The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has significantly restricted when F-1 students may use Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for off-campus work. On August 24, 2026, SEVP issued a Broadcast Message to Designated School Officials (DSOs) that provided guidance regarding Curricular Practical Training policy and clarified earlier CPT guidance issued on August 12. If you advise F-1 students, represent schools, or adjudicate CPT requests, you need to understand these new standards immediately.
What changed
SEVP’s messages communicate a narrower interpretation of when CPT may be considered an “integral part” of an established curriculum. SEVP is indicating that CPT should only be authorized when the practical training is required for all students and the degree or program cannot be completed without it.
In plain terms: CPT is no longer available for optional internships, electives, or supplemental work experience—even if the employer and student both believe the training is related to the student’s major. SEVP has observed a rise in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorizations that appear to violate regulatory requirements which permit CPT only where the training is an integral part of an established curriculum.
The August broadcast messages represent SEVP’s enforcement response to what the agency views as misuse of CPT as a de facto employment authorization mechanism.
Why it matters
This policy shift affects three groups:
For Designated School Officials (DSOs): You can no longer authorize CPT based on a student’s assertion that an internship is “related” to their major. You must verify that:
- The practical training is mandatory for degree completion (not elective or optional)
- The requirement applies uniformly to all students in that program, regardless of visa status
- The program curriculum itself, not market demand or student preference, mandates the experience
Failure to comply puts your SEVIS certification at risk.
For immigration attorneys and accredited representatives: Clients requesting CPT will face steeper scrutiny. If you advise an F-1 student on work authorization strategy, CPT should no longer be your default answer for internship or training positions. You must now audit the student’s degree requirements and school catalog to confirm the training is university-mandated, not merely “helpful” or “encouraged.”
For F-1 students: Optional Practical Training (OPT)—available after degree completion—becomes the more reliable path for work authorization in non-required roles. CPT requests in fall 2026 and beyond must clear a much higher bar.
Way forward
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DSOs: Review your current CPT authorizations and audit pending requests against the narrower standard. If CPT training is not required by curriculum for all students in the program, do not authorize it or rescind existing authorizations that do not meet the new criteria.
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Attorneys and representatives: Obtain a copy of the student’s degree audit or program requirements directly from the registrar or program director. Document in writing that the proposed training is a required component—not an elective or “recommended” experience. If it is optional, pivot to OPT or discuss alternative work authorization pathways (employment authorization under INA 245(c) for adjustment applicants, etc.).
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Students: Do not rely on verbal assurances from employers or advisors that CPT is available. Request written confirmation from your school’s international student office that your specific training role meets the new “required for degree completion” standard before you accept the position or give notice to your current employer.
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Institutional Compliance Officers: Coordinate with DSO teams, registrars, and program chairs to map which degrees and programs have embedded, mandatory practical training. Document the curriculum basis for any future CPT authorization.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Folaform is a software company, not a law firm. Immigration law is complex and fact-dependent; regulations and policy guidance change frequently without notice. Always consult a qualified immigration attorney or accredited representative to discuss your specific situation and verify compliance with current USCIS, SEVP, and DOS guidance. The information in this article reflects the source linked above as of its publication date; you should independently confirm all details against the official SEVP broadcast messages and your institution’s current policies.