Day 1 CPT Checklist: How to Vet a Program Safely
Before enrolling in any program that offers CPT from the first term, check that the school is SEVP-certified and accredited, and that training is truly required for every student in the program. Confirm that classes and attendance are real. Day 1 CPT is legal only when the program genuinely requires it.
Every job is from an employer that filed H1Bs in 2025. See which ones fit your resume.
Why vetting matters
F-1 rules let graduate programs that require early training authorize CPT before one academic year. Day 1 programs rely on that exception.
Attorneys warn that Day 1 CPT can draw questions in later H-1B and green card cases. Our guide to Day 1 CPT risks covers this in depth.
In 2019, DHS ran a fake school, the University of Farmington, to catch students enrolling mainly for CPT work. VOA reported it had a website but no classes or teachers. Agents arrested about 100 students in one day in January 2019.
Step 1: Check certification and accreditation
- Find the school in the Study in the States School Search. It lists only SEVP-certified schools.
- Check accreditation with the US Department of Education's database, then the accreditor's own website.
- Remember STEM OPT needs a degree from an accredited, SEVP-certified school. An unaccredited degree cannot support it.
- Search the school's name with words like SEVP, withdrawal or investigation.
| Employer | H-1B filings | Transfers | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.Com Services LLC | 14,047 | 2,382 | $155k |
| Cognizant Technology Solutions US CorpGC frozen | 10,209 | 872 | $110k |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 9,808 | 269 | $143k |
| Google LLC | 7,899 | 844 | $186k |
| Microsoft CorporationGC frozen | 7,840 | 879 | $173k |
| Tata Consultancy Services LimitedGC frozen | 7,287 | 353 | $86k |
Step 2: Check the curriculum
- Ask for the written curriculum showing practical training is required for every student, not optional.
- Ask how the school applies the August 12 and 24, 2026 SEVP guidance.
- Ask whether each CPT term appears as course registration on your transcript.
- Confirm the program is a real degree in your field, not a general program built around work.
Step 3: Check classes and attendance
- How often classes meet, where, and whether in-person attendance is required.
- How attendance is recorded, and what happens if you miss sessions.
- Who teaches, and whether faculty are listed with real qualifications.
- What happens to your CPT if you fail or drop a course.
Step 4: Check the money and the pitch
- Be cautious if the main selling point is a work permit, not the degree.
- Be cautious of recruiters paid per student, or offers of a commission for signing up friends.
- Get the full cost per year in writing, including any CPT or service fees.
- Ask what refund you get if the school or SEVP stops authorizing CPT.
Step 5: Plan for what comes next
Full-time CPT for 12 months or more ends OPT eligibility at that degree level. That removes STEM OPT and cap-gap work time.
A lawsuit filed October 5, 2026 challenges the August guidance, with a hearing set for November 6, 2026. The outcome could change how schools handle CPT. Talk to an immigration attorney before you enroll, and again before an H-1B filing or travel.
Compare other paths first. See STEM OPT running out, OPT running out, and cap-exempt employers.
This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your situation with your DSO or an immigration attorney.
Questions
Is Day 1 CPT legal?
Yes, when a graduate program genuinely requires training from the start. Since August 2026, SEVP says CPT must be required for all students in the program.
Which universities offer Day 1 CPT?
We do not list or recommend schools. Use this checklist and verify certification and accreditation yourself.
Does Day 1 CPT affect H-1B approval?
It can draw questions. Attorneys warn officers may look closely at Day 1 CPT history in later H-1B or green card cases.
Does a Day 1 CPT degree count for STEM OPT?
Only if the degree is on the STEM list and the school is accredited and SEVP-certified. Twelve months of full-time CPT would end OPT, and with it STEM OPT.
Is SEVP certification enough to trust a school?
No. Also check accreditation, the written curriculum and attendance rules. The 2019 Farmington sting showed a school can look real online and still have no classes.
Sources
- Study in the States: F-1 Curricular Practical Training (SEVIS Help Hub)
- Study in the States: School Search (SEVP-certified schools)
- USCIS: Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students
- Boston University ISSO: Additional SEVP Guidance Further Restricts CPT Eligibility (Aug. 28, 2026)
- Carnegie Mellon OIE: Lawsuit Challenging CPT Changes (Oct. 8, 2026)
- VOA Learning English: Fake University Set Up by US Immigration Agents
