IS

Eligibility

• The training is
  • related to and an integral part of your major program of study
  • temporary in nature
• You have been lawfully enrolled full-time in your program of study for at least one academic year (eight months)
• You are currently in lawful status

Requirements

• You must receive written authorization before you may begin your CPT.
• You may only work up to 20 hours per week during your required periods of enrollment, typically fall and winter semesters. However, you may work more than 20 hours per week during your annual vacation period, whether or not you are taking classes.
  
• You must be enrolled for academic credit throughout the duration of the training unless the internship is required for graduation.

Authorization Procedure

1. Obtain a signed letter from your prospective employer on company letterhead that provides:
   • Name of firm
   • Nature of training, specifying that it is an internship, cooperative education, or practical training
   • Type of position as part-time (less than 20 hrs/wk) or full-time (more than 20 hrs/wk)—full-time employment is only allowed during.
     
   • Beginning date of training that must be a future date on or after the first day of the semester or term. The beginning date must be after the day that International Services receives the letter because authorization may not be given retroactively.
   • Ending date of training that must be before the first day of classes for the next semester/term unless you have been granted approval for multiple consecutive semesters
     
     Note: These dates become the official beginning and ending dates that will be listed on your new Form I-20.
2. Review your employer letter with your department’s internship coordinator and obtain a signed letter on department letterhead that provides:
   • Certification the proposed internship (training) is related to your major program of study
   • Name of firm where you will be doing your internship
3. Enroll in the appropriate work study, practicum, field program, internship or cooperative education class; check with your academic advisor about the course you should enroll in for academic credit. If the internship coordinator indicates in their letter that this internship is required for graduation, a non-credit internship is permitted.
   
   Note: If the internship is required for graduation, steps 1 and 3 above are not necessary; all of the information may be provided in the letter from the department internship coordinator.
   
   
4. At least five days prior to the beginning date of the training,
   • come to International Services
   • complete and submit a Request for Approval of Curricular Practical Training along with the following:
   • Letter from prospective employer
   • Letter from internship coordinator
5. International Services will review your request; if it is approved, you must return to pick up your new authorizing Form I-20 before you may begin your training.
6. You are required to renew authorization every semester.

Note:  If you receive one year or more of full-time curricular practical training, you become ineligible for any post-completion optional practical training.

Eligibility

• You may be eligible to participate in temporary employment before completion of the requirements for your educational program (bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees) providing:
  • The practical training is for the sole purpose of training,
  • It is related to your field of study and is less than 12 months in duration,
  • You have not accrued one year or more of full-time curricular practical training (CPT),
  • You have been enrolled as a full-time student for at least one academic year (eight months), and
  • You are otherwise in legal status at the time of application.
• For undergraduates, the completion date is determined as the last day of the last semester attended; for graduates, it is determined as the completion date of all program requirements, not necessarily the last day of the last semester attended or the graduation date.

Requirements

• Before training begins, you must have
  
• received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and
  
• arrived at the authorized start date.
• Must work no more than 20 hours per week during the school year—full time employment is permitted only during your vacation period—unless, as a graduate, you have completed all of your coursework and are enrolled in thesis credit; in this case, you may apply to work full time.
• Must conclude your OPT before you complete your program of study requirements. You may, however, apply for Post-Completion Practical Training by submitting a new application covering the remainder of the 12 months of total OPT eligibility.
• If you are a transfer student, you may apply up to 90 days before the end of your first full academic year at BYU, provided the training will not begin until after the completion of your first year here.
• You do not need to have secured employment before applying.

Conditions

• Any Optional Pre-Completion OPT time will be deducted from the available 12 months of training, leaving the remainder for Post-Completion Practical Training.
• OPT is available for a period of 12