What Is Curricular, Optional Practical Training?

You may hear fellow students in your same academic program talk about the work/study, internship, or other job opportunities they are applying for or being presented with. But as an international student attending this United States educational institution on an F-1 visa, student visa, you may be unsure whether you are permitted to seize these same work experiences. Well, to not fall behind, we encourage you to look into curricular and optional practical training programs. Please read on to discover more about these programs and how one of the seasoned Lancaster County student visa lawyers at Lupton Law LLC can help determine your work eligibility.

What is curricular versus optional practical training?

Firstly, curricular practical training is a type of work authorization that allows F-1 international students like yourself to participate in part-time or full-time, paid or unpaid, off-campus work experience. Importantly, this work experience must relate directly to your chosen major of study and further be an integral part of your educational institution’s curriculum. For example, your school may require you to complete an internship in a field relevant to your major before your graduation date.

Secondly, while curricular practical training may be a mandatory component of your academic program, optional practical training may not be required but offers you additional practical experience in your area of study. That said, you may opt for curricular practical training after your first full year as an undergraduate student, up until your last day of school. This is while optional practical training may be done during or after finishing your degree. Importantly, though, if you have already participated in a full-time curricular practical training program for 12 or more months, you may be ineligible for the optional practical training program.

How can I extend my work experience in the United States?

If you graduated with a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM), you may further your work experience in the United States through the STEM optional practical training extension. Notably, this may give you an extra 24 months of work authorization in the country. To qualify for this, you must already be participating in an optional practical training program, and then earn a job offer from an eligible U.S.-based sponsoring employer. Specifically, this employer must use the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) E-verify program, and together you must fill out and file Form I-983, Training Plan for STEM OPT Students.

Do not be discouraged if you are not a STEM graduate, though, as there may be other nonimmigrant work authorization visas at your disposal post-graduation. Just to name a few, there is the H-1B visa, the L-1 visa, the O visa, and more. No matter what, you do not need to feel alone in this process. One of the competent Lancaster County student visa lawyers is ready to be in your corner and support you throughout. So please reach out to Lupton Law LLC whenever you are ready.