Day 1 CPT Colleges
Continue Your Work and Study in the U.S.
Day 1 CPT: A New Pathway for International Students to Work in the U.S.
- Step 1: Select a Day 1 CPT school based on geographic location, program, tuition fees, on-site frequency, and enrollment windows.
- Step 2: Apply to Day 1 CPT schools (Application Timelines).
- Step 3: Get an admission letter.
- Step 4: Transfer your SEVIS record (for OPT students); or file your change of status petition to the USCIS (for holders of other visas). See: SEVIS Transfer Guide.
- Step 5: Submit your CPT application to the school's DSO.
- Step 6: Receive an I-20 with CPT work authorization.
- Step 7: Maintain employment with CPT while studying as an F-1 student.
Relevant Readings:
Selecting a Day 1 School by LocationGet Your Customized List of Day 1 CPT Universities for Free!
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We fully understand anxieties and unique challenges faced by international students, and we are committed to helping you continue your U.S. journey.
Who Can Benefit from Day 1 CPT?
OPT students who are not selected for H-1B and who seek opportunities to extend their legal stay in the U.S.
Read More H-1B Visa HoldersH-1B Holders who are laid off and struggling to find a new job in the U.S. within the 60-day grace period.
Read More Dependent visas holders (H-4/F-2/L-2)Dependent visa holders who aim to gain financial independence or financially support their families by pursuing higher education in the U.S.
Read More B-1/B-2 Visa HoldersB-1/B-2 holders who seek to extend their stay for educational purposes and change to F-1 status to attend full-time programs in the U.S.
Read More L-1/J-1 Visa HoldersL-1 and J-1 holders who do not want to bind themselves with a single company/university and want higher flexibility for working/studying.
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