International Students

CPT & OPT

If you are an international student pursuing an internship or employment opportunity in the United States, you may need work authorization through CPT or OPT. Review the information below to learn about eligibility, application timelines, and next steps. Career Advancement can support your internship or job search, while the Office of International Affairs advises on CPT and OPT authorization.

Understand Your Visa Status

Understand your immigration status and work authorization options before you need them — many employers won't know this landscape, so it helps to be the one who does. Your international adviser at the Office of International Affairs (OIA) can walk you through your options; for more, see OIA's employment resources page.

Employers can't legally ask about your immigration status, but they can ask whether you'll need visa sponsorship now or in the future. Be ready to talk through your work authorization options with them, and loop in OIA any time you want help preparing for that conversation. You can also point employers straight to OIA's employer guide.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

International students pursuing an off-campus internship may need Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work authorization.

If you have determined you will need Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and need a Letter of Support from Career Advancement, please request the letter using this form for summer 2026 or this form for 2026-27 academic year.

Career Advancement and the Office of International Affairs (OIA) offer quarterly CPT workshops covering eligibility, the application process, and important deadlines. Workshop dates for the 2026–27 academic year will be posted in late summer 2026. In the meantine, you may view recordings from last year's workshops, but always check with your OIA adviser on any work authorization and visa status questions.

Optional Practial Training (OPT)

If you're an international student planning to work in the United States after graduation, Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows eligible F-1 students to gain temporary work authorization in a position related to their major.

Because OPT applications are processed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), it's important to begin the application process well before you plan to start working.

Visit the Office of International Affairs (OIA) website for eligibility requirements, application instructions, and deadlines, and contact your OIA adviser with any questions. If you're a fourth-year student planning to work after graduation, start planning as early as possible.

USCIS and H-1B Research Tools

In addition to UChicago resources, the following websites can help you better understand U.S. work authorization and employment-based visas:

  • USCIS: Official information on work authorization, visa requirements, application processes, and immigration policies.

  • US Department of Labor: H-1B Data: Explore H-1B employment trends by employer, occupation, industry, and location.

  • H1-B Salary Database: Search publicly available H-1B salary data by employer, job title, and location to better understand compensation trends.