ISSS

International students can request CPT as follows

• Step 1: Are you eligible?

  • Be in valid F-1 status for at least one academic year (time at a previous institution on the same SEVIS ID number will be counted).
    • Exceptions to one-year F-1 status requirement:
      • Graduate students in programs that mandate an internship or practicum as a core degree requirement for all students in the program. The internship must occur before completing one academic year; or
      • Students who have already fulfilled the "one full academic year" requirement under another nonimmigrant status. This applies if they were lawfully enrolled as a full-time student at an SEVP-approved school under a nonimmigrant status that allows full-time study.
  • Be in declared major at least one quarter and meet the minimum GPA requirements set by the CWU academic department.

• Step 2: Receive a job, internship or practicum offer

  You are responsible for finding your own internship opportunity. You can work with Career Services and your academic department to aid your search.

  ISSS will enter your job details in the CPT authorization on your new I-20. Your job offer will need to include:

  1. Your name
  2. A brief description of the work you will do for the employer
  3. The specific start and end dates. For example:
     • Start: 09/01/2023
     • End: 12/15/2023
  4. How many hours per week you will work (ex.: 20 hours per week)
  5. The name of the company or organization where you will work
  6. Your office's physical location (Even if you will work remotely. You cannot use your home address.)
     • Street Address (ex.: 155 Main Street)
     • City, State, ZIP code (ex.: Ellensburg, WA 98926)
• Step 3: Complete Learning Agreement

  You will work with Career Services on the required cooperative education Learning Agreement paperwork.

  Next you will meet with your academic advisor to review the Learning Agreement and to gain their approval and signature.

• Step 4: ISSS Processes CPT Request

  The completed Learning Agreement will come to ISSS as the final step. We will review and add our signature on the Learning Agreement. You must submit the fully signed Learning Agreement to Career Services who will enroll you in the credit(s)

• Step 5: Your new I-20 is Ready

  ISSS will add CPT approval to your I-20 and it will be sent to your CWU email or it can be picked up in person.

  CPT approval is for one quarter. Permission for additional employment time with the same employer can be granted as long as an updated Learning Agreement is submitted to ISSS prior to the start date.

  To avoid gaps in employment dates, you should submit extension requests one week prior to the prior employment end date.