S1 Blog: Is Day-1 CPT Legal? An Honest Look at the Debate

Day 1 CPT is legal when the program and the student meet the federal CPT rules. According to the regulations set by the immigration authorities, students holding an F1 visa can participate in practical training (internships or jobs related to their studies) during their academic programs. This initiative aims to encourage students to accumulate work experience through internships and to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during their academic tenure. Federal F-1 rules let a school's Designated School Official (DSO) authorize CPT, and they allow it from the first term for graduate programs that require immediate practical training; within those rules, each school decides whether to offer first-term, full-time or part-time CPT.

These policies are determined independently by each institution.

However, there are also specific requirements that need to be fulfilled to ensure compliance and avoid any potential risks.

• First and foremost, students who participate in CPT must ensure they maintain their full-time F1 student status and adhere to the attendance requirements set by their universities. Each school sets the credit load that counts as a full course of study for graduate students, so stay at or above it every term.
• Additionally, the internship/work that students undertake should be closely aligned with their area of study.
• Finally, students must remember to submit their CPT application to the university and obtain approval before they can officially start their internship.