First of all, CPT is (currently practical)

The abbreviation of "training" refers to the visa used by students during their study. The post skills provided by the internship unit must be closely related to the majors they have studied, so that students can apply what they have learned and exercise their abilities in all aspects. The visa is valid for only 12 months. CPT visa can generally be applied after one year of enrollment, but if graduate students have to take an internship immediately because of the needs of the course, it is not included. If you have studied more than one degree at the same level, for example, you have studied several master's degrees, then the length of one year is that all master's degrees add up to one year, instead of each master's degree having one year.

Second, OPT is optional and practical.

The abbreviation of Training is the off-campus work permit granted to F- 1 students by the US Immigration Bureau. It is a temporary work permit for foreign students to apply their professional knowledge to off-campus practice. OPT's application was first approved by the school, then approved by the US Department of Homeland Security, and finally obtained OPT qualification.

There are two main forms of OPT: one is to pre-complete OPT; The other is the choice after completion.

Precompletion

OPT: refers to the OPT that foreign students apply for before completing their degree courses. As long as students continue to register for next semester's courses, they can apply for a work internship of no more than 20 hours per week during holidays or classes within 90 days before the end of this semester.

After completion

OPT: refers to the OPT that international students apply for after completing their studies. Students can apply within 90 days before the degree is completed; If students do not apply for OPT within 60 days after graduation, they must leave the United States. If students have found a job within the OPT validity period, they can successfully apply for an H 1B visa, work legally in the United States, and hopefully apply for a green card.

Conditions for applying for OPT

1. Applicants must hold a valid F- 1 visa and have completed at least one academic year in a regular American university before applying for OPT.

2.F- 1 The OPT work applied by students must be related to their major, otherwise it will be regarded as illegal work;

3. If F- 1 students take part-time jobs during their study, half of the part-time jobs will be included in the time limit of OPT.

Conditions for applying for OPT again

1. If F- 1 students leave the United States for more than 5 months after graduation, and then enter the United States to study new courses with an F- 1 visa, they can apply for an OPT work permit again after 9 months of enrollment;

2.

If F- 1 students do not leave the United States, but change to other non-immigrant status, and change to F- 1 students again after retaining their non-immigrant status for one year, they can apply for OPT work permit again after completing their studies;

3.

If F- 1 students pursue a higher degree, they can apply for OPT for one year after each study. However, when the same degree is converted, the OPT of the previous degree has been used up, and the new degree cannot apply for a new OPT. If the school changes or the degree changes, the ongoing OPT will automatically terminate.

Extension of selection

On April 8, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of the United States issued a temporary regulation, stipulating that foreign students who are already in the OPT status in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (that is, STEM) can apply for an extension of 17 months, so that the total OPT time can reach 29 months.

Conditions that must be met when applying for extension:

1. is employed by an American employer, and the application for OPT work must be related to my major, otherwise it will be regarded as illegal work;

2. Employers must participate in the E-Verify program of the Immigration Bureau;

3. The applicant must complete his degree, hold a valid F- 1 visa, and be in OPT status after completion;

4. The applicant must be a student in the professional field designated by STEM;

The Significance of OPT to International Students

1

OPT is a common way for many students from China to stay in the United States after graduation. After the student visa expires, the applicant can use the legal status of OPT to find a suitable job while practicing, and then successfully convert the student visa into a work visa.

2

The extension of the validity period of OPT for STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, Mathematics) students will enable foreign students in related fields to have more spare time to engage in part-time jobs related to their majors during their study abroad, which will effectively alleviate the economic pressure on their families while improving their professional level and accumulating practical experience.