Hi everyone,

I need help with figuring out CPT issue. I am right now doing a research that is 10 weeks long. I am doing it on CPT. I was wondering if I will be eligible to use my CPT again for next year, if I were to do another research? I looked up online but did not find any concrete information stating how many times CPT can be used. I was thinking since I have not even used my CPT for 3 months, I should be eligible to use my CPT again? Does the rules regarding how many times a person is eligible to use CPT vary from school to school?

Any information will be much appreciated!

Thanks

 1) You can take as many CPTs as you want in Summer.

2) You can have as many CPTs as you want in regular semester as long as its part-time. i.e- 20hrs/week or less than 40hrs/week and the work has to be related to your major.

3) If you are having 40hrs/week CPT in regular semester, you have to limit it for 12 months. If you exceed 12 months, your OPT time will be deducted.

 kancho, like time pass said, you can do internships in CPT as many times as you want as long as the total llength of time is less than 12 months. i'm doing an internship at the moment and it's under CPT. i'll do one more next summer too. it's not like you have to use all time alloted for CPT at once. also, it's same for all students regardless of which college/university you study at.
and you can do OPT after you graduate, time for OPT varies depending on your major. if you are in the lifesciences, i think you can work in OPT for as long as 29 months.

Hello Folks,

How about this scenario.   
1) completed MS computer science - did CPT 12 months  full time -   have not use OPT.  -    XXXXXX123 (sevis id)

2) doing MBA  (with different SEVIS id XXXXXXX456)  - would like to do CPT  part time/ full time but less than 12 months - after graduating planning to do OPT .

We know, If we use 12months of full time cpt , opt is not allowed. In this case, am I eligible for OPT after completing MBA? Any ideas and suggestion are highly appreciated.

thanks,
coolboy05

 First of all, going for a degree of same level without a different SEVIS does not mean that you can have more than one OPT.
The OPT is only for a certain degree. you can not have 2 OPTs for 2 masters. However, you can have separate OPTs for Associate, bachelors and Masters.

Since you are planning to go for a less than 12 month CPT. If you maintain the CPT dates like 11 months and 29 days. you are good.

Hi guys,

Thank you for your inputs. I emailed my International Student Advisor/DSO about it. The reply I got says, " I will only approve CPT once and that will be valid for 6 months. If you want to do another internship the following summer, you will have to use your OPT ". Is she wrong in saying so since I am only using my CPT to do a 10 week long research? Are there any documents online that will help me refute her point? I have been doing my research online but have not come across anything subtantial.

Please help!

 That might be your school policy. CPT usually is decided by the school.

 mero school le ta multiple times garna pauchhas bhanchha. timro tyo advisor lai tharkau na!

jantarel,

if you do not mind, could you please email me or post here - the name of your school. May be I could reason with her and having the name of the school that issues CPT multiple times could help make a stronger argument.

Any suggestion on my case?

 Kancho, I go to BYU.
They (International Services) told that I can do unlimited number of internships (CPTs) as long as I don't violate the federal law i.e. total of 12 months. If I go more than 12 months, it'll cut down the length of my OPT.

Thanks Jantarel