With the help of employment, paid or unpaid internships, or cooperative (co-op) education, international students on an F-1 visa can be given the opportunity to temporarily complete curricular practical training (CPT). CPT must be finished before graduation and it must be covered in a recognized curriculum.

With the help of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, foreign students who are studying on an F-1 visa may work for up to 12 months in a job that is related to their field of study. Students on F-1 visas can apply for OPT once their first academic year is finalized.

The period of time you are qualified for these programs and the types of work that are permitted in each program are the main differences between OPT and CPT. 

• CPT must be finished before graduation.
• OPT can be finished either before or after graduation.

• CPT employment enables students to participate in an internship, practicum, or cooperative (co-op) education program with or without pay as part of their main curriculum.
• OPT is not employer-specific and permits employment—not an internship or co-op—without the need to receive course credit.

The F-1 Visa is a non-immigrant student visa that allows international students to pursue academic studies in the United States at accredited colleges, universities, and other educational institutions.

To be eligible for an F-1 Visa, you must have been accepted for a full-time academic program at a US educational institution, demonstrate sufficient financial resources to cover your education and living expenses, and maintain a residence abroad that you have no intention of abandoning.

F-1 Visa holders are allowed to work on-campus part-time while school is in session and full-time during designated school breaks. Students can be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for temporary work authorization related to their field of study.

F-1 Visa holders are allowed to stay in the USA for the duration of their academic program, including any authorized practical training period. Upon completion of their studies, students are allowed an additional grace period of 60 days to prepare for departure or to apply for post-completion OPT.

Yes, F-1 Visa holders can travel outside the USA and re-enter as long as they have a valid F-1 Visa and an endorsed Form I-20 from their designated school official. It is essential to check the travel guidelines and ensure that the visa and documents remain valid during the travel period.

To apply for an F-1 Visa, you must first be accepted by a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-approved school in the USA. Then, you will need to pay the SEVIS fee, complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-160), and schedule an interview at a US embassy or consulate in your home country.