Cheapest Day 1 CPT Universities

"Day 1 CPT" is a term used by international students to describe graduate-level programs that enable them to use Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work authorization from the beginning of their studies. This allows F1 students to work while they study.

USCIS guidelines confirm that Day 1 CPT is legal when required by academic programs, with DSOs determining eligibility. Universities must ensure their Day 1 CPT programs comply with USCIS regulations, making it crucial to select accredited and reputable institutions for legal work experience.

The primary users of Day 1 CPT are F1 students who failed to secure an H1B visa after their OPT. Some had internships and H1B sponsorships but weren't selected in the lottery, while others couldn't find employers or were laid off mid-internship. They need to maintain their legal and working status, which is where Day 1 CPT comes in.

Another significant group using Day 1 CPT includes those facing H1B layoffs and the end of their H1B grace period. Day 1 CPT universities help them maintain legal working status and enhance their industry knowledge, providing another employment opportunity.

Lastly, some users are dependents on H4 or F2 visas looking to gain work experience and support themselves financially. They prefer Day 1 CPT universities over traditional ones due to lower tuition and employment opportunities.

Regardless of whether it is Day 1 or not, using full-time CPT for more than one academic year will make you ineligible for post-graduation OPT.

However, this is rarely a problem for our students. Based on our experience, most students needing Day 1 CPT programs already have a master's degree. OPT can only be used once for each degree level. If your Day 1 CPT program is your second master's program, you won't be eligible for OPT after graduation, regardless of how long you used full-time CPT during the program.

Part-time CPT, on the other hand, can be used for the duration of the program and won't affect your OPT application afterward.

No.

Day 1 CPT is based on F1 status and is no different from your previous F1 status as long as you fulfill all USCIS requirements for F1 visa holders.

However, if you ever violate F1 visa requirements—such as failing to attend on-site classes as designed, not maintaining a certain GPA, or working without authorization—these records will show up in your future immigration applications and cause problems.

In short, the issue is not so much about using CPT or Day 1 CPT, but how well you have maintained your F1 status.

If you have used CPT for an extended period, there is a chance that USCIS will issue an RFE (Request for Evidence) during your H1B application.

The reason is that, from USCIS's perspective, the primary reason for F1 students to stay in the US is to study, not to work. Therefore, they may request more evidence regarding your maintenance of F1 status. If you have maintained your F1 status throughout the program and your program is designed to incorporate CPT as part of the study, you should be fine. Accredited Day 1 CPT universities typically provide RFE support, and CPTDog also offers consultation for this.

The short answer is: as long as the program lasts.

If you plan to apply for OPT after graduation, limit your full-time CPT usage to less than 12 months; otherwise, you will be ineligible for post-graduation OPT. Part-time CPT does not affect your post-graduation OPT application.

However, if your current Day 1 CPT program is at the same academic level as your previous degree for which you've already used OPT, it won't matter since you can only use OPT once per level of study.

You can work either full-time or part-time through CPT work authorization.

CPT requires a signed cooperative agreement or a letter from your employer.

If you use full-time CPT more than 11 months throughout the program, you will not be eligible for OPT post-graduation. 

Yes, the government has given temporary regulations stating that students may work remotely (even from abroad) with CPT authorization.

However, F-1 students can not study any program fully online, you have to attend onsite courses in the US throughout the semester.

Yes, the travel rules for Day 1 CPT students returning to their home country are the same as for any F-1 students:

1. Ensure you have a valid F-1 Visa in your passport.
2. Carry your I-20 form, which includes CPT details.
3. Have your course syllabus on hand.
4. Bring evidence of your employment.
5. Keep your DSO's phone number handy for additional assistance at customs.

If you are a student who transfer the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) from the previous school to the new school, the first day of the new school needs to be within 150 days of the end date of the previous program (specified on the first page of I-20) or the OPT expiration date; otherwise, the school can only issue a new I-20. You are required to activate the I20 by traveling outside the US and entering again.

When transferring SEVIS, make sure your new program starts within 150 days of the end date of your previous program or the OPT expiration date. Otherwise you are required to activate the I20 by traveling outside the US and reenter.

Affirm, Adobe, Bloomberg, Barclays, BOA, Box, Citi, Doordash, Google, IBM, JP Morgan, Matterport, Microsoft, Okta, Oracle, Walmartlabs, WeWork, and more.

Please see a list of 200 employers who hired part-time CPT or full-time CPT employees in 2019. All of these employers support full-time CPT authorization.

Attachment: USCIS official list of employers allowed to hire CPT employees

Yes! You can drop out of school after being selected for the H1b visa. It is recommended to finish the semester with grades reported on the transcript until the H1b takes effect.

You can contact your university's academic advisor if you need to drop out immediately.

Yes, there will be a short gap and you can’t continue working during the gap.

OPT as soon as SEVIS is transferred out of the original school. You can restart working after obtaining the new CPT I-20 from the new school. To start working on the first day, we recommend that you start your CPT application as soon as possible after receiving the school's acceptance letter and ideally two weeks before the school starts.

Because the school demands time and efforts to carry out CPT applications, applying near the deadline could result in CPT I-20 delays. It's possible that this delay could lead to the student unable to start work with CPT on the first-week class.

After receiving the CPT applications, it normally takes the school 3-5 days to process the SEVIS transfer and approve the CPT application. Please start working only after the CPT has been approved. If there is a gap, it is better to take a few days off and keep a record of the day-offs (Do Not including these days on pay stub) in case the USCIS requests RFE to prove that you did not work without authorization.

Certainly! Some students may choose to pursue internships with multiple employers, which can enhance their chances of securing H1B sponsorship in the future. Internship experiences play a vital role in the search for H1B sponsorship. Day 1 CPT programs, with its focus on real-world work opportunities, assists international students in securing better job prospects post-graduation.

However, it is advisable not to exceed 40 hours of work per week to avoid raising questions about F1 status maintenance. CPT serves as a valuable benefit for F1 students, but it requires students to maintain full-time status. Spending excessive time working while on H1B status may result in inquiries from USCIS that could potentially lead to a denial of H1B application in the future.

There are no clear requirements from USCIS regarding the exact number of hours you must spend on-site. The regulation only mentions "some hours." However, you still need to pass the "smell test," meaning USCIS must believe you are spending more time on courses than on your internship. Therefore, it's best to avoid programs with minimal on-site requirements. Some schools only require students to be on-site once per semester and allow them to take the summer off, meaning you might only need to go to campus once every six months. While this is very work-friendly and technically within regulations, it seems risky to join such programs.