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S1 First Contact & Matching
S1.1 — Opening & visa status verification
- Blog: What Is Day-1 CPT? A Plain-English Guide (No Jargon)
- Blog: Is Day-1 CPT Legal? An Honest Look at the Debate
- Blog: Day-1 CPT vs. Regular CPT vs. OPT: A Comparison Table
- Can I use opt after CPT?
- What is Day-1 CPT, and how does it work?
- Can I schedule a phone call / talk to a real person?
- Can you just explain generally first? I would rather not share details yet.
- Why do you need to know my visa status?
- What is the difference between Day-1 CPT and normal CPT?
- Is this a real degree, or just a work-permit trick?
- If the school issues a real I-20, why do people still say it is risky?
- Is Day-1 CPT actually legal, or is it a scam?
S1.2 Four Questions
- Blog: The H-1B Lottery Did Not Pick You: Your 5 Legal Options, Compared
- Blog: The 60-Day OPT Grace Period, Explained (and the Mistakes That Waste It)
- Blog: Laid Off on H-1B: Your 60-Day Clock and the Student-Status Option
- Blog: Do You Need a Job Offer Before Enrolling? (And When You Will Need One)
- My OPT ends in [X] months - am I still in time?
- How long is the grace period after OPT ends?
- My OPT already ended recently - can I still enroll?
- My H-1B is ending / I was laid off - how many days do I have?
- I already have a COS pending - does that change my options?
- Can I work in the gap between my OPT ending / SEVIS transfer and my CPT starting?
- When are the next start dates / which term can I make?
- Do I need a job offer before I can enroll?
- Do I have to live near the campus?
- I live in [state] - can I attend from there?
- Why do you ask whether I already have a US master's degree?
- My GPA is low - will they still take me?
- My bachelor's degree is a 3-year degree - do I qualify?
- My degree is in a different field - can I still do this masters?
- I do not have a bachelor's degree - any options?
- My F-1 visa stamp is expired - can I still apply and transfer?
- Do you have English / ESL language programs?
- Do I need TOEFL or IELTS?
S1.3 Profile & route
- Blog: How a SEVIS Transfer Works: Timeline, Release Dates, and Zero-Gap Rules
- Blog: B-1/B-2 to F-1: Possible, but Read This First
- Blog: Out of Status or SEVIS Terminated: Your Two Paths, Explained
- Blog: Applying to a Day-1 CPT Program from Outside the US: The Full Sequence
- Blog: Changing Status to F-1: Process, Timeline, and Honest Risks
- Which schools let me start CPT before the semester begins?
- I am on STEM OPT and was not picked in the lottery - what is my path?
- I am already F-1 at another school - how do I move over?
- Will transferring reset my F-1 clock or CPT eligibility?
- I am on H-1B - what is the process to switch to student status?
- I am on B-1/B-2 - can I change to F-1 and do this?
- My SEVIS was terminated / I am out of status - can you help me?
- What is reinstatement, and how long does it take?
- I am outside the US right now - can I apply?
- I am outside the US - do I need a new visa to come for this?
- Just send me your full school list.
- I am on H-4 / L-2 / J-1 - can I do this?
S1.4 Recommend
- School CPT Policies Compared: Early-Start, Job-Required, No-Agreement, and Reinstatement-Friendly
- Full-Time vs Part-Time CPT: Protecting Your Future OPT (the 12-Month Rule)
- Picking a Second Master's That Does Not Repeat Your First: The 3-Course and CIP Rule
- The H-1B Master Cap, Explained: Why Non-Profit Schools Matter for Your First US Master's
- Will using full-time CPT now hurt my future OPT?
- Which schools fit my major / are near me?
- What is the real difference between [A] and [B]?
- What about [school]?
- Which is the cheapest / fastest one?
- What is the H-1B Master Cap?
- Why are you emphasizing non-profit schools to me?
- Can my second masters be similar to my first?
- None of the programs obviously matches my job - what do I pick?
- My employer will not sign the CPT agreement - which schools work?
- Which schools require me to already have a job?
- Which schools support reinstatement?
S1.5 Capture & claim
S1.6 Due diligence
- Blog: How Much Does Day-1 CPT Really Cost? Tuition, Fees, and Hidden Line Items
- Financial Proof for Your Application: Requirements, Sponsors, and Common Mistakes
- Does Your Job Match Your Major? The CPT Connection Rule, Explained Simply
- Day-1 CPT Attendance: What On-Campus Requirements Really Look Like
- Can Day-1 CPT Be Fully Online? Why 100% Online Cannot Issue an I-20
- The Unlimited CPT Renewal Myth: What Day-1 CPT Is and Is Not
- How to Verify Any School Is SEVP-Certified in 2 Minutes (Do Not Take Our Word)
- Roughly how much does the whole thing cost?
- How do I verify the school is SEVP-certified?
- Has this school ever been investigated / lost SEVIS?
- How many credits do I need to stay full-time?
- Does my job have to match my major?
- Can I keep renewing Day-1 CPT for years?
- Is the program fully online?
- How often do I actually have to show up on campus?
- Will employers respect this degree?
- What are the requirements for financial proof?
- Do I need WES certification? What counts as an official transcript?
- Will my visa interview definitely pass?