My school stopped processing CPT applications. Has CPT been cancelled?
No. CPT has not been eliminated. SEVP issued new guidance on August 12 and August 24, 2026 that significantly narrowed how schools are being instructed to authorize CPT. Under the new guidance, CPT generally must be directly related to your major and required for all students in the program as part of the established curriculum. As schools review the new guidance, some have paused or restricted CPT applications that previously qualified based on academic credit but were not required for degree completion.
If you already have CPT authorization, check with your school before making any changes. Several universities have said previously authorized CPT can continue through its approved end date, but implementation may vary by school.
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Related questions
No — if the internship’s duties are unrelated to your major, it does not qualify for CPT. CPT must be directly related to your major area of study and an integral part of your school’s established curriculum; a job offer alone is not enough.
An internship’s title or the employer’s industry does not necessarily determine whether it qualifies. Your designated school official (DSO) must review the actual duties and curricular connection and authorize CPT before you begin working.
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We research what is publicly findable about your work and read it against the O-1 and EB-1A criteria, with a source behind every finding. Two to four minutes, and no email to start.