CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING

EMU Office for International Students & ScholarsUpdated 08/02/2016

CPT GENERAL INFORMATIONPurpose: Practical experience in major field of study, whether paid or unpaid.

Should I get CPT approval for an unpaid internship: Unpaid internship with a for-profit, private sector company Must meet six criteria to be considered as volunteering. If you meet the criteria,

you are not required to apply for CPT. (DOL Fact Sheet #71 Internship Programs) However, it is still recommended by the OISS to obtain CPT authorization for an unpaid internship experience.

Unpaid work for a charitable organization A volunteer is: an “individual who performs hours of service… for civic,

charitable, or humanitarian reasons, without promise, expectation or receipt of compensation for services rendered.” (from the U.S. Department of Labor) Examples in a non-profit setting are working at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter.

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CPT ELIGIBILITY

In F-1 status and enrolled full-time for at least 1 academic year (2 terms)• Unless you have a degree-required practicum prior to fulfilling 2

terms • Transfer students must have 8 months of full time enrollment at EMU

to establish academic standing to apply for CPT.• Students completing a change of level or Optional Practical Training

(OPT) meet this requirement.

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REQUIREMENTS

Enroll full-time during fall and winter terms Exception– approved Reduced Hours for last term Possible Exemption for part-time CPT only—approved

Reduced Hours for Academic Difficulties or Medical Reasons

Enroll part-time during summer as annual vacation term

Must be in good academic standing (3.0 GPA for grads; 2.0 GPA for undergrads)

OISS approval before beginning work

Approval given on a semester-by-semester basis

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CPT TERMSMay be full-time or part-time20 hours or less= part-time21 hours or more= full-time

Restrictions• You are ineligible for full-time CPT if you already have a full-time

on-campus job (20 hours)• 12 months or more of FULL-TIME CPT = NO OPT!!!! Part-time CPT

does not count.• NO out-of-state CPT in the last term of study unless you have a

degree-required practicum

FULL-TIME VS. PART-TIME SCENARIOSI work full-time on campus already (20 hours/week). = You are only allowed to have part-time CPT (20 hours or less).

I work part-time on campus already (less than 20 hours/week). = You are allowed to have part-time OR full-time for CPT.

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CPT REQUIRED DOCUMENTS- ALL TYPES• Find a job and obtain offer letter (see sample and tips)• Complete student section of CPT Authorization Form• Write Statement of Purpose, including:

1. What are your day-to-day responsibilities?2. What do you intend to learn in this job that will help you better

understand your field of study?3. How does your work relate to the course’s curriculum?

• Ask Academic Advisor to complete Advisor Section

• **Additional documents may be needed depending on the type of CPT you are requesting.**

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CPT TYPES

A. Required for your degree programB. Cooperative Education (co-op)C. Integral part of your curriculum

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CPT TYPE AREQUIRED FOR DEGREE PROGRAM

• ALL students in your degree program are required to take this course

• Consult university catalog and program of study to see if you have a degree-required internship

In addition to CPT Required Documents, students must also submit:

• You must submit a copy of the catalog or your program of study confirming it is required

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CPT TYPE BCO-OP CREDIT

Work considered as cooperative education (co-op) through University Advising and Career Development Center (UACDC, 200 McKenny)

Earn credits toward degree (and pay for them too!) 1 Credit = 200 hours 2 Credits = 400 hours 3 Credits = 600 hours

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Co-Op Approval with UACDC:1.Go to UACDC for instructions and forms

2.Complete Student Information Form (SIF)

2.Obtain signatures on Student Agreement (SAF)

3.Obtain Letter of Commitment (offer letter)

4.Register for the co-op class

5.Bring all documents above to UACDC for approval

Only CPT Required Documents must be submitted. No additional documents needed.

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Applying for CPT/ Co-OpInstructions

CPT TYPE CINTEGRAL PART OF CURRICULUM

• Employment must be directly related to current class registration (even summer!)• Cannot use incompletes• Cannot use previous or future classes

In addition to CPT Required Documents, students must also submit:• Approval from professor of registered class• If work is related to non-face-to-face course (Independent Study,

Research, Thesis, etc.), you also need to submit a written course description (or comparable document detailing course objectives, goals, and grading). Online classes do not require this because there is a syllabus.

• Must submit Program of Study or Course Catalog printout confirming class will be used toward graduation requirements

EXPLAINING TO YOUR PROFESSORState that: CPT allows you to work off-campus in a job that is directly related

to your field of study and current class

CPT is hands-on training based on a class that has similar educational objectives

You are eligible to work during the semester dates in which you are taking the class

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AFTER FORMS ARE COMPLETED…

• Bring offer letter (on letterhead) and completed CPT Authorization Form to OISS for processing. You must be registered for the class that relates to your CPT work.

• Reference the application checklist in CPT packet for all possible documents needed

• You will receive an email when CPT I-20 is ready (7-10 business days)

• Submit CPT evaluation after employment end date

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CPT EVALUATION FORM

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• Need to submit after each CPT employment concludes

• OISS will not approve another CPT without evaluation from previous CPT

TALKING WITH A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER• Use terms such as “eligible,” not “legal”

• Refer to the employment as internship, not CPT

State facts:• You are eligible to work after 2 full-time semesters of study at

a U.S. college or university.

• Work permission will be indicated on the I-20 form from the school’s authorized immigration advisor.

• Your employer may contact OISS for questions or clarification. Reference offer letter sample AND employer tips to avoid confusion on what OISS needs.

YOU MUST INFORM OISS IF…

• You drop the course tied to CPT. You cannot continue working based on approval from that course.

• You stop working before end date on I-20. OISS will update your CPT approval dates according.

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OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT)• After completion of all classes

• Directly related to your field of study

• Enrolled full-time for at least 8 months

• No job offers required in order to apply

• Apply to U.S. Government up to 90 days prior to or 60 days after program completion

Attend the mandatory seminar!

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OBTAINING A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN)

Submit Application -Social Security Administration

Take the following original documents with you to the Social Security Administration

• Passport with I-94 (original and copy)• I-20 with CPT work authorization (original and copy)• Completed Social Security Card Application

Social Security Administration, 3971 Research Park Dr., Ann Arbor 48108

Office hours: check SSA website for details

AATA bus 6: Research Park Drive is between the Briarwood Mall & Ellsworth/BraeburnRd. stops

Request a RECEIPT from the Social Security Officer

ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN)

Upon receipt of original Social Security Card:

• Sign it (preferably in blue ink)

• Submit copy to the payroll department

• Keep your number safe! Do NOT carry in wallet!!

TAXES• In general, if you work in the USA you are responsible for paying taxes

– April 15th

• City, State, Federal

• F-1 students who have been in the USA for less than 5 years are exempt from paying Social Security & Medicare Taxes (FICA)

• F-1 students who have been in the USA for less than 5 years, but have an expired VISA, are considered as resident for tax purposes, therefore need to pay taxes

• Be sure to ask your payroll department to NOT withhold FICA from your paychecks

• Many countries have tax treaties with the USA that will affect the amount of tax you will owe

FORMS TO COMPLETE WITH EMPLOYER

Employee needs to complete: W-4 Form MI-W4 Form I-9

W-4/MI-W4 is completed so the employer can withhold the correct federal income tax from your pay.

o Complete a new form each year- January.o Complete a new form when your financial situation changes.

I-9 Employee must prove legally eligible to work in USA

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COMPLETE THE CPT QUIZ

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CPT QUIZ ANSWERS1. True

2. True

3. True

4. False

5. B- less than 20 hours

6. C- 20 or more

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8. A, B,C

9. A, B, C, D, E, F, G

10. Evaluation

11. Letterhead

12. A, B

13. Yes!25

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