1. What is Day 1 CPT?
2. Is Day 1 CPT legal?
3. Why is CPT Important to International Students?
4. Who Will Benefit from Day 1 CPT?
5. Day 1 CPT Criteria and Requirements
6. The Risks of Using Day 1 CPT
7. How to Choose Day 1 CPT Universities
8. How to Choose Day 1 CPT Programs Day 1 CPT Application Process
9. Other Day 1 CPT FAQ
What Is Day 1 CPT? Is it legal?
The Risk of Using Day 1 CPT
The Importance of CPT for International Students
Choosing the Right Day 1 CPT University
Who will benefit from Day 1 CPT?
Day 1 CPT Application Step by Step
Day 1 CPT Eligibility
Other Day 1 CPT FAQ
1. What Is Day 1 CPT? Is Day 1 CPT Legal?
Is Day 1 CPT Legal? It Can Be, If CPT Requirements Are Met
Day 1 CPT is an informal term, not a separate visa or immigration category. It generally refers to Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorized during a student's first academic term. CPT can be authorized during a graduate student's first academic term when the graduate program requires immediate participation in qualifying practical training and the student meets all applicable CPT requirements. The DSO must authorize the employment in SEVIS and issue a CPT-endorsed Form I-20 before the student begins work. Federal regulations at 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i) specifically provide an exception to the one-academic-year requirement for graduate programs that require immediate participation in CPT.
F-1 students may gain practical training experience in the United States primarily through Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). Both can authorize training related to a student's major area of study, but they have different eligibility requirements, purposes, and authorization processes. CPT is tied to the student's curriculum and is authorized by the school's DSO, while OPT is separately authorized by USCIS.
Federal regulations generally require an F-1 student to complete one full academic year of lawful full-time enrollment before becoming eligible for practical training. However, an exception applies to students enrolled in graduate programs that require immediate participation in CPT. Having previously completed a U.S. degree does not, by itself, create an exception to the one-academic-year requirement.
CPT is governed by federal F-1 regulations and ICE's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) guidance. The DSO evaluates an individual student's CPT request and, when the requirements are satisfied, records the authorization in SEVIS and issues an updated Form I-20. The training must be directly related to the student's major area of study and meet the applicable curricular requirements.
For students considering a program that offers CPT during the first academic term, it is important to verify that the school is SEVP-certified, appropriately accredited, and that the program's practical-training requirement genuinely complies with federal CPT requirements. Accreditation or enrollment alone does not establish CPT eligibility.
2026 CPT Guidance Update
SEVP sent two broadcast messages to schools in August 2026: Broadcast Message 2608-01 (August 12) and Broadcast Message 2608-02 (August 24). Read the second one here: SEVP Broadcast Message 2608-02 (ICE PDF).
According to this guidance, CPT should be authorized only when practical training is an integral, required part of an established curriculum, and when every student in that curriculum must complete it, regardless of citizenship. If practical training is optional or tied only to an elective course, SEVP’s view is that it does not qualify. SEVP also expects sponsoring employers to have cooperative agreements with the school.
SEVP states that these messages are guidance, not a new regulation or a final agency action. The underlying regulation, 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10), has not changed.
Legal challenge: On October 5, 2026, several higher-education organizations sued in federal court in Massachusetts to challenge both broadcast messages. As of [date of review], the guidance has not been withdrawn or blocked.
What this means for you: Ask your school’s DSO, in writing, how its program meets the August 2026 guidance before you enroll or request CPT.
2. Why is CPT important to international students?
3. Who Will Benefit From Day 1 CPT?
Day 1 CPT is a good choice for you if you are:
- International students who are looking to work while studying in America;
- F-2 dependents who want to pursue full-time postsecondary study and potentially become eligible for F-1 practical training may consider changing to F-1 status. F-2 status itself does not authorize employment.
- Currently working in your home country and trying to get a boost for your career but don’t want to just study in a classroom. Day 1 CPT programs allow you to enjoy American education as well as get real-life work experience in the U.S., which makes you more employable in both the U.S. and your home country after graduation.
- H1B holders who got laid off. (You only have 60-day grace period, so you can consider Day 1 CPT Universities as your backup plan.)
- H4 holders without an EAD card but wish to start a career in the U.S. as soon as possible
- F-1 students who have fallen out of status may, in some circumstances, be eligible to request reinstatement. USCIS—not the university—decides reinstatement applications. Requirements include generally filing within five months unless exceptional circumstances justify the delay, having no record of repeated or willful violations, pursuing or intending to pursue a full course of study, and not having engaged in unauthorized employment.
- For COS candidates seeking a status change from B1/B2 to F1 or from J1 to F1, Day 1 CPT universities should be given serious consideration. These universities not only offer a more flexible enrollment policy but also provide courses that are practical-oriented, allowing new immigrants to gain real-life working experiences in the U.S. while advancing their academic studies.
4. Day 1 CPT Eligibility
- You need to have a valid F1 (full-time student) status.
- F1 status ≠ F1 visa; a valid I-20 is a must
- Students must have a job offer to request authorization on CPT.
- The job description of your CPT internship should be closely related to what you are studying at your Day 1 CPT universities.
- Your CPT application should be approved by your DSO and you can start working only after receiving the CPT I-20.
- Throughout your internship, you should maintain your GPA at or above 3.0.
- Working Hours:
- Part-time CPT is 20hr/week;
- Full-time CPT is more than 20hr/week;
- if you used full-time CPT for 12 months, you would not be able to use your OPT after graduation.
- You will need to renew your CPT authorization according to your Day 1 CPT universities’ rules.
5. The Risk of Using Day 1 CPT
- Raise questions regarding your status and your right to work
Using Day 1 CPT does not automatically make an applicant ineligible for H-1B status. However, H-1B cases may face additional scrutiny when there are questions about whether the student properly maintained F-1 status, followed CPT authorization requirements, or participated in a legitimate academic program. To reduce potential issues, students should carefully follow their university’s CPT policies and ensure that all employment is properly authorized and directly related to their field of study. ICE confirms that CPT must be authorized by the school’s DSO before employment begins and must be integral to the student’s academic program. (ice.gov)
It is essential to choose a reliable Day 1 CPT university. They usually offer special help to guide their international students through the application process and can provide legal evidence to prove your eligibility to work while studying in the U.S. in case you get an RFE in your future visa application.
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F-1 Visa Renewal and Re-entry Considerations
CPT is lawful only when the student, curriculum, training arrangement, and DSO authorization satisfy the applicable requirements. Enrollment in a program described as ‘Day 1 CPT’ does not by itself establish compliance.
Students should work only for the authorized employer, during the authorized dates, and under the conditions shown on their CPT authorization. Unauthorized employment or other status violations may affect future immigration benefits, visa applications, or admission decisions.
Visa issuance, admission, and future immigration adjudications are case-specific. Students with questions about their circumstances should consult their DSO and, where appropriate, qualified immigration counsel.
We highly recommend you to choose well-known day 1 CPT universities with a long standing history and national/regional accreditations. P.S. In the US, it is more difficult for schools to be accredited regionally than nationally.
Let's take WASC as an example! WASC accreditation is the highest level of accreditation for West Coast schools. Stanford University and UCLA have received this accreditation.
CPT schools in Los Angeles, for example, Westcliff University, a CPT school established in Los Angeles in 1993, received national accreditation in 2014 and regional accreditation from WASC in 2018.
If you are interested in learning more about school accreditation, please check the official website of the U.S. Department of Education. The schools' websites also generally display the accreditations they have received.
USCIS does not allow international students with F-1 visas to attend schools with 100% online courses. So you need to know the frequency of onsite classes and whether it is possible to receive CPT without attending classes onsite.
Although schools can design curriculums freely, established programs typically require students to attend class onsite either weekly or monthly, sometimes once per semester.
Keep your transportation records (such as flight tickets, hotel invoices, or Airbnb booking receipts), parking receipts, textbook receipts, tuition receipts, etc in case the USCIS requests extra evidence after you are selected for the H1b visa.
The onsite attendance policy may vary from school to school. Some CPT schools may only require you to be onsite once a month (e.g. Sofia University), some may require you twice a month (e.g. Ottawa University) and others may require you once per semester (e.g. Professional format programs at Westcliff University).
Some schools require you to be onsite weekly (e.g. UONA). All these programs are approved by the state government without exceptions.
Therefore, keep your records of the onsite attendance in case the USCIS requests evidence to prove that you have attended classes as required to maintain your legal status.
When schools apply for accreditation, they are required to submit an application that includes all programs, class format, 100% online programs, on-site programs, the number of weekly onsite sessions, and the length of classes. The schools are required to follow what they have submitted; otherwise, the accrediting agency may cancel the accreditation or accuse the schools of fraud if they find the onsite attendance is different from what is stated on file.
When you choose CPT schools, please also consider the location. Is the location easily accessible?
As all established CPT schools require you to attend onsite classes and there is no guarantee whether you can be selected for the H1b visa, the CPT program may last longer than expected. It is important to consider the convenience of transportation. If you can easily travel to the school by flight, car, bus or train, that will be great!
If you are living close to the San Francisco Bay Area, Sofia University is a good choice for you! It is a Day-1 CPT school in Palo Alto.
Sofia University offers MBA and MSCS programs and only requires you to attend onsite classes for a half-day on Saturdays every month. All other courses can be completed online.
Top 4 Day 1 CPT Universities:
If you have no idea where to start, use our screening tool to weigh your options. Still confused? Contact us for a free consultation.
Top 4 Day 1 CPT Universities for DBA:
Bottom Line: Make a Reasonable Study Plan
If a student chooses to pursue multiple master's degrees covering similar subjects, USCIS officers may pay extra attention to this student while reviewing his/her visa application.
- First, a trend of progression among your degrees is recommended. It is ideal to go from bachelor to master, then to doctoral/Ph.D.
- Second, your study plan should go parallel to your career development. Your work experience and your study plan should be relevant and complementary to each other.
- Third, the management program is always an ideal choice when you run out of other options, especially the DBA program. DBA is a doctoral-level program, some of them are even recognized as STEM programs (i.e. Westcliff University’s DBA) which will grant you 3 years of OPT after graduation. All in all, it allows you to legally work with an F1 visa for nearly 6 years.
If you have no idea where to start, use our screening tool to weigh your options. Still confused? Contact us for a free consultation.
Usually, after you received an offer letter from your Day 1 CPT universities, you can start to apply for internship authorizations. CPT application usually involves the following steps:
Step 1: Get a Job Offer
Get an offer from your job, and make sure the job description is aligned with your Day 1 CPT program!
Step 2: Register for a CPT course
At most Day 1 CPT universities, in order to enjoy your CPT, you will have to register for a CPT course first. Then, hand in your offer letter, and a CPT agreement signed by your employer along with other supporting materials required by your university to apply for a new CPT I-20.
Step 3: CPT I-20
Wait for your CPT application to be approved by your CPT school and receive your new I-20. Note that you must wait until the CPT takes effect to work. If your employer requires you to start working right away, apply for an unpaid leave while waiting for your new CPT I-20 to avoid breaking the immigration law.
Step 4: Renew your CPT
Pay attention! Before the end of each semester, check your email, even spam! Your school will send the CPT renewal email/reminder to you. If you don’t receive the renewal email, remember to contact your advisor. Not renewing your CPT on time may result in losing your working status.
If the current CPT authorization expires before a new authorization begins, you are not authorized to continue working after the CPT end date.
You can also check this GUIDE.
Under the currently operative Duration of Status framework, an eligible F-1 transfer student generally must begin classes at the transfer-in school by the next available session start date or within five months, whichever comes sooner. The exact calculation depends on the student's circumstances. A normal SEVIS school transfer does not automatically require the student to leave the United States and re-enter simply to ‘activate’ the new I-20.
Under the currently operative D/S framework, an F-1 student generally receives a 60-day grace period after completing a program of study or authorized post-completion practical training. During that period, the student may prepare to depart or, when eligible, take another permitted immigration or SEVIS action such as transferring schools. Transfer timing is also subject to the applicable five-month/next-available-session requirements. Students should coordinate the transfer with both schools' DSOs before the applicable deadlines.
Policy note: DHS published a rule that would end “duration of status” admission and shorten the F-1 grace period to 30 days. A federal court in Massachusetts postponed it on September 14, 2026, one day before it was to take effect. This postponement is not a final ruling, and the government has appealed. For now, the existing D/S framework and the 60-day grace period still apply. If you travel, check your I-94 record after you return. Confirm the current status with your DSO, because this may change.
Yes! day1cpt.org partnered schools allow you to enroll even after the semester has started. There are up to 6 enrollment periods during the year.
Check each school’s calendar on our Day 1 CPT enrollment windows page.
There are two main routes.
1. Change of status inside the U.S. You file Form I-539 with USCIS, with your new Form I-20 and proof that you paid the SEVIS I-901 fee. You must keep your current status while the application is pending. If you are in B-1/B-2 status, do not enroll in or begin classes until USCIS approves the change. Processing can take months, so your start date may need to be deferred.
2. Consular processing abroad. You leave the U.S., apply for an F-1 visa, and re-enter as an F-1 student. The State Department now says applicants should apply in their country of nationality or residence. Applying in a third country can mean longer waits and may make it harder to qualify. If you already hold a valid F-1 visa, ask your DSO and an immigration attorney whether you can use it to re-enter with your new I-20.
Important: Not every status can change to F-1 inside the U.S. For example, some J-1 holders are subject to a two-year home residency requirement. Get advice on your specific case before you file. Learn more: B-1/B-2 to F-1, H-1B to F-1, H-4 to F-1, or contact us.
Generally, yes. Under the current D/S framework, F-1 students can transfer between SEVP-certified schools.
First, get admitted by the new school. Then ask your current DSO to set a SEVIS release date. The new school issues a transfer I-20, and you must start classes there within the time limits in the five-month rule above.
CPT does not move with you. Your current CPT authorization ends when your SEVIS record is released. You may work again only after the new school authorizes CPT and issues a new CPT I-20. Plan for a possible gap in employment.
Read more: How to transfer your SEVIS
Work Related
ICE has published lists of the top employers of F-1 students on CPT. These lists show where CPT students worked. They do not show whether an employer sponsors H-1B petitions for Day 1 CPT students. Each employer decides H-1B sponsorship on a case-by-case basis.
- Official data: ICE: 2003–2019 Top 200 Employers for CPT Students (PDF)
- Our list: Day 1 CPT employer list
Part-time vs. full-time CPT: CPT of 20 hours per week or less is part-time. More than 20 hours per week is full-time. Twelve months or more of full-time CPT makes you ineligible for OPT at the same degree level.
Yes, but only after your school authorizes the new employer. CPT is approved for a specific employer and specific dates. Reporting a change afterward is not enough.
- Get the new offer, and make sure the role is directly related to your program.
- Submit the new offer and any employer agreement your school requires to your DSO.
- Wait until the DSO updates SEVIS and issues a new CPT I-20 that lists the new employer.
- Start work only on or after the start date shown on that I-20.
Working for the new company before this authorization could count as unauthorized employment.
Each school sets its own CPT application deadlines. Many let admitted students apply before the term starts, once they are admitted (or their SEVIS transfer is complete) and they have a qualifying job offer.
Whatever the deadline, federal rules allow you to begin CPT only after you receive a Form I-20 with the DSO’s CPT endorsement, and not before the start date shown on it. Apply as early as your school allows, because late applications are a common cause of gaps in work authorization.
Often, yes, there is a gap, and you can’t work during it. OPT authorization ends automatically when your SEVIS record is transferred to another school. You can start working again only after the new school authorizes CPT and issues your CPT I-20, and not before the start date on that form.
How to keep the gap short:
- Apply to the new school early, and plan the SEVIS release date with both DSOs.
- Submit your CPT application as soon as the new school allows. Schools may take several business days to process transfers and CPT, especially near deadlines.
- If a gap occurs, take unpaid leave. Keep accurate records with your employer showing that you didn’t work during those days, in case USCIS asks for evidence later.
Read more: SEVIS transfer gap: planning work breaks from OPT to Day 1 CPT
Yes, as long as you keep maintaining F-1 status: full-time enrollment, normal academic progress, and properly authorized CPT. Your employer may register you again in a later H-1B season while you are still studying, but selection is never guaranteed.
Your F-1 program should follow a genuine academic plan, not an H-1B timeline. A school can extend your program end date only for compelling academic or medical reasons. Waiting for another lottery is not one of them. Annual vacation and break rules depend on your school’s calendar, so confirm them with your DSO.
Read more: H-1B wage levels and the weighted lottery
Yes! You can drop out of school after being selected for the H1b visa. It is recommended to finish the semester with grades reported on the transcript until the H1b takes effect. Should you need to drop out immediately, you can contact your school's academic advisor.
School Related
Yes! Day1cpt.org can help you waive the application fee. Please contact us before submitting your application.
International travel is allowed, but plan carefully. To return as an F-1 student, you will generally need:
- A valid passport
- A valid F-1 visa
- A Form I-20 with a recent DSO travel signature
- Proof of enrollment
- Your CPT I-20 and employment documents
If your visa has expired: The State Department now advises applying in your country of nationality or residence. Allow extra time for appointments and possible administrative processing.
Officers may ask about your program and your CPT, so travel only with your DSO’s confirmation that your record is in order. After you return, check your I-94 record.
Read more: Denied entry because of Day 1 CPT? How to avoid the risks
Yes, if you are eligible. You can receive up to 12 months of OPT at each higher education level (bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral). Graduates in qualifying STEM fields may apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, up to two times in a lifetime at different degree levels.
Watch your full-time CPT. If you use 12 months or more of full-time CPT (more than 20 hours per week) at a degree level, you lose OPT eligibility for that level. Part-time CPT does not affect OPT eligibility.
Read more: OPT and STEM OPT guide
Check these four things before you apply:
- SEVP certification. Search the school on Study in the States’ school search.
- Accreditation. Confirm it through the school’s accreditor and the U.S. Department of Education’s accreditation database.
- A written CPT policy that meets the 2026 guidance. Practical training should be a required part of the curriculum for every student in the program.
- On-site attendance requirements, tuition, and renewal rules. These vary widely between schools.
Compare schools side by side with our Day 1 CPT university comparison table.
Day 1 CPT Schools
West Coast
East Coast
- Monroe University (ex-Monroe College)
- Saint Peter's University
- McDaniel College
- New England College
- National Louis University
Midwest & South
You might want to know more about Day 1 CPT
Have Questions? Contact us now!
OPT Comprehensive Guide
- What is OPT?
- OPT Eligibility
- OPT Application Guide
- STEM OPT Application Guide
- How to Fill in i765 Form?
- OPT Grace Period
- OPT Denied & Solution
H1B Comprehensive Guide
- What is H1B?
- H1B Eligibility
- H1B Application Guide
- H1B Grace Period
- H1B Denied & Solution
News - Day 1 CPT & Day 1 CPT Universities
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