Employment

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an internship that carries academic credit and is part of your major. Work experience is an integral part of your major or field of study. To be eligible for CPT, you must:

• Complete nine months of full-time study in F-1 status.
• Maintain a full course of study as required for international students.
• Receive passing grades and be in a major or certificate program that gives academic credit for internships.
• Have a work offer from an employer before you apply for CPT, and it has to be an integral part of your degree program.

Procedure

• Provide two papers to the International Students Office: one from the prospective employer or paid internship, stating the work responsibilities, dates, and location on the company’s letterhead, and another letter from the student’s program director or undergraduate student advisor, stating the work is related to the student’s major area of study. If your internship is not paid, you just need the form from your program director or department advisor.
• Visit the International Students Office and get permission from your International Student Advisor.

NOTE: An F-1 student that engages in full-time CPT for 12 months or more will not be eligible for Optional Practical Training upon graduation.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

OPT allows F-1 students to work on a full-time basis for one year after they have completed their studies in a field related to your major. Although you can apply for OPT before you complete your major, you can begin work only after you have graduated and have received your EAC (Employment Authorization card). When you are ready to apply for OPT, contact your International Student Advisor. You must apply for OPT before you complete your program.

Eligibility:

• Student must be in legal F-1 immigration status.
• A job offer is not required in order to apply for OPT; however, the eventual employment must be directly related to the student’s field of study.
• Student must be in the last semester of his/her major or certificate program to apply.

When to apply

Students may apply for OPT as early as 90 days before the date of program completion (item #5 on the Form I-20) OR within 60 days after the date of program completion. In order to avoid complications, we strongly recommend students to apply before completing their degree.

Applying for OPT

1. Visit B117 to speak with your International Student Advisor for further information
2. Photocopy of Page 1 and Page 3 of your I-20 with your ISS advisor’s recommendation for OPT
3. All previous I-20 issued to student
4. Photocopy of Form I-94
5. Photocopy of your passport
6. Photocopy of F-1 visa
7. Two passport photos (with your name and I-94 card number written on the back with light pencil)
8. Check or money order of $410.00 made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Off-campus Employment

DO NOT ACCEPT OFF-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT.

Should you experience financial difficulties while studying at LaGuardia Community College and you have already been in lawful F-1 status for one year, you may be eligible to apply for Economic Hardship Work Authorization to work off campus.

Visit B117 for further information.

On-campus Employment

Your F-1 student status makes you eligible to work on campus for up to 20 hours per week when school is in session and up to 40 hours when it’s not. You must:

Stop by the Career Development Center in Room B-114 for job openings on campus and for eligibility requirements. Also, please remember that “on campus” means any CUNY school.

Once you finish your program, you may no longer work on campus unless you are authorized through Optional Practical Training and the work is directly related to the course of study you have completed OR if you have been issued a new I-20 for a second program that will begin the following quarter.

What to Do After Graduation

After completing your program of study at LaGuardia Community College, you have the following options to choose from. You must notify the ISS Office about your plans.

Options After Graduation

1. Return to your home country. You can remain in the U.S. for a maximum of 60 days after the completion of your studies.
2. Get accepted and transfer to another U.S. school or college. Please note: Your transfer must be processed within 60 days of your last day of classes at LaGuardia. You will need to bring your ACCEPTANCE LETTER and TRANSFER FORM to the ISS Office.
3. Apply and engage in Optional Practical Training. Visit ISS Office within the last 90 days of your classes at LaGuardia to discuss this option with your international student advisor.
4. Apply for a second degree if you are planning to stay at LaGuardia Community College.