CPT/OPT on F1 visa for international student

[koolkhan]

Hi all,

I am a student on F1 visa. i have worked 8 months on my CPT - 6 months full time and 2 months as parttime. Currently i am registered for a Graduate project of 3 credit hours which is based on my Co-op(project) at company where i have been working for past 6 months full time on CPT. My all other course work has been completed and i need to complete this 3 credit hours project inorder to complete my graduation. i need to work for 3 1/2 months more starting from jan 2010 on my Co-op inorder to complete my graduate project. After adding these 3 1/2 months to my previous duration of work my total CPT would be 11 1/2 months. CPT allows international student to work for 12 months full time. My question is.. can i work full time for another 3 and 1/2 months full time on my CPT at the same company inorder to complete my project. .? My university says that i can only work 20 hrs/week for my Co-op in the coming spring session to complete my project. i am not allowed to work for 40hrs/week during spring/fall sessions. I am confused since USCIS website says that i can work full time on CPT for 12 months but according to international studen law one can work only for 20hrs./week when college is in session.....

Please advice me on this
Thank you

[darkpuple]

I heard the same thing from our school. You can apply for full time intern only in vacation term.

[nehs]

I believe, if this is your final semester and you are working on your research/thesis then you are eligible for 40 hours CPT. Some schools do not allow more than 20 , in any case.

another option for you, if in your last semester is, pre-completion OPT.

P.S. If you use more than 12 months full-time CPT/ Pee-completionOPT, the time from your OPT gets reduced

Good Luck! Keep us updated,if possible.