Dear Buckeye,

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) recently issued guidance specifying that Curricular Practical Training (CPT) may be authorized only when the practical training is an integral and required part of an established curriculum.

Based on this recent guidance the Office of International Affairs (OIA) can only approve CPT for students whose academic program requires an internship as a mandatory requirement for graduation. While we understand how important internships are in your overall education, the university must follow the guidance set by federal authorities to ensure you and the university remain in compliance with the federal guidance.

All CPT applications must meet the following updated SEVP guidelines:

• CPT must be directly related to students’ major field of study and essential to completing their established curriculum.
• The practical training must be required for all students in that curriculum, regardless of citizenship.
• An optional internship or an elective course that makes the training optional does not meet SEVP’s standard for CPT.

• Review the eligibility requirements and current guidance on the Office of International Affairs CPT web page.
• Application procedures are being revised; if you have questions if the proposed training meets the requirements, contact our immigration specialists at iss@osu.edu.
• CPT must be authorized in SEVIS by an Ohio State Designated School Official at OIA before any training or employment begins.
• Each employer and each period of training requires separate CPT authorization.