The fall 2025 CPT application is now open

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

APPLICATION PROCESS/DEADLINES

Can you tell me the status of my CPT application?

We will not provide status updates on CPT applications. If you used scai.grad.cpt@asu.edu on your Adobe Sign for Participant 2, we have your application and you do not need to send emails to confirm if it has been received. We will not respond to emails of this nature as this only increases overall processing times.
In most cases, a delayed application is pending with the employer. If after three weeks you contact your employer and still need further assistance, you can email us at scai.grad.tempe@asu.edu for help.

How can I be aware if SCAI Advising has signed or denied my application?
- You can see "My Requests" under the Help Tab section in you MyASU. You will see a request "Approval requested on 'ASU SCAI Graduate Internship'" in the help section as closed or open. If it is closed this means it was either denied or approved. If denied an email from Adobe (SCAI.Adobesign@asu.edu) will go to the student stating why it was denied. If approved, it will be routed to the employer email for review and signature.
What email will the AdobeSign Form be sent to my employer from?
- Emails will be received from SCAI.Adobesign@asu.edu
How long will my CPT application take to be processed?

CPT applications take 3-4 weeks to be processed. We cannot expedite CPT application requests. Email reminders/requests to process applications or eForms will be closed without response. We automatically receive notifications of application submissions directly from Adobe Sign. Students do not need to inform us that they have submitted.

Is there any specific deadline for CPT applications?

We accept CPT applications on a rolling basis. You can see the deadlines here.

If I miss the deadline for the start date I want, will I be not able to apply for CPT?

You should submit it with the next available start date.

Do I need to fill out the CPT Information Sheet or does my employer?

You need to have a fully completed CPT Information Sheet signed and attached to your Adobe Sign application. You can fill it out or your employer can, but it must be completed before you begin the Adobe Sign process and signed by your Employer. You may fill it out but the employer must still sign it.

Will advisors review my offer letter/CPT documents before I submit them?

No. This is not an option. We have hundreds of students applying for CPT. We cannot pre-review all documents for all students. Your documents will be reviewed with your application, and you will be informed of any issues at the time your application is reviewed.

I made a mistake on my application. What do I do?

Please email scai.grad.tempe@asu.edu so that we can return the application to you to make changes or we can update you if you made a mistake on the email address listed for your supervisor. Please DO NOT submit multiple Adobe Sign applications. DO NOT submit a second application until you receive an email confirmation from Adobe Sign that your first application has been canceled.

I received an offer and the add deadline has passed to enroll in CSE/CEN/DSE/IEE/SER 584. What do I do?

CPT Applications approved on/after the add deadline for the semester, please Register for Session B.

I am interning with a company for Summer and they want to extend my offer to to Fall (or from one semester to another). Am I eligible to continue at the same company?

Yes, you can work multiple semesters with the same company; however, you will need to reapply for CPT for each semester that you are working as an intern and follow the start/end dates for each semester that you have listed 584 on your iPOS. A new and different educational objective is required for each semester, even if you are working at the same company in the same role.

ELIGIBILITY

When am I eligible for CPT?

Students are eligible for CPT after 1 year on F1 status in the United States. 1 year means 2 semesters: 1 Fall and 1 Spring semester. There is absolutely no option to start CPT before this. Please remember that CPT is an opportunity offered by US Immigration. We must all follow their directives and operate within their policies.

I'm on probation right now. I think my GPA will be high enough for CPT by the time my internship starts. Can I apply?

If you are currently on academic probation, the earliest CPT start date should be 3-4 weeks after grades post as your application will be held until grades are officially posted and you have cleared probation.

I am interning with a company for Summer and they want to extend my offer to Fall. Am I eligible to continue at the same company?

Yes, you can work multiple semesters with the same company. However, you will need to reapply for CPT for each semester that you are working as an intern and follow the start/end dates for each semester that you have listed 584 on your iPOS. A new educational objective is required for each semester, even if you are working at the same company.

I want to do 12-credits (semester "overload") and do a CPT internship. Will I be able to do both?

- No. You cannot do both. You may do one or the other, but not both. Your CPT application will not be approved.

I have an offer to work as an independent contractor/consultant. Can I do this under CPT?
1. - No. CPT is meant to be a practical training experience provided to the employee by an employer; therefore, participation in CPT under a 1099 independent contractor arrangement is not permitted. See ISSC eligibility page.
I am an accelerated masters student, am I eligible?
1. - See Accelerated Students page for details.

iPOS

My iPOS hasn't been approved yet. How can I get it approved quickly so that I can submit a CPT request?

The iPOS and CPT request can be submitted/reviewed at the same time. If you have submitted your iPOS, you may submit your CPT request.

I forgot to list 584 credits on my iPOS and now I can't add it because it is being reviewed. What do I do?

Advising will send your initial iPOS submission back to you if you do not list the 584 credits. You do not need to take any action. Your iPOS will be sent back so that you can add the credits. There is no need to email advising and ask for your iPOS to be returned.

Does listing 584 credits on my iPOS mean I'm required to do an internship?

No, you can remove 584 from your iPOS if you do not pursue CPT in the semester in which it is listed.

I'm listing 3 credits of 584 on my iPOS. Can these credits count as an elective toward my 30-hour degree requirement?

No. 584 credits are above and beyond the 30-credit hour requirement. They will not count toward the 30 hours required for your program.

OFFER LETTER

My offer letter lists a start date but no end date. Is this okay?
- The offer letter does not need to list an end date. However, you must complete the ISSC CPT Information Sheet with the semester-approved start/end dates listed and signed by the company supervisor.
The job title on my offer letter does not list the word 'intern'. Is this okay?
- Yes, the job title does not need to include the word intern in order to qualify for CPT.
My company has given soft approval for my internship but I am yet to receive my offer letter. Can I use just the CPT Info sheet to trigger the CPT process?
- No, the offer letter is required to start the CPT process.
I have an offer letter that spans two semesters. Can I use the same offer letter for both CPT applications?
- If you have an offer that covers two semesters (for example: from May to September), you can use the same offer letter but will need to apply for CPT twice: once for summer and once for fall. Adhere to the start/end dates outlined in the SCAI CPT application process. The educational objective will need to be different for each internship.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE

I am working at the same company for a second semester. Can I reuse my old educational objective from last semester?
- No. Each new EO needs to be unique even if you are doing the same internship with the same company. This second or third internship is like taking a different class. Academically students are not allowed to take classes that overlap or offer the same/similar content. For example, CSE 511 and CSE 512 are antirequisites and students cannot take both of these classes. The same rationale applies to the different CSE/DSE/SER/CEN/IEE 584 courses. Each course is unique and must have its own EO. Please look to skills and concepts learned in different classes you could apply to the second or third EO. Your CPT application will be denied if you use the same educational objective that you have used previously.
The educational objective has to be technical and specific. What does this mean?
- You need to list specific skills that you have learned in specific courses that you have taken/are registered for. You need to have BOTH the skills and the classes listed in your educational objective. For example: At my internship, I will perform task X which will draw on skill Y that I learned in class Z.. Do not just say you will utilize skills and concepts learned in X class. Say what the concepts and skills are and how they will be used in the internship. You can find an example here.

COURSEWORK

Can I take less classes to accommodate my internship?
- No, you cannot take less classes simply to do CPT. If it is your final semester and you are on an approved reduced course load, you can apply for CPT with less than 9 hours remaining in your program. However, you cannot reduce your course load prior to this.

DURING YOUR INTERNSHIP

I got my CPT approved for full-time but now my employer wants me to work part-time. Is this allowed?
- Yes, talk to ISSC.
I got my CPT approved for part-time but now my employer wants me to work full-time. Is this allowed?
- No.
I am currently pursuing CPT, but I got an offer to be an RA/TA/GSA/work an on-campus job. Can I do both?
- Per ISSC 's FAQ: F-1 regulations do not prohibit a student from working on-campus while also participating in a CPT authorized off-campus internship. Keep in mind that study must be the primary activity for the F-1 visa. In the future, USCIS may consider that your work activities took priority over your studies, and this could negatively impact any immigration benefit requests from the U.S. such as OPT or H-1B.
- CPT and On-Campus Employment are different entities. We do not recommend working two jobs and going to school full-time because your focus should be on your studies. However, advising does not monitor on-campus employment. Please discuss with ISSC if you plan to pursue this to ensure you are remaining within the weekly number of hours international students are allowed to work

5. I am interning with a company for Summer and they want to extend my offer to Fall. (Or from one semester into another.) Am I eligible to continue at the same company?

- Yes, you can work multiple semesters with the same company. However, you will need to reapply for CPT for each semester that you are working as an intern and follow the start/end dates for each semester that you have listed 584 on your iPOS. A new educational objective is required for each semester, even if you are working at the same company.

6. I was approved to work full-time on CPT. Can I work overtime (more than 40 hours)?

We do not recommend working more than 40 hours per week. There is no immigration maximum to the number of hours you can work per week when authorized for full-time CPT, but it is highly advised that you do not, as you could raise red flags in future immigration requests. Your academics are your primary activity for the F-1 visa. You are here to be a student, not a full-time worker.
In the future, USCIS may consider that your work activities took priority over your studies, and this could negatively impact any immigration benefit requests from the U.S. such as OPT or H-1B.

HOLDS ON MYASU PRIORITY TASKS

I have a Hold in my priority task. Can I still enroll in CPT 584 course?
- No, you will not be able to enroll into the 584 course for CPT until you have resolved all your Holds listed in your priority tasks.
Can advising temporarily lift or remove the Holds so that I can enroll.
- No, advising is unable to remove Holds from other departments. This is the students responsibility to take care of if they anticipate an internship offer.

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