Indian students in the US, the largest group of international students, are encountering new challenges regarding Curricular Practical Training (CPT), a work-study option used for gaining practical experience and a pathway to H-1B visas, amidst tightening visa and work authorization regulations.
The latest concern comes from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which sent a Broadcast Message (BCM 2608-01) to Designated School Officials (DSOs) across the US on August 12.
The message reminded colleges and universities that CPT must be a genuine part of a student’s academic programme. It cannot simply be used as a way to get a job.
SEVP said it has seen an increase in CPT approvals that do not meet the required rules. It warned that schools found misusing the programme could face investigations and even lose their SEVP certification. Officials who approve such CPTs could also face legal consequences.
No new rule, but the warning is serious
On paper, the SEVP message does not change the existing CPT rules, said immigration attorney Rajiv S. Khanna of Immigration.com, speaking to Financial Express.
“The document itself settles this,” Khanna said, pointing to the standard SEVP disclaimer, which says the broadcast “is not itself a rule or a final action” and cannot be used to create an enforceable right or benefit.
According to Khanna, the existing regulation that defines CPT and allows Day 1 CPT for certain graduate programmes has not changed.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cannot simply change those rules through a broadcast message, he said. Any major change would require formal rulemaking, similar to the process used for the new duration-of-status rule that takes effect on September 15.
But Khanna said students should not assume that the message is harmless just because it is not a new rule. “What makes this more than paperwork is the tone,” he said.
SEVP’s warning about increasing violations, its reminder that DSOs certify CPT approvals under penalty of perjury, and its public fraud tip line all point to a much tougher approach.
Khanna described it as “a compliance reminder with real teeth”.
In other words, the rules may not have changed on paper, but colleges could become much more careful about approving CPT applications.
According to the official Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website, students on F-type visas have two options of engaging in practical training during their program or after it ends in the US.
Applicants’ designated school official may authorise them to enroll in CPT at the graduate level during their first semester if the program requires the experience. And so, the primary difference between it and OPT is that while Optional Practical Training can be completed before or after graduation, Curricular Practical Training must be done before graduation, as per Cleveland State University.
Those on CPT can work full-time or part-time. However, if you have completed 12 months or more of full-time CPT, you become ineligible for OPT.
OPT, on the other hand, can be applied for 12-month duration at each education level. Those enrolling for this programme must wait to start work until they receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS and may ultimately only work 20 hours per week while school is in session.
Why Indian students could face more pressure
The concern for Indian students is not accidental, Khanna said.
Indian nationals make up one of the biggest groups of F-1 students in the US. Many depend on the work-authorisation route of CPT, Optional Practical Training (OPT) and the STEM OPT extension to gain work experience and eventually try to move into the H-1B system.
That makes Indian students particularly exposed to any tougher scrutiny of practical training. However, Khanna said not every form of CPT is being treated the same way. There is a difference between CPT that is clearly part of a university’s academic programme and the “elective course-credit model.”
In the first model, practical training is already built into the curriculum. For example, a graduate programme may have an established internship or practical-training requirement that allows a student to take up a job from the beginning of the course.
In the second model, a student first gets a job and then seeks college approval and enrols in a course that gives academic credit for that work.
It is this second approach that SEVP’s message appears to be targeting.
Khanna said this model has become common at some US institutions that cater heavily to international students, including Indian graduate students.
Hence, students could end up paying the price for decisions made by their universities. Many rely on colleges to approve CPT and may have already paid thousands in tuition before facing scrutiny over those approvals.
Students, meanwhile, should not rely only on verbal assurances from their colleges. They should keep copies of course requirements, internship details and their employer’s job description. Any changes or pauses in CPT policy should also be confirmed in writing by the DSO. The concern is that a university’s compliance problem could quickly turn into a personal immigration issue for students.
What happens if a university loses its SEVP certification?
One of the biggest concerns is what could happen if SEVP actually takes away a university’s certification because of CPT violations.
According to the immigration attorney, this is not just a theoretical possibility. He pointed to the near-miss involving Harvard in 2025, when the university’s certification was threatened but the situation was eventually stopped through court intervention.
If a school does lose its certification, international students enrolled there are given formal notice of their options. The usual route is to transfer their SEVIS record to another SEVP-certified school.
But that process can become complicated for students who are working under CPT or OPT. Their work authorisation is connected to the school that approved it. Once the SEVIS transfer takes effect, that authorisation ends.
“Students maintaining status can generally start that transfer during the process, but any student on OPT or CPT loses that work authorization the moment the SEVIS transfer takes effect, since work authorization is tied to the school that granted it.”
Students who fail to complete the transfer within the required period can fall out of status. The alternative is to seek reinstatement, but that is a discretionary process and there is no guarantee that it will be approved.
“Certification loss is a bureaucratic action for the institution,” Khanna said, “and an immediate, personal immigration emergency for every international student on its rolls.”
CPT is only one part of a much bigger crackdown
The US has already increased scrutiny of the international student-to-worker pipeline, with concerns also surrounding OPT.
According to Khanna, his office has seen more Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs) in OPT-related cases which they believe is part of USCIS using AI-based review tools more extensively.
At the same time, the H-1B system is also changing. Starting with FY2027, the US is moving from the traditional random H-1B lottery to a wage-weighted selection system.
Another major change is also coming on September 15, when the DHS rule ending “duration of status” for F, J and I visa holders takes effect.
The change means F-1 students will, for the first time, have a fixed expiry date on their I-94 rather than automatically remaining in status for the duration of their approved academic programme.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available immigration guidance. Rules and deadlines are subject to change; readers should verify current requirements directly with USCIS or consult a qualified immigration attorney before making decisions based on this information. Financial Express is not responsible for any decisions made based on this information.