Day 1 CPT During COVID-19

COVID-19 is affecting everyone in one way or another. Whether we’re talking about workers or students, they all have to face different situations, caused by the virus. You may be wondering if you’ll still be able to apply for a CPT and attend one since the pandemic is still going strong. Well, if you’re in this situation, the following paragraphs should tell you all you need to know.

COVID-19 and International Students

Now that the world is dealing with a medical crisis due to the coronavirus, many international students in the U.S. fear for their situation. Not only are they forced to remain in the country due to travel bans, but they also don’t know what to do regarding their online classes. Usually, F1 students are not allowed to take more than one online course in one semester.

However, since there are so many health concerns surrounding the COVID-19 situation, distance learning is a must, meaning it will not have any bad effects on your status. As such, F1 students will be able to maintain their visa status.

What about employment, though?

Well, students can still keep working on campus remotely. Whether you’re in an M1 or F1 nonimmigrant status, you will not have any issue.

If you’re an M1 nonimmigrant, you can only accept employment that is part of a practical training program once you finish your study course. Before working, you are going to receive an EAD, or Employment Authorization Document, also known as Form I-766. You can only work for a total of 6 months of practical training, though.

The EAD can also help identify your identity, as well as establish your Form I-9 employment authorization, purposes, and Employment Eligibility Verification.

Meanwhile, while F1 students may not be allowed to work on-campus during their first year, they may be able to accept on-campus employment because of particular restrictions and conditions. When it comes to F1 students, they have a lot of options available for off-campus employment once their first academic year is over.

CPT During COVID-19

If you’re an F1 nonimmigrant student, you have the option of participating in a CPT or Curricular Practical Training. CPT refers to any internship, alternative work or study, cooperative education, or just any internship that you have access to thanks to agreements between the school and sponsoring employers. The training has to be an important part of an established curriculum, so don’t forget this aspect. In order to participate in one, you have to wait for the Designated School Official to complete the endorsement page of Form I-20.

As for documentation and how to complete Form I-9, here’s all you need to know:

Required Documents for CPT During COVID-19

If you’re an F1 nonimmigrant and you wish to participate in a CPT, then here are the documents you have to submit.

You will be asked for Form I-20, along with the endorsement for employment from the DSO. Also, it is required to bring either Form I-94 or Form I-94A, as these can prove your F1 nonimmigrant status. Lastly, you are going to need your foreign passport, and it should still be valid and not expired.

Completing Form I-9 During COVID-19

In case you’re an employer and you need to complete Form I-9 for an F1 student so he/she could participate in a CPT, there are a few things to consider when doing so. You need to make sure to enter the Form I-94 number of the student, as well as the foreign passport number. Furthermore, you will need the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System number, along with the Form I-20 CPT employment authorization end date. Keep in mind that this is not the expiration date of the program.  

OPT During COVID-19

An OPT is meant to give an F1 student practical training experience that is related to the study area of the student. If you want to participate in a program like this, you will need an EAD from USCIS, and obtain it before you get work authorization. Bear in mind – you cannot start your employment until the date that you see on your EAD.

If you’re still in school, an OPT will allow you to work full-time during your annual vacation, but also during any other time when school is not in session. Additionally, you can work for up to 20 hours weekly while the session is unfolding.

When you’re done with your studies, your practical training should be completed within 14 months, although some students can extend their OPT.

F1 STEM OPT Extension During COVID-19

You can apply for an OPT extension as long as you’re a foreign student who obtained a Bachelor’s, Master’s or doctoral degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). The degree needs to be from an accredited Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified school. The application is possible while you’re still in an OPT post-completion period.

In addition, STEP OPT students need to have an employer who is in good standing, as well as enrolled with E-Verify. The same happens if you change employers – the new one needs to meet the same condition before you even start your STEM OPT employment.

For the establishment of your identity and the employment authorization for Form I-9 purposes, you will require some specific documents. You will need either an unexpired EAD or an expired EAT that is presented with Form I-20, which was endorsed by the DSO of the student. However, this is only allowed within the first 180 days after the card expired.

Conversely, if the student presents the expired EAD, the employer is required to enter some specific information in Form I-9’s Section 2. He/She will have to include the EAD document number, EAD document title, the date the EAD expired, as well as “180-day Ext.”.

COVID-19 CPT and OPT Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions on the matter.

Can I participate in remote practical training and do I need to report changes to my practical training due to COVID-19?

You’re allowed to participate remotely in practical training, as you and your employer are working to find available options.

Luckily, there are now easier ways for F1 students on co-op or OPT to communicate any accommodation information updates, all thanks to the OGS. It was all created to make life easier during the pandemic. So, if there is any change, make sure to report it on the CPT Update Form. This will help both you and the university to document your F1 accommodations.

Are there any accommodations if I am not able to work and exceed my 90-day limit on unemployment while on OPT?

According to the SEVP, COVID-19’s spread may have an effect on students engaging in OPT. There will be workplace requirement changes that will have an impact on students that engage in practical training. As such, SEVP advises all students in this situation to talk to their employer to be able to find alternative ways to keep their employment status. You should also complete the accommodations for students on practical training e-form.

Conclusion

As a nonimmigrant student, you may want to engage in CPT or OPT, in which case, you need to know what to do so you encounter no problems. We hope that this post was helpful in this regard.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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