Day 1 CPT Universities and their On-site Requirement

Most people enrolling in Day 1 CPT universities are not only focused on their academic progress but also on their desire to secure at least one internship opportunity to build their work experience in the United States. Therefore, on-site frequency is an important factor to consider when choosing the right Day 1 CPT university.

Over the past three years, due to the impact of COVID-19, many individuals have become accustomed to working and studying remotely. However, the "special time" has come to an end. Since the beginning of 2023, many Day 1 CPT universities have updated their on-site requirements and CPT policies. This article will focus solely on the on-site frequency at Day 1 CPT universities, providing you with the most up-to-date information and discussing the importance of adhering to these rules, as well as the consequences of failing to do so.

The Importance of Being On-Site

Many of our students hold full-time paid jobs while studying at Day 1 CPT universities. None of them wants to take time off from work to attend in-person classes, as it not only affects their employment but also limits their income, which is needed to pay for tuition. Therefore, it is important to choose Day 1 CPT universities that are located closer to you and have a relatively lower on-site frequency.

Currently, accredited Day 1 CPT universities typically require on-site attendance either once per month or once per semester. If you are fortunate enough to find a Day 1 CPT university near your location that only requires on-site class attendance once per semester, consider yourself lucky.

When faced with the choice between a Day 1 CPT university that is closer to you but requires monthly on-site attendance, and a Day 1 CPT university that only requires on-site attendance once per semester but is located far from where you live and work, we recommend choosing the former. Here's why:

The Risk of RFE

Once you win the H1B lottery, the immigration officer will review your documents and assess whether you have violated any visa-related rules during your previous stay in the U.S. If you live on the West Coast but attend a school on the East Coast and only need to show up for classes three times per year, it may raise suspicions. The officers may question your intent to apply for an F1 visa. Are you here to genuinely study or for other reasons using an F1 visa? If studying is your primary purpose for being in the United States, why aren't you living close to campus? Is that the only school you could find? Is this the only internship available to fulfill the CPT requirement at that school? When things don't align, it raises questions and increases the possibility of receiving a Request for Evidence (RFE) notice. If you fail to provide a compelling explanation during the RFE process, all your efforts to stay in the U.S. could be in vain.

Therefore, it is essential to choose a Day 1 CPT university that appears legitimate and conducts on-site classes like other universities. It is also crucial for you to attend all on-site sessions and maintain evidence of your attendance.

What if you miss a session due to illness or unforeseen accidents? Contact your Designated School Official (DSO) immediately. If they accept your reason, they will usually arrange for you to make up the missed session at a later time. However, if you fail to provide any information and ignore the issue, hoping it will resolve itself, you may face expulsion from your Day 1 CPT school.

Do not expect your DSO to contact you to confirm the reason for your absence. Always be proactive and reach out to them if any problems arise concerning your F1 status.

Not only you will lose the right to use CPT but being expelled by your Day 1 CPT school will result in losing F1 status altogether. Most Day 1 CPT universities are very serious about attendance. Those who said that they don’t care might not be a legitimate school after all.

Day 1 CPT Universities on-site Requirements