Have an offer for a summer job or internship?
Remember that you must have prior ISSS permission in place before you start any work that is considered off campus. Curricular Practical Training, or CPT, is one type of work authorization you could request if you will receive course credit for the employment or if the employment is a required component of your degree program. If you are approved for CPT, you will receive a new I-20 from ISSS with the employer- and date-specific CPT approval on the back showing that you are authorized to work off campus. CPT is generally for work that is temporary in nature, so if you have a long term job offer, CPT may not be appropriate. Additionally, if you will be graduating and are requesting CPT afterwards, then you may need a different type of work authorization called Optional Practical Training.
How do I get the CPT approval from ISSS?
Once you have talked to your academic advisor to make sure this employment will qualify for CPT, get an employment letter offer and have your academic advisor fill out the CPT Recommendation form. Then you will bring the employment letter, your completed CPT Recommendation form, and a copy of your current I-94 record to ISSS. To get the CPT approval and new I-20, you can either use our CPT Drop-Off Service or schedule an appointment with an International Student Advisor.
How does the CPT Drop-Off Service work?
Bring your completed CPT recommendation form, a copy of your current I-94 record, and your offer letter to the International Office front desk. You will also need to sign and complete both sides of the CPT Drop-off Service Checklist. We also have copies of this checklist at the front desk that you can fill out once you arrive. When you drop the documents off, you will get a receipt from the ISSS front desk showing the person you submitted your documents to and what to expect next. If you drop everything off at the International Office front desk before Thursday at 5:00 pm, an advisor will be able to review your documents by the close of business on the following Monday. An advisor will email you when your new I-20 is ready to be picked up or if there is anything else you may need to do.
Additional things to remember when using our CPT Drop-Off Service:
- Make sure the start date on the offer letter shows a start date that is later than when it will be approved by ISSS.
- Review the offer letter and make sure it has everything that is required. You can review the offer letter requirements on our CPT website.
- There are no same-day approvals when using the CPT Drop-Off Service.
If you have any questions about the CPT process, you are welcome to also schedule an international student advising appointment or email hotline@austin.utexas.edu .
