On August 24, 2026, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued a detailed broadcast message communicating SEVP’s interpretation of F-1 curricular practical training regulations. Following this message, ISSS has initiated a campus-wide review of CPT policies and programs. Until further notice, ISSS is only able to process and approve requests where a practical training experience is integral to an established curriculum and required for all students in the program for purposes of degree completion. In the meantime, ISSS is working with University leadership and campus partners to assess the implications of SEVP’s statements for curricular practical training opportunities at Brown.

For F-1 visa students with pending CPT request for Fall 2026: you will be contacted by your ISSS advisor, if you have not been contacted already, regarding the status of your requests. You may also directly contact your ISSS advisor.

ISSS understands that these changes and transitions can be concerning, and we are working with our campus partners as quickly as possible to bring clarity to students and academic units regarding these developments.

If you have any questions, please contact isss@brown.edu. 

To be eligible to apply for CPT you must: 

• be in lawful F 1 status;
• have been enrolled as a full time student for at least one academic year (graduate students may apply in their first year if the employment is required for their program);
• have declared a concentration (undergraduate students);
• have an employment offer; 
  AND
• have obtained academic approval of your proposed employment experience

The hours of employment per week that you are able to work will be marked on the new I-20 as part of the CPT authorization (page 2). You must be careful NOT to exceed the hours of employment you are authorized for.

PhD Candidates: After completion of required coursework, graduate students who are engaged in thesis/dissertation preparation are eligible for full-time (more than 20 hours per week) CPT during the academic year only if the training constitutes an integral part of their thesis/dissertation research. Students engaged in full-time CPT are not permitted to be engaged in full-time on-campus work (i.e. a research/teaching assistantship) during the academic year.

If authorized for a cumulative total of 12 months or more of full­-time CPT, you are no longer eligible for any OPT. Part-time CPT has no impact on OPT eligibility.

Learn More about OPT

CPT is authorized by an ISSS advisor in the form of a new I-20. Once students have submitted all the required documents to ISSS, the new I-20 will be issued within 10 business days.