When can I start employment?
You can only begin the training opportunity after you receive CPT authorization from the ISC through your new CPT I-20. If you work before receiving CPT authorization, you are in violation of your F-1 visa which is grounds for termination of your SEVIS immigration record. This could result in the immediate return to your home country, an inability to finish your program at SDSU, and/or problems when applying for a new U.S. visa or trying to re-enter the U.S. in the future. CPT cannot be backdated to include illegal work that was performed before it was authorized by the ISC.
Processing Time
After uploading the required the CPT documents to our CPT Request Form, CPT processing 7 business days, provided all documents are correct and you are enrolled in the CPT course (if required).
After the Schedule Adjustment Deadline, students who qualify for CPT through an internship or special study course will also need to submit a Petition for Late Schedule Adjustment to the Registrar's Office. Allow additional time for the Registrar's Office to approve the petition and add the CPT course to your schedule. You can complete our CPT Request Form at the same time your submit the Petition to reduce the wait time for your CPT approval.
For students who do not have a Social Security Number (SSN) allow additional time to receive your CPT I-20 in the mail after it is processed. If you alreadh have an SSN, your I-20 will be emailed to you.
Dates of authorization
CPT is authorized according to term dates, except in cases where CPT is required for the degree program or for the thesis. For CPT authorization through unit credit, CPT can be authorized for the following terms and dates:
If this is not your final semester/term...
- Spring 2022: January 19 - May 20
- Summer 2022: May 21 - August 21
- Fall 2022: August 22 - January 17
If this is your final semester/term*...
- Spring 2022: January 19 - May 20
- Summer 2022: May 24 - August 17
- Fall 2022: August 22 - December 30
*Also applies to graduate students who have completed all substantive coursework and will continue working on their thesis/project/comprehensive exam
Hours allowed
Each SDSU academic department has their own policy for part-time or full-time CPT, within U.S. immigration policy for CPT.
Undergraduate Students:
When class is in session, an undergraduate student may work up to 20 hours per week on CPT. If working a campus job, a maximum of 20 hours per week is allowed between on-campus and off-campus employment.
During the summer and official school breaks, full-time CPT is allowed with authorization, and on-campus employment does not impact this.
Graduate Students:
A graduate student may work part-time or full-time on CPT, as authorized by the advisor on the CPT Application Form. On-campus employment does not impact this.