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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

Guidelines for CPT

Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) is a temporary employment authorization for international students to work in the USA on work related to thesis or star paper. The department guidelines are over and above the guidelines set by CIS.

Eligibility:

A student must have completed all courses required as per their program except the Thesis or Capstone project. In most cases this would mean that a student with a Thesis plan would have completed 24 or more credits towards their program and a student on a Capstone project plan would have completed 30 or more credits towards their program. This excludes ESL and other credits not part of the graduate program.

Process

1. A student needs to download the CPT form from the CIS web site and complete the form.

2. Bring the filled form to your program director along with your latest transcript showing all courses complete except the thesis or the capstone project.

3. Bring a letter from the company that is sponsoring you for your Thesis/Capstone project internship. The letter must show the start date and end date of the internship which is no more than 11 months in duration.

4. Fill a reduced course load form.

5. Sign the below statement.

  1. I am doing a Thesis plan for my program and I have completed 24 or more credits (including transfer credits) required for my program and have no other courses remaining other than my thesis credits. My CPT work is an integral part of my thesis.

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Sign

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Print Name

OR

2. I am doing a Capstone project plan for my program and I have completed 30 or more credits (including accepted transfer credits) required for my program and have no other courses remaining other than my Capstone project credits.

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Sign

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Print Name

FAQs

  1. If I am not eligible for CPT, can I use my OPT? OPT can be used but it can not be followed by CPT.
  2. The employer has given me a letter of offer but there is no end date, am I still eligible for CPT? No, because CPT is temporary employment and is not for permanent employment. An end date indicates that the nature of employment is temporary.
  3.  I initially took CPT approval for 1semester, now I wish to continue for another semester can I do that? CIS requires a new application for each extension.
  4. I have got a job on the East coast and I am unable to come to SCSU for getting CPT approval. Can I fax my forms or ask my friend to get signatures? – The department will be very flexible and will be happy to accept scanned copies. You will need to work with CIS for the final approval of your CPT extension.