Legal Employment

General Rule | Curricular Practical Training (CPT) | Internships | Optional Practical Training (OPT)

General Rule

Students are allowed to work 19 hours a week during the Fall and Winter terms, and Spring semester. During the summer, students can work more hours, but must alternate their working hours as follows: 40 – 40 – 19. This means that two weeks in a row can be 40 hours of work in one week. However, the third week will only be 19 hours instead of the 40 hours. You should always check with your supervisor if you are not sure about this.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) 

Curricular Practical Training is authorized work experience that is related to the student’s major and an integral part of an established curriculum. To be eligible for CPT, students must have been in legal status for at least one full academic year. Students in English-language programs are ineligible for practical training.

Requirements:

  • You must receive written authorization before you may begin your CPT.

  • You may only work up to 20 hours per week during fall and winter semesters, however, you may work full-time during your annual vacation period.

  • You must be enrolled for academic credit throughout the duration of the training unless the training is required for your degree.

 

Procedure:

  1. Obtain a signed letter from your prospective employer on company letterhead that provides:
    • Firm’s name

    • Nature of the training, specifying that it is an internship, cooperative education, or practical training

    • Nature of the position as part-time (less than 20 hrs/wk) or full-time (more than 20 hrs/wk)—full-time employment is only allowed during vacation periods

    • Beginning date which must be a future date that is on or after the first day of the semester or term. The beginning date must be after the day that International Services receives the letter because approvals may not be given retroactively

    • Ending date which must be before the first day of classes for the next semester

    2. Note: These dates become the official beginning and ending dates that will be listed on your Form I-20.

  2. At BYU-Hawaii, students must apply for an internship to be considered for CPT. To do so, visit with the Internship Coordinator in the Career Services office for proper documents. Upon approval from the internship coordinator, academic department, and academic advisor, international students will also be required to receive authorization from International Student Services.

  3. At least five days prior to the beginning date of the training, submit the following to International Services:
    • Form I-20

    • Letter from prospective employer

    • Letter from internship coordinator
    • Proof of enrollment in the related class

  4. International Services will review your request and authorize your CPT resulting in a new Form I-20 that lists the training.
    NOTE: If you receive one year or more of full-time curricular practical training, you become ineligible for any post-completion optional practical training. Remember that authorization for CPT must be documented on your I-20 form. This new I-20 must have the signatures of the student and a DSO. CPT cannot exceed 12 months at one time or the student will become ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) later.


 

Internships

Internships that are paid and in the United States require CPT authorization from the ISS office. See an ISS advisor to have this information added to your I-20. Internships in your home country do not require CPT authorization. However, you must be registered for class credit to maintain status.

 

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Policy Statement

Brigham Young University0Hawaii will endorse students in F-1 visa status for Optional Practical Training (OPT) provided the students meet the designated requirements mandated by the U.S. government and BYU-Hawaii policy.

Students are strongly encouraged to complete a Curricular Practical Training (CPT): i.e, internship or practicum, in their home country or region before graduation rather than OPT after graduation.

 Qualifications 

1. Student has accepted a job offer that:

  • is in a field directly related to the student’s major field of study
  • requires a college degree as a minimum qualification
  • provides experience not readily available in the student’s home country.

2. Student provides documented evidence (i.e., offer letter on company letterhead)_ of the job offer.

3. Student must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA (certified by the Academic Advisor) and be a student in good standing at BYU-Hawaii.

4. Student has:

  • met with either a career center or faculty advisor to discuss the candidate’s career planregistered on the university’s YCareers electronic job network
  • submitted an approved resume and cover letter to student’s file in the Career Center
  • Student has been enrolled in the U.S. for full time studies for one full academic year.
  • Student must be valid F-1 status.
  • Student may not have regained legal status through reentry or been reinstated by immigration within one full academic year of OPT application.

 

 

Application Process 
1. Student must meet with a faculty or career center advisor to discuss the applicant’s career plan. Student should register on the YCareers electronic job network, submit an approved resume and cover letter to the student’s file in the Career Center and begin an active job search at least one year prior to graduation. OPT applicants are required to attend an OPT information session at least one semester prior to the application period. It is recommended that interested students participate in sessions at least one year in advance of graduation to learn specifics of the application process. (Contact International Student Services or the Career Center for details.)

2. 90-120 days prior to graduation, the international student may meet with an International Student Services advisor to obtain the necessary authorization forms and certify that the applicant meets criteria established by the US Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS).

3. The student must complete the OPT application forms and attach a copy of the offer letter to the application.

4. Obtain the application form clearance signatures from:
A Career Center advisor
The student’s academic advisor
The department chair and/or faculty advisor for the applicant’s major field of study
An International Student Services advisor

5. Complete the application photo requirements, file documents, pay $175.00 application fee with either personal check or money order and submit the I-765 application to an International Student Services advisor. Sign a BYU-Hawaii “Promise to Return” agreement.

6. Mail all necessary signed documents to the USCIS office in California. The OPT application must be received by USCIS prior the date you are expected to complete the program of study. Immigration regulations do not allow a student to submit an application after study program completion.

 

During and After OPT 
1. Graduates may not begin the OPT work experience until (a) receipt of the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card from USCIS and (b) the start date on the card has been reached. During an OPT, the graduate is still in F-1 status at BYU-Hawaii.

2. Federal guidelines require the OPT participant to keep the university notified of employer and/or personal address changes during the practical training period. Participants may update personal and/or employer contact information online at the BYU-Hawaii Career Services to use for reporting university placement outcomes and return rates.

3. The university also requests that the OPT participant submit a contact update for the next destination at the conclusion of the OPT experience.

 

Appeals Process 

Appeals for exception cases may be made to a Review Panel comprised of one representative from International Student Services, one from Career Services, and one faculty and/or academic advisor representative from the department of the applicant’s ajor field of study. To make an appeal for the exception, the applicant should meet the qualifications listed previously and must also:

1. Write a maximum one page request for and explanation of need for the exception.

2. Submit verification documents, request an explanation paper to either the Director of International Students or Director of Career Services at least two weeks prior to the first Monday of the month.

If a pending offer or lack of a job offer is the reason for appeal, candidate must have demonstrated a serious effort to find qualified employment. Documented evidence of application with a minimum of 10 employers is required in addition to the originally stated requirements.The Review Panel will meet on the first Monday of each month at 4:00 p.m. on an as-needed basis. Emergency sessions may be called in extreme situations as determined by the Review Panel standing members (International Student and Career Center representatives). The Review Panel chair will submit a monthly action report to the President’s Council for review.

  
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