International Student Services

CPT provides employment or training opportunities for students while they work on a degree.  It is an integral part of the curriculum, authorized by the International Student Services Office, and is usually for a period of a semester.

OPT provides employment or training opportunities for students after they complete a degree.  It is authorized by the U.S. Immigration Service and lasts up to one year.  Attend one of the ISS Office OPT workshops for more information. (hide)

No.  CPT work authorization is granted for a specific employer and for a specific period of time, usually corresponding to a semester. (hide)

Full-time CPT may total one year without affecting OPT. Full-time CPT that continues for more than 12 months makes the student ineligible for OPT.  Part-time CPT does not affect a student's eligibility for OPT. 

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CPT may be either full or part-time. Part-time CPT is limited to 20 hours or less per week.  Full-time CPT is anything more than 20 hours per week.

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Complete CPT requests received in the ISS Office by 4:00 PM will be ready for pick up the following day by 12:00 PM. You may not begin working until your I-20 has been authorized and picked up from the International Student Services Office.  Any work done before CPT is approved is unauthorized employment and a violation of your F-1 status.  (hide)

Yes.  Turn in your application ten days or more before your current CPT expires.  You may pick up your CPT extension on the same schedule as listed above. (hide)

• Part-time CPT requires full-time enrollment at school during any long semester or first semester in a new program.
• If you are participating in a full-time CPT for the majority of the semester (11 weeks or longer), you are able to reduce your enrollment for one semester.  For that semester, your enrollment in the CPT course is considered a full time course load and you do not need to take additional coursework to maintain your F-1 status.  HOWEVER, you may NOT enroll for two consecutive long semesters (Fall and Spring or Spring and Fall) of CPT at this reduced course load.  After a reduced course load for either Fall or Spring, you must be enrolled for a full-time course load the following Spring or Fall semester unless you have received prior ISS Office approval for reduced enrollment based on another immigration service approved reason.  Please Note: The academic program in which you participate may require you to maintain full-time enrollment while participating in CPT.  Please see your academic advisor for this information.  (hide)

You may not defer your graduation by working in a full-time internship.  You may not extend your I-20 due to CPT participation. (hide)

Your CPT authorization is based on course credit for your internship or co-op program.  If you withdraw from your CPT course, you are not authorized to work and you may be in violation of your F-1 status.  In addition, if you fail a CPT course, you are no longer eligible for CPT authorization through the UT Dallas ISS Office for future semesters. (hide)

No, you may not work an additional job while you are participating in a CPT assignment. (hide)

F-1 students have worked in high profile companies and research centers across the U.S. over the past year. Some noteworthy companies in which UT Dallas F-1s are working are: Alcatel, American Express Financial Advisors, Dell Computer Corporation, EDS, Halliburton Investor Relations, Hewlett-Packard, JPMorgan Chase, KPMG, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Research Center, Nortel Networks, Proctor and Gamble, Sabre Holdings, Samsung Telecommunications America, Texas Instruments Incorporated, and Verizon.  If you are interested in doing an internship as an F-1 student, please visit the Career Center or IPP Office to attend an Internship Information Session. (hide)