Dear Friends,

     I would really appreciate you sharing any knowledge and/or experience with CPT as I’m really really confused right now. Here’s my situation:

I’ve been working on a part-time CPT for past 6 months. Last week, I was just offered a Full time position and they want me to start this summer. After this semester, I only have 1 required class (offered in Fall) left to graduate so I will graduate this Dec. I know I can do Full-Time CPT during summer, but I don’t think my school allows full-time CPT during school year. So, these questions have been haunting me:

-          Will I be in trouble if I do full-time CPT for next 7 months? They say that if you work fulltime CPT for more than 12 months, you can’t get OPT so I’m not sure if my 6 mths parttime CPT will also count against.

-          If I accept, my offer letter will have date of May ’08 so when I apply for H1B next year, will USCIS question how I have been employed full-time since before my graduation? If so, is it ok to tell them I did full-time CPT?

-          Can you accept full-time position during CPT?

All in all, this is a GREAT opportunity that I’m really hoping to work out so my main question would be, How can I make this work with my current situation?

THANKS to everyone who responds.

why don't you ask your international advisor? or go to USCIS web and search for documents.

I was going to ask my advisor, but wanted to get more information from friends who have experienced similar situations before. Please share if anyone has info. Thanks.

Hey man, when it is 11 months, just cancel your CPT and then continue it again after taking short break from CPT.

Dipshikha

You can work full time on your CPT, no doubts. Just contact your placement office and they'll do that for you. BTW, congrats on your new job!!

 

i beleive its 12 mnths of full time CPT and ur opt is gone, but if you were working parttime for last 6 mnths , should not be big a deal, still to be in safe side as sabai ko satru said, work on CPT for total 11 mnts 29 days and  take a vacation and start working on OPT

Thanks guys for your suggestions. I talked to my Int Advisor and he said that our school doesn't have any policy to allow full-time CPT during school year. So, he said i can do fulltime CPT this summer but not in Fall.
He pretty much broke all my hopes!!!

It really depends upon which school u r attending. I am able to take full time CPT (40hrs/week) during spring and fall.However, 1 of my friend told me that his school doesn;t allow to take full time CPT during long semesters. Likewsie, some schools don;t let students take full time CPT during back to back semesters

You can do CPT more than 12 months , the only thing is the additional time (>13 months) will be deducted from your OPT time. I suppose this won;t harm you.Looks like you are a STEM student. First check if they use e-verify or not.

Make sure you tell the employer that u can accept position as CPT. They will be happy to do it. Because they will pay u less and won;t give you any company benefits.

Finally, your 6 months part time CPT doesn't count towards 13 months CPT ( I beleive it;s 13 months not 12).

I hope this helps u.

 

 

 

SATHI, You can never work more than 20 hours during school year.. This applies to on campus, economic hardship or CPT. When you received a new I20 for your CPT, it says part time, you may want to double check it. Anyways, If you have a plan of applying for H1 from the same company, do everything right. DO NOT WORK MORE THAN 20 HOURS. NOT AT ALL. CHAO.

SATHI, You can never work more than 20 hours during school year.. This applies to on campus, economic hardship or CPT. When you received a new I20 for your CPT, it says part time, you may want to double check it. Anyways, If you have a plan of applying for H1 from the same company, do everything right. DO NOT WORK MORE THAN 20 HOURS. NOT AT ALL. CHAO.

SATHI, You can never work more than 20 hours during school year.. This applies to on campus, economic hardship or CPT. When you received a new I20 for your CPT, it says part time, you may want to double check it. Anyways, If you have a plan of applying for H1 from the same company, do everything right. DO NOT WORK MORE THAN 20 HOURS. NOT AT ALL. CHAO.

Few things you could do:

1) take that extra class during the summer. Look at nearby institutions if your school doesn't offer the course during summer. Graduate at the end of the summer and start the job with the OPT.

2). Ask your employer to defer the offer until December, explaining although you really really (put emphasis) want to work for him/her, you may not be able to start until december. Departmetns can run without an employee for several months. If they really want you, they will wait.

3) Although quite unlikely, you could work out a deal between you and your boss. One could be like this: you will work full time, but get paid only for 20 hours plus a fat bonus at the end of the year for being an "extraordinary emploee."

I am currently working full time (40 hrs ) under CPT (spring 2008), clearly written in I20. In addition, there are many of my friends working 40 hrs this semester under CPT. There is one of my friend who did full time CPT for two consecutive sem (2007 fall and 2008 spring). However, my college doesn;t allow students to participate for full time CPT for 2 consecutive semester.

Finally, if you take full time CPT during a semester, you neednot take any course for that semester. It counts as a full time student.

So, I think the whole matter depends on the college  and your degree too.

The Only Option I found for you:

1. Work full time in summer.

2. Like Guest4 said: Talk with your employer and set up the work 40hrs/week and tell them to pay you for 20 hrs but to bill you at double rate.(It does not matter even you work 50 hours just make sure the billing rate is higher). If it is possible.

Last Option,

The Job market is tough nowadays, I suggest even the rate does not goes above, work 40 hrs and get paid for 20 hours for 4 month. It will not be so bad for future...

Nepali Thita

These are some really good suggestions and I will definitely try and work out with my employer. Thank you so much for these valuable suggestions. Deeply appreciated friends!!!

I think you should be able to work Full Time on Fall session , as you will be part time Student. As you have one class you will be considered part time student under certain circumstances(which is legal) and also should be allowed to work full time...

(double your cpt credits+ credit for one class = Full time student+full time fee)

i took ONE class and worked FULL TIME on my CPT on my last semester and became full time student but had to quit job after graduation bcoz my opt was starting after a month and i was not allowed to extend cpt after graduation. Good Luck, i dnt knw if these rules differ according to schools.