CPT vs OPT: What Is the Difference and How to Apply

CPT and OPT both are work authorization for international students. The students looking forward to working under their field of study apply for either of these notices. 

There is both similarity and difference between these work authorization that depends on the choice of the student. The major benefits of OPT jobs in the USA attract international students on a huge scale.


The variety of jobs for OPT students and CPT students depends on their field of study. Among many others, there are a few must-know facts about OPT jobs and CPT jobs that are interconnected with the whole process.


Let us understand in brief the difference and the process of applying for both CPT and OPT:


What is CPT?


Curricular Practical Training or CPT is work authorization for the international candidates under the fixed tenure of time. The candidates eligible for an F1 student visa are allowed to fill the form for CPT.


Every student under an F1 student visa can take the fun of all the CPT benefits that are provided by the legal authorities of the United States. The benefits include working under their field of study under flexible hours.


The working part for students is part of their curriculum. The CPT is meant to be completed before graduation, and candidates can work both full-time and part-time.


How to apply


A student needs to plan in advance. A CPT needs to be completed before graduation, so a student needs to plan ahead. A student first needs to know about the university that has CPT programs.


The eligibility is only an active F1 student visa and the background check according to the university or the program. Applying online with the help of a university can be done in CPT.



What is OPT?


Optional Practical training is a 12-month work authorization also provided to the F1 visa student holders. The major difference is that OPT can be done by students at any time, either before or after their graduation program.


OPT is very much chosen by international students from all fields of study. They are also given the benefit to take STEM extension for 17 months to stay employed.


How to apply


A student needs to fill I-20 form i.e certification of eligibility for nonimmigrant student status. The whole process takes place at the student and exchange visitor information system or SEVIS.


After this form, the student also needs to fill form I-765 i.e application for employment authorization with USCIS. The whole application process takes place online on the portal where the status keeps updating.


Difference between CPT and OPT


The major difference between CPT and OPT include the duration of the work for each student. The difference also comes in the part of when the student can work under CPT and OPT.


Some minor differences are about the applying process and the selection of universities and employers. Among than them, there are no such big differences.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How Foreign Workers Contribute to the USA to the Pandemic : OPTNation

Image
opt jobs in usa The foreign workers are the highest in the country of the United States, the reason behind it is obvious. The highest availability of employment opportunities for every age group. The demand for a diverse workforce has also attracted many foreign workers in the USA. The contribution of foreign workers is immense and through different modes. Based on the surveys that took place in the country, there are about 10.5 million immigrants in the United States , of which 7 million of whom are in the workforce. The foreign workers contribute to the country of the United States by unexpected factors and by unforgettable means. Let us see some of such factors that can provide evidence about the contribution of foreign workers to the USA : 1. Essential positioned Many foreign workers in the time of the pandemic were doing a very important job in their careers . They were positioned as nurses, doctors, drivers, police, security officials, and many more.  Essential positions ...
Read more

What is OPT: Everything you need to know about optional practical training

Image
optional practical training There are many definitions that students do or know about what is OPT . Some know it as a visa, some as an opportunity, and some think that finding a job is difficult. All of the definitions are different from each other but what is the correct definition of Optional practical training ? First to clear the definition. An OPT is work authorization for student visa holders. Students that hold a student visa after getting a confirmed admission to an American university, can apply for OPT. A student also needs to get an employment authorization document to get the authority to work with an employer. There are opportunities for every student applying for OPT from any field of study. There are numerous jobs for OPT students in every corner of the USA. A student with an active semester and an OPT can look for jobs through various modes. An international student is allowed to work for the period of 12months and is permitted to stay unemployed for the duration of 90...
Read more

How Does a Company Sponsor H1B Visas?

Image
How a Company Sponsor H1B Visas : OPTNation An H1B visa is the most popular visa and the most demanded visa for the United States. It is a visa process that requires certain regulations.  The visa is a non-immigrant visa for the people urging to work as an employer in America. Many companies even seek international employees also offer to sponsor H1B visas. There are many companies that have sponsor H1B visas and got a diverse international workforce. Some details that the company or the recruiter should know are as follows. If an employer or a company is aiming to sponsor H1B visa to an employee, then they should be ready to have the employee for 6 years. H1B visas allow organizations to employ foreign professionals for specialty occupations for up to 6 years.  To sponsor an H1B visa to an employer , the employer should have a basic bachelor’s degree in the specialized subject of occupation. The specialty here can be termed in the employment sectors like architecture, law, ...
Read more