The below article was contributed by one of our students. He went through a status crisis after his company failed him. We helped him enroll at one of the Day 1 CPT universities we collaborate with, Monroe College, to keep his legal status. Then, he used CPT to continue work in the U.S.
His experiences of getting Day 1 CPT approval from his Day 1 CPT university and his employer inspired us to open a new service: provide assistance throughout our student’s CPT application after they enrolled at Day 1 CPT universities.
Most agencies would only help their students obtain offers. However, that is not the essential reason why international students apply to Day 1 CPT universities. Work authorization is equally if not more important than the program offer. And we’d like you to know, we will be here to provide help when you need it, even after enrollment.
2022 was a year full of ups and downs for me. It all started with a major illness early in the year. After recovering, I received some great news: my H1B visa application was selected. I was overjoyed and ecstatic for several months, considering it was my final year on OPT. However, I never anticipated what was about to unfold. It turned out that my company's lawyer, who was handling my case, negligently forgot to include my documents in the company package sent to the USCIS (I should mention that I was involved in a certain ICC project).
Consequently, I never received a receipt notice. I contacted the USCIS myself. They informed me that they could not find my case. Seeking an explanation, I approached my company's lawyer who, after searching their office, revealed the shocking truth: my case had not been sent. I have always had average luck, so being selected for H1B felt like an exceptional stroke of luck, but now it seemed that not being selected would have been better.
Thus, I began my search for Day 1 CPT universities as means to continue my work and life in the U.S. Monroe University caught my attention due to its proximity and reputation for excellence. I discovered their Advanced Certificate Data Science program, which held the promise of an additional year of OPT upon completion. Eager to explore this opportunity, I reached out to a renowned consultancy for guidance. Their support was invaluable, and I swiftly received an offer the same day I submitted my documents. Transferring my SEVIS record from my previous institution to Monroe University was a seamless process, taking a mere three days to complete.
Next, I proceeded with my CPT application. However, my misfortune persisted. More than a week passed, yet I received no response. I took the initiative to email my adviser at Monroe College, only to discover that they had not received the employment verification response from my company. In a state of confusion, I consulted with my company's HR department, who claimed they had not received any emails from Monroe. Thus, I found myself in a state of constant communication between the two parties. During this prolonged waiting period, I was unable to work since my OPT had expired in July, and I was awaiting the H1B receipt notice to activate the cap gap.
Sigh... At times, I feel disheartened, questioning why I had to face these challenges. Perhaps it would have been better if I had not been selected for the H1B in the first place. Instead, I could have directly applied to Day 1 CPT universities, avoiding this fleeting joy and the loss of two months' worth of salary.
Allow me to conclude by sharing my perspectives on the application process at Monroe University. One significant advantage of this institution is its remarkably smooth admission process, combined with its favorable location and relatively lower tuition fees compared to other schools in the same area. However, there are also some drawbacks. From the moment I paid my tuition after receiving admission to the time of applied for CPT, I experienced slow response times and the need for persistent follow-up.
I shared my experience with the agent, www.day1cpt.org, who helped me with the program application and they followed up on my case, which was eventually resolved. They didn’t charge me anything for this part of the service even though their job should have been stopped when I got my offer.
www.day1cpt.org has noticed that Jay’s situation is not unique. It does not apply to Monroe College alone either. And to be fair, it is not Day 1 CPT universities’ fault. CPT authorization requires close review and evaluation. Schools can not afford to jeopardize its authorization right which was given by the USCIS. If accredited Day 1 CPT universities abuse the trust that was given to them by the USCIS, it can affect their future students. Then, no one will be able to get CPT authorizations. However, most students are in a rush when applying for Day 1 CPT to keep their working status active.
Therefore, it is not uncommon to hear students complain about the processing speed, which usually takes no more than 14 working days but can be as fast as 3 working days.
Before Jay, we focused on helping students to get an offer. His story made us realize this is a common problem and we should use our resources to help. Therefore, we decided to extend our service and use our resources to help our students not only get an offer but more importantly secure their CPT authorization. If you applied to Day 1 CPT universities through us, we promise to follow up until you are authorized to work in the U.S.