In Module VII. you will learn more about the U.S. immigration process and how to explain to prospective employers about how easy it is to hire you for co-op assignments and post-graduation employment.

1. MODULE VII.
Job Search Seminar
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

2. By: Julia Montier-Ball, MEd, CI/IDT, MGR. International Student Services, Adjunct Instructor 2017-2018
W h e n & H o w
t o
C P T & O P T
International Students Job Search
Seminar
Presenters:
Rebecca Hale, MEd
Assistant Professor/Faculty Co-op Advisor for
Mechanical Engineering Students (undergraduate)
ESL Instructor, UC International Services
rebecca.hale@uc.edu
Ronald Cushing, MA
Director, Academic, UC International Services
ronald.cushing@uc.edu

3. AGENDA
In Module VII. you will learn more about the U.S. immigration process and
how to explain to prospective employers about how easy it is to hire you
for co-op assignments and post-graduation employment.
• The basics of CPT, OPT and STEM OPT regulations (eff. 3/2017)
• Navigating CPT and OPT at UC
• Talk to Employers about CPT/OPT When…
• CPT - How to Preserve your OPT in a Mandatory Co-op Program

4. COOPERATIVE
EDUCATION
The Basics of CPT,
OPT and STEM OPT
Regulations
(eff. 3/2017)
Why learn the basics?
International Students can’t assume
that employers understand
immigration laws or know what
approvals are necessary to prove
employment eligibility. Being able to
TALK to employers about this,
could be the difference in
whether or not you get hired or
maintain proper immigration status
in the U.S.

5. What is ?
CPT = Curricular Practical Training
• Employment authorization that allows eligible
international students to gain work experience as
part of their academic curriculum while enrolled in a
degree program at a US college/university
• Ex. co-op, internship, work/study, practicum, etc.

6. Purpose of ?
• CPT authorization grants a student the ability to work legally in the
US without risking visa termination of his/her student visa
• CPT authorization is linked to a student’s enrollment in a course
for which he/she will receive college credit, assigned to a
professor; work experience for which CPT is required is tied to a
student’s major
Did you know? 
• A student cannot begin working at a co-op job or internship until
CPT has been authorized (and his/her I-20 is updated by UC
International)

7. Who Qualifies for ?
• Students with F1 visa status who are enrolled in…
• Mandatory co-op programs
• CEAS+IT, DAAP
• Optional co-op or internship programs
• Lindner College of Business
• Programs with required or optional practicums (ex. teaching)
• Ph.D. programs (thesis work and data collection)
• Note: Students must have completed one year (2 academic
semesters) of coursework before they become eligible for CPT.
Exception: grad students

8. Is limited in amount?
• There is NO limit to the amount of CPT a student may use in order
to fulfill his/her degree requirements.
• After using up the original 365 days of CPT, students lose the
ability to apply for OPT

9. COOPERATIVE
EDUCATIONNavigating
CPT & OPT
at UC

10. Start here!  iBearcatsGlobal
https://www.uc.edu/international/services/employment_taxes/f1.html
https://ibearcatsglobal.uc.edu
Log in!
Watch employment
training videos!

11. iBearcatsGlobal is your student portal for submitting…
• CPT authorization requests
• Each co-op placement requires CPT authorization
• Employment-related documents
• Updated employer information
• OPT authorization requests
…and so much more!
• TIPS:
• Enter your co-op advisor/professor’s contact
information on a CPT authorization request.
• Enter your academic advisor’s contact information
on an OPT request.

12. Avoid Unemployment Waiver
Unemployment Waiver = International Coop Program
• In the College of Engineering and Applied Science, 3 co-ops
minimum are required for a student to graduate from a co-op
program.
• If you are not a CEAS student, verify your requirement with
your co-op advisor and academic advisor.
• The Division of Experience-Based Learning and Career
Education (ELCE) offers students up to two certificates upon
graduation:
– Certificate of Completion (3-4 co-ops)
– Certificate of Excellence (5 co-ops)
NOTE on ICP:
Students complete
the first 3 coops in
the US followed by
2 semesters of
coop abroad,
usually Spring and
Summer of the 4th
(pre-junior) year.

13. COOPERATIVE
EDUCATIONOPT – Available to
students who use
less than 365 days of
full-time CPT

14. What is ?
OPT = Optional Practical Training
• Employment authorization that allows international students to
gain work experience in their field for up to 12 months after
graduation from a degree program at a US college/university
• Students in STEM majors hired by E-Verify employers can obtain
an additional 24-month STEM OPT Extension (36 total months
of OPT)

15. What is ?
OPT = Optional Practical Training
Did you know? 
• F1 students can obtain 12 months of OPT for each higher degree
obtained (B.S., M.S., Ph.D., etc.).
• F-1 students in STEM majors can obtain two 24-month STEM OPT
periods if the second degree is at a higher level.

16. Conditions
• Students can apply for STEM OPT up to 90 days prior to expiration date of
their original EAD card
• Students can work for up to 180 days as they wait for their new EAD card
while their STEM OPT application is processing
• Maximum number of days on unemployment permitted on STEM OPT = 150
• Maximum number of days on unemployment permitted on OPT = 90
• Students must submit annual/final reports using form I-983 while on STEM OPT
extension
NOTE  Upon receipt of the original OR new EAD card, students must upload
a copy of the document into iBearcatsGlobal. If you want to work on either
CPT or OPT, you must keep UC International Services informed!

17. Conditions
• Students can apply for OPT up to 90 days prior to their graduation date and no
later than 60 days after graduation
• Students applying for the STEM OPT extension can apply up to 90 days prior to
and no later than the expiration date of the current EAD
• Students on OPT must wait until they receive their Employment Authorization
Document (EAD card) before they can begin to work
• Request for OPT / Employee Authorization Document = $410, paid by the
student
• Warning!  Failure to provide or update your employer contact information in
iBearcatsGlobal will result in unemployment. Keep UC International Services
informed!

18. What is an ?
EAD = Employee Authorization Document
• Students with OPT permission will be issued an EAD by the USCIS
• Average processing time for the EAD is 2 or 3 months; students may begin employment only
after they receive the EAD
• Students with pending STEM extension application can continue working for up to 180 days
while the application is pending

19. So, how can You preserve ?
•If you are required to complete 5 coops for
graduation (mandatory requirement) do…
3 coops in the US
2 coops abroad
NOTE on COOP:
International
Students
Students on an F-1
or J-1 visa, in order
to work, must
receive formal
authorization from
UC
International
Services,
prior to each co-op
semester.

20. ELCE program options in the US
Complete 3 coops in the US:
• Traditional co-op with a company, paid
• Summer Research co-op, unpaid (EEP*)
• Summer Service Learning / Volunteer co-op, unpaid (EEP*)
• For info: www.uc.edu/careereducation/about.html
*EEP = Experiential Explorations Program – alternative
co-ops which are unpaid but count for full co-op credit;
excellent resume builders and networking opportunities
NOTE:
Students are
typically limited to
one EEP, but can
submit a petition
to the PSRC
(Professional
Standards Review
Committee) to
request permission
for 2 EEPs.

21. Complete 2 coops abroad: and
ICP = International Coop Program
• Coop in Germany or Japan
• Min. 2 co-op commitment in sophomore & junior year
• 3.0+ GPA and required intensive language/culture courses
IEP = International Experience Program
• Intern in Singapore, Hong Kong, Cape Town, Santiago,
London, Toronto (paid or unpaid EEP)
Study Abroad
• Study abroad a full semester and receive co-op credit (EEP)
Find a Coop Job on your own
• Co-op in your home country (and other eligible countries)
NOTE on ICP:
Students complete
the first 3 coops in
the US followed by
2 semesters of
coop abroad,
usually Spring and
Summer of the 4th
(pre-junior) year.

22. COOPERATIVE
EDUCATIONHow and When to
TALK to Employers
about CPT & OPT
The reason for this Module:
International Students can’t assume
that employers understand
immigration laws or know what
approvals are necessary to prove
employment eligibility. Knowing
what you can and can’t do could be
the difference in whether or not you
get hired or maintain proper
immigration status in the U.S.

23. The Big Catch!
• Students who use 365 days or more of CPT during their degree program
lose eligibility for OPT.
• Students who use up to 364 days of CPT during their degree program
are fully eligible for OPT and potentially STEM OPT after graduation.

24. This means that YOU can tell employers…
• Students in any major who preserve their OPT during their program of
study can tell employers, “I can work for you for up to one year after
graduation without sponsorship.”
• Students in STEM majors who preserve their OPT during their program of
study can tell employers, “I can work for you for up to three years after
graduation without sponsorship.”

25. TALK to employers about CPT/OPT when…
… when a recruiter asks, “Let me know if you receive an offer from another
employer”, you’re under serious consideration: TALK
…when a recruiter starts framing their comments as “when you start”
they’re picturing a future with you in it: TALK
…when managers start imagining what you can contribute to their teams,
your status changes to The One: TALK
…when a recruiter moves past what you have to offer and starts selling you
on what the company has to offer: TALK
…when you get introduced to people you would be working with and being
seriously checked out: TALK
…when the interview runs overtime and they’re still listening, that’s a good
sign they’re ready to have the - TALK
College
Recruiting is
competitive,
and
Potential
employers
don’t want to
feel left out of
the talent
race!

26. HOW to have the TALK on CPT/OPT with employers
Keep in mind:
• Self-Disclosure: US employers expect/value self-disclosure in an interview,
although because you have values of another culture, this might be
considered an invasion of privacy.
• Self Promotion: US employers expect assertiveness, confidence in openly
discussing your goals and expectations, where you may view citing these
need and wants as self-serving.
• Future Sense of Self: US employers expect you to see a clear path to a
coop/work for them, but are themselves hesitant simply because they are
uninformed about the process of hiring you (cost, time, paperwork, etc.).
So, just tell them how easy it is to hire you now. Remember: with 3 years of
STEM OPT, you can be a “no-cost employee”!
College
Recruiting is
competitive,
and
Potential
employers
don’t want to
feel left out of
the talent
race!

27. What Questions do you have? You may also
post your
comments or
questions
about this
topic in
Module VII.
Discussion
Board on
Blackboard.

28. Resources
ELCE International Experiential Learning
• International Student Services, Prep-TALK Seminars
• International Experiential Learning Work Abroad Programs
UC International Services:
• iBearcatsGlobal – web portal for students
• IPALS, BearChats, ESL Conversation Group, UC International Services events
Academic Support at UC:
• Academic Writing Center, Learning Assistance Center
Cincinnati community engagement:
• Tri-state community ESL offerings

29. Check Blackboard for upcoming
Job Search Seminars & Activities