By Rajwa Quasim
The Trump administration has increased oversight of Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for international students in the U.S., warning that improper authorization could lead to legal consequences.
In a broadcast message issued Aug. 12, the U.S. Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) told designated school officials (DSOs) that it had seen an increase in CPT authorizations that do not comply with federal regulations. The agency specifically raised concerns about cases in which the training was not an integral part of an established academic curriculum. Improper CPT authorization by schools and DSOs could lead to investigations, loss of SEVP certification and legal repercussions.
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SEVP operates under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) overseeing schools and students participating in the international student program system.
CPT allows international students on F-1 visas to participate in work-study programs or internships through agreements between their institution and an employer. Students do not need to apply to USCIS or obtain an Employment Authorization Document. However, they must receive CPT authorization from a designated school official. Students must have completed one full academic year and be enrolled full time at an ICE SEVP-certified institution.
The SEVP warning is aimed at preventing colleges from using CPT as a way to provide international students with employment. CPT cannot be authorized solely for employment or for experiences that are not required or otherwise formally recognized as part of the academic program. DSOs are also responsible for approving CPT. When an official signs or re-signs a student’s Form I-20 to authorize CPT, the official certifies under penalty of perjury that the information is accurate and that the training is required or integral to the student’s curriculum.
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SEVP may ask institutions at any time to provide documents and evidence showing the necessity of CPT in a student’s studies, without which the student would be unable to complete their degree. Institutions may be subjected to additional scrutiny and action from SEVP and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) if SEVP suspects they are misusing CPT, which could also lead to the withdrawal of the school’s SEVP certification.
It said, “While SEVP recognizes that the school, not the U.S. government, defines what is and is not required to complete a degree, SEVP is also committed to identifying and investigating schools that attempt to undermine or purposely bypass federal regulations or oversight.”
The message is clear for students: CPT is not simply an alternative route to employment while studying. The work must be directly connected to the student’s academic program and supported by institutional records, which the institution must maintain.