An F-1 student visa gives you the right to work — but not just any work, and not unlimited hours. The US system allows two main routes for practical training: Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). They serve different purposes, follow different rules, and affect your future immigration status in different ways. A mistake in timing or hours can be costly, so it's worth understanding the differences before you start working, not after.
Curricular Practical Training: Work as Part of Your Studies
CPT is practical training built into your academic programme. It exists only for those whose curriculum includes an internship, cooperative education, or another form of hands-on work experience. CPT does not require applying to USCIS: authorisation is arranged by the designated school official (DSO) through the SEVIS system, after which a corresponding entry is made in your I-20 form. You can start work no earlier than the date indicated on your I-20.
The key restriction concerns the number of hours. CPT can be part-time — up to 20 hours per week — or full-time — more than 20 hours. During the fall and spring semesters, only part-time CPT is usually allowed. Full-time CPT is usually available during summer semesters or official holidays. The most commonly overlooked rule: if a student accumulates 12 months of full-time CPT, they lose the right to OPT after graduation. Part-time CPT does not affect OPT, regardless of how many months it lasts.
Optional Practical Training: Work After Graduation
OPT is not tied to the curriculum. It allows you to work in your field after completing your programme, or in some cases before completing it. Unlike CPT, OPT requires filing Form I-765 with USCIS and obtaining an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) — a card that confirms your right to work. Approval takes time, and you can apply no earlier than 90 days before your programme ends and no later than 60 days after.
Standard OPT gives you 12 months of work in your field. This right doesn't simply add up: if a student used part of their OPT before graduation (pre-completion OPT), that time is deducted from the total 12 months. An important difference from CPT: OPT does not require the work to be part of a course. It is enough that the job is related to your primary major as stated on your I-20. The employer does not have to be affiliated with the university.
STEM Extension: An Additional 24 Months
Graduates of programmes in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics can extend OPT by another 24 months. In total, this gives up to 36 months of work after graduation. The extension is available only to those whose degree is on the official STEM list, and only if the student applied for initial OPT with the STEM major indicated on their I-20. The extension application must be filed before your current OPT expires, and during the processing period your status is automatically maintained.
What Counts as a Violation and What It Entails
Starting work before the date indicated on your I-20 or EAD is a status violation. Even a single day counts as a violation. Working without valid authorisation, exceeding the permitted hours, or performing duties unrelated to your major are also considered violations of status. The consequences are serious: your SEVIS record may be terminated, which immediately ends your legal status in the US. In some cases, this leads to deportation and a re-entry ban.
On 15 September 2026, new DHS rules came into force that tightened enforcement. The period of stay for F-1 students is now fixed at entry based on the I-20 and does not exceed four years. The grace period after your programme ends has been cut from 60 to 30 days. During this period, you cannot work. However, you may apply for a change of status or a school transfer, if permitted. If a student has timely filed for a status extension but is denied after the fixed period expires, no grace period applies: unlawful presence starts accruing immediately. More than 180 days of unlawful presence triggers a three-year re-entry ban; more than a year — a ten-year ban.
How to Plan Your Route Without Losing Time
First, check with your DSO about your specific university's policy. CPT rules vary: some programmes require the internship to be mandatory for the degree, others allow it as an elective. Some universities apply stricter restrictions than USCIS.
Second, plan any full-time CPT with OPT in mind. If you're counting on OPT after graduation, accumulating 12 months of full-time CPT makes it unavailable. Part-time CPT is safe in this sense, but it does not provide full-time professional experience.
Third, don't rely on automatic status extension. When you apply for OPT or a STEM extension, USCIS may take longer than expected to process your application. If the fixed date on your I-94 expires before approval, your status may lapse. In such cases, a separate application for extension of stay is required. Your DSO can advise on how to synchronise these processes, but the student is responsible for meeting deadlines.
Working in the US during and after your studies is not a default right but an authorisation that must be maintained. CPT and OPT offer different opportunities, but both require precise adherence to dates, hours, and categories. Planning begins not when you receive a job offer, but in your first semester, when you choose your programme and familiarise yourself with your school's specific rules.