • If your name and current address are not on the form of payment, write them on the upper left side of the check.
  • Write “I-765 fee” on the memo line of the check.
  • For identification purposes, write your SEVIS ID number and your phone number on the check.
• Two identical 2×2 passport photographs taken within 30 days of filing the application.
  • Write your name and SEVIS ID number on the back of both photographs in case they get separated from your application.

Submit Photocopies of:

• I-20 with authorized work employment such as CPT or Pre-completion OPT, including I-20s from any previous institutions you attended in the U.S.
• Passport copies, including:
  • All pages that contain biographical information
  • The page with your picture
  • The page showing your passport expiration date (these may or may not be on the same page)
• A copy of your most recent visa.
• Printout of your electronic I-94 record.
  • Include any previous I-94s given to you since your last arrival in the U.S. (only applicable to those who have changed their status since their last arrival).
• Copies of any/all previous EAD cards (front and back) issued to you.

For US Postal Service (USPS) Deliveries: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services PO Box 660867 Dallas, TX 75266 Due to current delays at the Dallas, TX lockbox, we recommend students mail their applications to the Chicago, IL lockbox (updated 2/26/21).
U.S. Postal Service (USPS): USCIS PO Box 805373 Chicago, IL 60680	For Express Mail and Courier Deliveries: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ATTN: AOS 2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business, Suite 400 Lewisville, TX 75067
FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries: USCIS Attn: I-765 C03 131 South Dearborn – 3rd Floor Chicago, IL 60603-5517

• You may request an E-Notification that your application has been accepted by attaching USCIS Form G-1145 , “E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance,” to the I-765 form.
• The E-Notification of application acceptance is NOT the official USCIS receipt notice.
• The application must be filed within 30 days of the date your international student advisor enters the OPT recommendation into SEVIS.

While on Post-Completion OPT, you are still an F-1 Student Visa Holder and remain a Rutgers University student for visa purposes. This means you are responsible for communicating the following information to the OIS during your OPT period:

• You must update and submit your local and international addresses to OIS.*
• You must update and submit your employer information to OIS.*
• If you have changed your visa status, you must email OIS copies of:
  • Your Approval Notice from USCIS indicating your new visa status, OR
  • Your I-94 card and visa stamp indicating the new visa status.

  This must be done within 10 days of receiving the documents from USCIS or re-entering the U.S. OIS will then COMPLETE your SEVIS record.

• When you have completed your OPT or if you leave the U.S. and do not intend to return to use the remainder of your OPT, please email the OIS within 10 days of leaving the U.S. or finishing OPT.

• Pre-completion OPT:
  • Applications can be filed up to 120 days before the proposed OPT start date if the student has completed a full academic year in F-1 status.
  • If the student has not completed a full academic year, they may only file the I-765 for pre-completion OPT up to 90 days before the end of the full academic year.
  • The application must be filed within 30 days of the date your international student advisor enters the OPT recommendation into SEVIS.
• Post-completion OPT:
  • Applications can be filed up to 90 days before the degree completion date and up to 60 days after the degree completion date.
  • It must be filed within 30 days of the date your international student advisor enters the OPT recommendation into SEVIS.
  • Graduate students (Masters/PhDs) may apply after completion of all course requirements for the degree (excluding thesis or equivalent).
  • Students cannot begin working on OPT until they both reach their OPT start date and have received the EAD card.
• 24-Month STEM Extension:
  • Applications must be filed before the current EAD expires.
  • STEM-based OPT extension applications must reach the USCIS before the post-completion OPT end date.
  • There is no 60-day grace period for extension.
  • The application for extension can be filed up to 90 days prior to the end date of the OPT.
• H-1B Cap-Gap Extension:
  • Must be requested before the program end date or the end date of the OPT (whichever applies).
  • Eligible only if the student is the beneficiary of a timely filed H-1B petition.

• Your OPT employment must be directly related to your field of study and cannot begin until you have the EAD card in hand (and the start date has arrived).
• USCIS will send a receipt notice once it has received your application. Use the receipt number and URL of the USCIS case status website to track the status of your OPT application.
• You must continue to update your DSO with any changes in address or employment while on post-completion OPT.

Effect of Periods of Unemployment While on OPT

• During any initial 12-month period of post-completion OPT, students (including STEM students) may not be unemployed for more than 90 days in total.
• If a STEM student receives a 24-month extension, the unemployment limit increases to 150 days for the entire 36-month OPT period.

Travel Warnings

1. Before receiving the USCIS receipt notice: Traveling abroad between the time you submit your OPT or STEM OPT application and the time you receive the USCIS receipt notice is permissible but not recommended by OIS.
2. While on post-completion OPT or an extension: Regulations allow you to re-enter the U.S. to resume employment.
3. Applying for an F-1 visa while on OPT: If you need to apply for an F-1 visa to return to the U.S. while on OPT, please be aware that this may be considered a high-risk visa application and has an increased chance of denial.

	Curricular Practical Training (CPT)	Optional Practical Training (OPT)
What is it?	Allows F-1 students to engage in off-campus internship/employment, which is integral to program completion. Must earn academic credit for each semester of work, unless the employment fulfills a degree requirement.	Allows any eligible F-1 students to engage in employment within major area of study, in most cases upon program completion*.
Who can apply?	Students in F-1 status who have completed one academic year and who have declared a major. Grad students whose program requires immediate participation in training are exempt from the one-year requirement above.	Students who have completed one academic year.
	Requires a job offer. (Employer-specific authorization.)	Does not require a job offer.
When can I work?	-Part-time (less than 20 hours per week) while enrolled full time -Part or full time while on school breaks or during summer session	-Part-time (less than 20 hours/week) while enrolled full-time -Part-time or full-time while on school break or during vacation -Full-time with thesis or dissertation pending -Full-time after program completion (graduation)
Duration of Training (per degree level)	CPT has no limits, although if you used more than 12 months of full time CPT, you will lose your OPT.	Maximum of 12 months full-time (unless eligible for STEM OPT extension). Pre-completion OPT will count against the 12-month limit for post-completion OPT.
Granted by	Office of International Students & Global Programs (OIS) CPT I-20 issued.	USCIS Employment Authorization Document issued.
How to Apply	Go to CPT workshop and meet w/ OIS to start process.	Go to OPT workshop and meet with OIS to start process.
Application Fee	$0.	$470
Processing Times	One week or less.	Can take up to 3+ months. Premium Processing can take one to two weeks.
Role of Academic Department	Verify enrollment requirements. (i.e. internship course, course credits, research is integral component of thesis/dissertation). Complete CPT academic official certification form. Recommend CPT.	Pre-completion OPT: Verify full time enrollment on academic official form.	Post completion OPT: Verify expected program completion date  on academic official form.
Role of OIS	Verify eligibility. Determine whether CPT is appropriate. Authorize CPT in SEVIS.	Verify eligibility. Recommend OPT in SEVIS.

To qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, an F-1 student participating in an initial period of regular post-completion OPT must:

• Have a degree in an eligible STEM field from a Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified school that is accredited when the student submits their STEM OPT extension application to USCIS.
• Pursue their STEM OPT extension through an employer enrolled in USCIS’s E-Verify employment eligibility verification program.
• Select a STEM OPT employer that provides formal training and learning objectives.
• Work a minimum of 20 hours per week per employer.

If you earned a degree in a field that appears on the U.S. government’s official list of STEM fields, you may be eligible for the 24-month OPT extension.

To verify if your degree qualifies:

1. Look at the code listed under “Primary Major” on the first page of your I-20 form.
2. Compare that code to the CIP code column on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s STEM Designated Degree Programs list.

E-Verify is a database system operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration. It allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of newly-hired employees.

E-Verify is currently voluntary in most states. For more information, visit: www.dhs.gov/e-verify

• Students must apply for the 24-month OPT extension before the first 12 months of “initial” OPT expires.
• The application must be received by USCIS before the initial OPT EAD expires to be considered timely filed.
• USCIS will not accept I-765 applications for STEM extensions earlier than 90 days before the current EAD expiration date.
• The International Center will issue a STEM recommendation I-20 no more than three months and one week before your current OPT end date.
• Important: You cannot apply during the 60-day grace period.

If you successfully file your 24-month OPT extension application before your initial 12-month OPT EAD expires, you may continue to work even if your previous EAD card expires.

This continued work authorization lasts until your OPT extension is processed or until 180 days has passed — whichever happens first.

There are specific reporting requirements associated with STEM OPT extensions. STEM OPT students must:

• Report to their DSOs every six months to confirm the accuracy of their SEVIS information, including:
  • Legal name
  • Address
  • Employer name and address
  • Status of current employment/practical training experience
• Complete an annual self-evaluation and report to their DSO about the progress of the training experience.
• Sign the self-evaluation before submitting it to the DSO, who will add it to the student’s record.
• Report to their DSO any material changes to, or deviations from, the student’s formal training plan.

For more information about these reporting requirements, please visit the Form I-983 Overview page.

Employers must report to the DSO listed on the student’s Form I-983 if the F-1 student on a STEM OPT extension leaves or terminates their employment before the end of the authorized OPT period.

This report must be submitted to the DSO within five business days after the student leaves employment.

For more information, visit the Employer Reporting Requirements page.

A student authorized for a 24-month STEM extension must work at least 20 hours per week for an E-Verify employer in a paid position directly related to their DHS-approved STEM CIP code.

Types of Employment Allowed

• Multiple Employers:
  • Students may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to the student’s degree program.
  • All employers must be enrolled in E-Verify.
• Entrepreneurship and Employer-Employee Relationships:
  • F-1 students cannot qualify for STEM OPT extensions unless they are bona fide employees of the employer signing Form I-983.
  • F-1 students cannot sign employer attestations on their own behalf.
  • STEM OPT applicants may work for a start-up or small business, provided all regulatory requirements are met.
  • The employer signing the Training Plan must be the same entity that employs the student and provides the practical training experience.

Employers must remain in good standing with E-Verify and have the resources to comply with the proposed training plan.

Explore the STEM OPT Hub for more information and additional resources for students, school officials, and employers.

The 24-month STEM extension is available to each student at TWO non-consecutive periods of time.

This rule is different from the “standard” 12-month OPT, which allows multiple OPT periods for each higher degree earned in the U.S. (bachelor’s, then master’s, then doctoral).

Each STEM extension must meet all the STEM eligibility requirements listed above.

• The start date of the 24-month STEM extension will automatically begin the day after your 12-month OPT ends.
• The end date will be exactly 24 months later.
• Important: It is not possible to request smaller increments of time for the STEM extension.

• Submit the OPT STEM Extension Request.
  • Fill out all fields and attach all required documents listed in the form.
  • Incomplete requests cannot be processed.
  • You must submit a completed I-983 form with your I-20 request.
• For more information, visit the Study in the States website.
• OIS will prepare a new I-20 for you, usually within 5 to 7 business days, unless your request is incomplete or the office/university is closed.
• OIS will notify you via email once your I-20 is ready.
• The I-20 will only be sent to you electronically via email.

To apply, you must properly file:

• Form I-765, including:
  • The correct application fee
  • Your employer’s name as listed in E-Verify
  • Your employer’s E-Verify Company Identification Number or valid E-Verify Client Company Identification Number
• Form I-20, endorsed by your DSO within the last 60 days
• A copy of your STEM degree

If your STEM OPT extension application is filed on time and your initial OPT period expires while your application is pending, your employment authorization will automatically be extended for 180 days.

This automatic extension ends when USCIS makes a decision on your application.

Once your OPT extension is approved, you must submit a scanned copy of your new EAD card to OIS.

Please also read the section “During the STEM Extension” below for more information on maintaining your F-1 status.

If your 24-month STEM extension application is approved, USCIS will issue an EAD with a validity period that starts on the day after the expiration date stated on your 12-month OPT EAD.

Information reporting requirements are more strict during the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Take special care to comply with these obligations — failure to do so can jeopardize your OPT and your legal visa status in the U.S.

• You must report any change of address within 10 days of moving. Your address must reflect where you physically live — P.O. Boxes and office addresses are not acceptable.
• If your employer’s name or address changes, you must report this to OIS within 10 days.
• If you have an interruption in employment, you must report it to OIS within 10 days.
• Students are allowed a maximum of 180 cumulative days of unemployment, including both the initial 12-month OPT and the 24-month STEM extension.
• If you leave Job A and start Job B (as long as you have unemployment days remaining), you must submit:
  • A final I-983 evaluation from Job A
  • A new I-983 training plan from Job B
• You are required to submit a validation report to OIS every six months from the date your STEM extension is approved. This may require an updated Form I-983.
• The validation report must be submitted via email to: ois@camden.rutgers.edu

The Validation Report Must Include:

• Legal name
• Residential/mailing address
• Employer name
• Employer address
• Confirmation that you are currently employed by the listed employer

• Your F-1 status remains valid until 60 days after the expiration of your EAD card.
• During this 60-day grace period, you are no longer authorized to work, but you may remain in the U.S.
• If you plan to return home after your OPT, you must depart the U.S. before the end of your 60-day grace period.
• If you decide to abandon your OPT and leave the U.S., notify OIS immediately.
• If you plan to change your visa status, it’s recommended to begin the process before your OPT expires. You must also notify the Registrar’s Office if your immigration status changes during OPT.
• If you plan to start a new degree program at another institution, contact OIS to arrange your SEVIS record transfer. Transfers must happen before the end of the 60-day grace period.