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International Student Work Authorization

International Student Work Authorization

F-1 and J-1 students must obtain authorization from the Columbia International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) to undertake an off-campus U.S.-based internship that is a degree requirement. 

  • For F-1 students, this authorization is Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
  • For J-1 students this authorization is Academic Training (AT)
Important Consideration

SIPA's Career Advancement Center (CAC) strongly recommends that F-1 and J-1 international students and exchange visitors receive the proper authorization from the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) for any internship done off-campus during their program of study, regardless if it is unpaid/uncompensated or paid/compensated, because of changes in immigration agencies' interpretation of unauthorized work and its impact on your future immigration plans.

Work Authorization Information

  • Want a one-pager PDF downloadable version of how to process CPT work authorization for off campus U.S based internship with clickable links? 

    Important Consideration

    • Please ensure to be logged into you LionMail account for access to this step-by-step instructions.

  • International students are responsible to be in compliance with the following CPT policies:

    1. CPT can be used ONLY during the academic program. 
    2. CPT has to be RENEWED on a semester basis.
      1. Please refer to the "CPT Start & End Dates" section below to ensure you provide your employer with these dates for CPT work authorization dates.
    3. CPT approval cannot be granted retroactively.
    4. CPT work authorization requests dates are the only dates a student can work at internship site location (includes: remote, hybrid, or on-site)
    5. Students must begin their internship by the Monday of the seventh week of the fall or spring semesters or by the last day of July for summer internships.

    SUMMER

    Students may conduct a part-time internship (20 hours or less per week) or a full-time internship (more than 20 hours per week), but only when they are continuing at SIPA in the fall.

    FALL & SPRING SEMESTERS

    Students may conduct a part-time internship (20 hours or less per week) only.

    CPT Summer Extension

    1. CPT work authorization requests dates are the only dates a student can work for organization. (Example: June 1-July 15)
    2. If an employer requests for student to continue work past CPT work authorized date, the student needs to immediately notify CAC and ISSO.
    3. Student will need to obtain proper work authorization from ISSO to extend original CPT work authorization request.
    4. Once extension is granted from ISSO, student can continue work for organization and be in compliance with visa regulations and work authorization.

    CPT INTERNSHIP START & END DATES

    CPT is authorized per semester and cannot be authorized for a period of work that is outside of the semester parameters, below. Each new semester of CPT requires a new complete CPT application with new supporting documents. Students must begin their internship by the Monday of the seventh week of the fall or spring semesters or by the last day of July for summer internships.

    CONTINUING STUDENTS (Student returning Fall semester)

    Fall semester: 

    • Start Date: September 1 
    • End Date: December 31

    Spring semester: 

    • Start Date: January 1 
    • End Date: May 31

    Summer period: 

    • Start Date: The Monday following Final Examinations week (refer to Academic Calendar)
    • End Date: Day before start date of Fall semester

    GRADUATING STUDENTS (Students graduating and not returning)

    Fall semester: 

    • Start Date: September 1 
    • End Date: Official last day of semester (only if completing full term: Program End date may vary)

    Spring semester: 

    • Start Date: January 1 
    • End Date: Official last day of semester (only if completing full term: Program End date may vary)

    Summer period: 

    • Start Date: The Monday following Final Examinations week (refer to Academic Calendar)
    • End Date: 31-Aug (only if completing full term: Program End date may vary)

    CPT REQUEST - AFTER GRADUATION 

    International Students

    • Unfortunately due to off campus internship opportunities consisting of a CPT work authorization, this is not possible for international students. 
    • CPT work authorizations can only be granted when a student is matriculated at SIPA.  
    • Internship Course registration and CPT work authorizations go hand-in-hand, which means that if students are not matriculated at SIPA, they cannot request CPT work authorization for any internships after graduation.  

  • Curricular Practical Training is the authorization for off-campus employment that is an integral part of the established curriculum of a degree program. 

    Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is not available to all F-1 students because it is dependent on the academic requirements of a particular degree program. Students in the MIA/MPA programs with an internship degree requirement may be eligible for required CPT. Students in degree programs with the option for elective internship credit may be eligible for elective CPT. 

    Academic Training (AT) may be available only to J-1 students as it is dependent on your program requirements and degree options. We recommend you check in with your Program Director or Advising Dean to ensure this is an option for J-1 students. Please refer to the How to apply for Academic Training (AT) section below to read more about Academic Training.

    An international student in F-1 or J-1 status cannot receive pay or compensation for off-campus work in the U.S. unless and until the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) has processed the appropriate application and granted authorization, either on a new I-20 for F-1 students or in a new DS-2019 for J-1 students. It is the student's responsibility to understand the rules of their F-1 or J-1 status and have your international student documents in order by properly consulting with the ISSO. 

    For more information, please visit the ISSO website, contact them at [email protected], or book a virtual appointment with an ISSO advisor.

    Important Considerations

    SIPA's Career Advancement Center (CAC) strongly recommends that F-1 and J-1 international students and exchange visitors receive the proper authorization from the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) for any internship done off-campus during their program of study, regardless if it is unpaid/uncompensated or paid/compensated, because of changes in immigration agencies' interpretation of unauthorized work and its impact on your future immigration plans.

  • Important Considerations

    1. CPT has to be RENEWED on a semester basis.
    2. CPT can be used ONLY during the academic program. 
    3. CPT approval cannot be granted retroactively.
    4. F-1 students must be enrolled full-time for two (2) consecutive semesters
    5. Be in F-1 status at the time of application for CPT
    6. CPT can only be granted for full time hours during Summer internships
    7. CPT can only be granted for part time hours during the Spring and Fall semesters
    8. Summer Registration does not exist at SIPA. Any Summer internships opportunity need to be registered during the preceding semester. (Example: Spring 2025 registration for Summer 2025 internship)
    9. ISSO makes all final determinations regarding a student’s eligibility for CPT based on multiple factors. 
    10. CAC cannot override determinations made by ISSO.
    11. Students may apply for CPT as early as 90 days but no less than 10 business days before they wish to begin employment. 

    CPT Approval Process

    1. First Approval (Approx 5 business days)
      1. CAC - Initial review
        1. Reviews CPT request (dates are in semester parameter, section 1 and 2 completed), brief letter (6 points are addressed), and ensures internship course registration has been recorded.
        2. If all paperwork is in compliance, paperwork is sent back to student signed for ISSO submission.
    2. Final Approval (Approx 10 business days)
      1. ISSO - Final review
        1. Reviews CPT request, brief letter, visa and registration are in compliance. 
        2. ISSO provides final approval, and notifies student once approval has been granted, and reissues visa.

    What about dual degree students?

    A student in a formal dual degree program with SIPA and a school overseas (e.g. Sciences Po, London School of Economics, etc.) is eligible for CPT only if they have spent the first year overseas and will complete the final year of the program at SIPA. Dual-degree students that have been admitted to SIPA but have not yet enrolled are not eligible for CPT approval through SIPA. 

    In summary, to be eligible for CPT, a student must:

    • Be in lawful F-1 status for one academic year (two consecutive full-time terms), not counting time in English language preparation
    • Be A degree candidate
    • Have an appropriate internship offer as part of the application

    Students should review all the details of F-1 CPT available on the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) website. 

    Please note that the CAC cannot override determinations made by ISSO.

  • The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) notes that during the semester periods of Spring and Fall, students are enrolled as full time students, and due to this, they can only enroll in a part time internship with part time hours. Typically this encompasses of a minimum of 120 internship hours.

    If the internship is conducted during the summer period, with a spring registration, the student can conduct up to a full time internship with full time hours. Typically this encompasses of a minimum of 240 internship hours.

    We encourage all students to verify with the ISSO team by scheduling an in person or virtual meeting with them through their appointment link. The ISSO team will be able to best assist with these inquiries.

Important Considerations:

International students CANNOT begin their internship opportunities until their CPT Request Form has been approved by both CAC and ISSO. Therefore, the start date listed on the CPT form must be post-dated. Students should allow at least 10 business days for ISSO, and 5 business days for CAC processing.

CPT approval cannot be granted retroactively.

SIPA students must begin their internship by the Monday of the seventh week of the fall or spring semesters or by the last day of July for the summer internships. The internship authorized under CPT or AT must satisfy the SIPA internship requirement expected of all students. Students who have received work authorization to fulfill the internship requirement and have completed their internship may apply for elective CPT for academic credit. Refer to ISSO's guidance on required and elective CPT.

CPT and Internship Course (SIPA U9013) Registration

Students may register for the 0, 1.5, or 3 credit SIPA U9013 courses. The internship degree requirement can be met at 0 credits, so international students will often start with the 0 credit course during their first semester of internship coursework as doing so may allow them to utilize CPT for additional elective internship courses in the future (1.5 or 3 credit courses). Students applying for a second or third semester of internship coursework may apply for elective CPT as long as they are registered in an appropriate SIPA U9013 course (1.5 or 3 credits). 

SIPA students may earn a maximum of 3 internship credits during their degree program, which includes any credits associated with CPT. 

  • An eligible international student wishing to complete two internships might use the following schedule:
  • First semester of internship coursework at 0 credits
  • Second semester of internship coursework at 1.5  or 3 credits

An eligible international student wishing to complete three internships might use the following schedule:

  • First semester of internship coursework at 0 credits
  • Second semester of internship coursework at 1.5 credits
  • Third semester of internship coursework at 1.5 credits

Please note that CPT eligibility will be determined by ISSO. Students should consult with an ISSO advisor to determine their eligibility for CPT.

How to apply for CPT

Applying for CPT is a multiple step process that requires specific information outlined by ISSO. 

Students should note that the below description of the application process does not apply to students in the MPA-EPM, MPA-DP, or MPA-ESP programs. These departments will approve CPT forms for their students. 

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Attend CPT Information Session held every semester. You can register under the Events section of SIPA Connect.
  2. Register for internship course: SIPA U9013
    1. Students should note that summer internships require a preceding spring semester course registration.
  3. Once registered for SIPA U9013 internship course, students must obtain an ISSO compliant offer letter (see sample provided by ISSO) from their internship site organization.
    1. ISSO compliant offer letters (The following 6 points below are required to be included in this letter):
      1. Are written on official company letterhead
      2. have a specific start date and a specific end date within the appropriate semester timelines
      3. include the complete street address of the employer's location
      4. include the number of hours per week a student will work ('full-time' or 'part-time' is not accepted)
      5. include a detailed description or list of position duties
      6. signed and dated by the employer
  4. Once students have obtained an ISSO compliant offer letter, they should complete Parts 1 and 2 of the CPT Request Form. 
  5. Email the following items to [email protected]
    1. ISSO compliant offer letter
    2. CPT Form with Part 1 and Part 2 completed
    3. In the body of the email, please include:
      1. How many internship credits are you planing to register for?
      2. And for what semester? (Example: I am registering for 1.5 internship credits for Fall 2024)
  6. Waiting Period
    1. CAC will review the provided documentation and complete Part 3 of the CPT Request Form
      1. Consideration: Provided documentation need to note internship credit and semester request from the student, or this will delay the reviewing and approval process. 
    2. CAC will send back signed documentation for ISSO processing and submission.
  7. Once the student has obtained signed paperwork from CAC, the student should submit the following documents as a single PDF for ISSO review via Compass:
    1. CPT Request Form completed by the student and signed by SIPA CAC
    2. ISSO compliant offer letter
    3. The student’s passport and most recent I-94 card

We kindly ask all students to plan their internship start date accordingly and:

  • Allow the CAC up to 5 business days to review and process any CPT Requests.
  • Allow ISSO up to 10 business days to review and process any CPT Requests.

*Please note that only the CAC can complete Part 3 of the CPT Request Form. OSA will not sign off on CPT Request Forms.*

**Students may apply for CPT as early as 90 days but no less than 10 business days before they wish to begin employment.**

Step-by-Step One-Page Instruction 

Want a PDF one-pager downloadable version of these instructions? Click Here

SIPA U9013 Internship Course

All students registered for the internship course are required to submit internship paperwork in order to obtain a passing grade, and fulfill their internship requirement for graduation. 

  • Step-by-Step Instructions on how to complete internship paperwork, click here.

ISSO CPT Process

The International Students and Scholars Office staff will then review your application for eligibility. If you are eligible, update your SEVIS record to authorize your CPT, print a new SEVIS I-20 form indicating the approved employment and give it to you. Your employer will need to see this authorization along with your passport and I-94 form to put you on the payroll. You may engage in CPT only after your SEVIS record has been updated by an ISSO adviser to reflect CPT authorization and a SEVIS I-20 has been printed, indicating the approved CPT. The endorsement will indicate the precise details of the authorized training, including the name and location of the employer, the specific dates of the training period, and whether it is full-time or part-time.

Further questions regarding CPT ISSO Process

We encourage you to contact ISSO at [email protected] if you still have questions or make a virtual or in person appointment to check in with them by clicking here.

They will be able to best answer any visa, sponsorship, and program related questions.

How to apply for Academic Training (AT)

J-1 students must be enrolled full-time for at least one semester and be in J-1 status at the time of Academic Training (AT) application before they can accept paid internships in the U.S. The application for AT for J-1 students differs from CPT for F-1 students. Students in J-1 status under Columbia’s DS-2019 sponsorship should review the J-1 Academic Training section of the ISSO website for more information.

For students conducting Academic Training (AT):

  • Check in with your Program Director or Advising Dean at the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) on how to proceed with this request. It is a very separate process from CPT requests.
  • Only the parties mentioned above (Program Director and/or Advising Dean) can process AT applications for students.

Important:

  • The CAC only conducts CPT requests and applications for students.
  • AT requests will either go to your direct program managers or advising dean in OSA.

F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) - After Degree Completion

Optional Practical Training (OPT) in F-1 status is employment related to your field of study immediately after completion of your studies, authorized by USCIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services) through the issuance of an EAD card (Employment Authorization Document). However, your OPT application is first submitted to ISSO for review and to receive an OPT recommendation on a new I-20.

Please review the OPT section of the ISSO website for more information and to watch a webinar regarding post-completion OPT. You may also check the ISSO website for workshops.