Dear Campus Partners,
As we continue to see the impacts of the COVID-19 emergency on travel and visa issuance, many graduate students abroad are sharing news of securing visa appointments in time for a Fall 2021 arrival. This is welcome news as UC San Diego anticipates teaching to be primarily in-person with normal classroom occupancy in accordance with public health guidelines. The International Students & Programs Office (ISPO) recognizes that while some international students may arrive to begin their programs this fall, others may continue to face travel and visa delays and will consider their options to begin their programs from abroad.
For Fall 2021 admitted graduate students planning to engage in off-campus experiential learning opportunities in Summer 2022, arrival in the U.S. this fall term will be a key factor in receiving employment authorization such as Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Because Fall 2021 newly admitted students, who are unable to enter the U.S. in F-1 status, will not start accruing time towards the one academic year requirement, they may not be eligible to engage in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) in Summer 2022.
While the regulations indicate that "exceptions to the one academic year requirement are provided for students enrolled in graduate studies that require immediate participation in curricular practical training” [8 CFR 241.2(f)(10)(I)], ISPO expects a return to normal operations and will only support and recommend CPT for students who are lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year (or three academic terms such as Fall, Winter and Spring) AND hold an active SEVIS record (indicating physical arrival in the United States).
Departments can recommend exceptions to this requirement on a case-by-case basis if immediate participation is required or if practical training is required to make normal progress towards degree completion.
What does this mean for advisors?
-
Advising : Fall 2021 New Admits will need to enroll in three academic terms upon arrival to the U.S. prior to engaging in CPT. While the FA20 cohort received certain flexibilities due to the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 emergency, eligibility for Summer 2022 CPT has been reevaluated for the FA21 cohort. We recognize the difficulties that may arise in advising the FA20 and FA21 cohorts separately. For specific questions regarding eligibility for practical training and impacts of COVID-19, students can visit iUpdates.ucsd.edu to view the most up to date information for the 2021-2022 Academic Year. Students can also visit CPT.ucsd.edu for more information about CPT.
-
Approving CPT Requests in iPortal: In reviewing CPT requests, it will be the department’s role to determine if a graduate student can demonstrate academic readiness to engage in experiential learning opportunities. In addition, departments need to verify that the proposed experience is directly related to their major and that the student will enroll in coursework or cooperative agreements that require practical training. Departments can recommend exceptions to the one-academic-year requirement for practical training on a case-by-case basis if immediate participation is required or if practical training is required to make normal progress towards degree completion.
ISPO will determine based on recommendation from the department if the student is eligible for CPT authorization. For information regarding how to review CPT requests in iPortal, visit ISPO’s iPortal for Campus Partners page. Departments are asked to forward questions regarding eligibility to iEmployment@ucsd.edu.
For additional questions or guidance regarding eligibility and exceptions, please contact Pauline Deguzman, ISPO’s Manager of Student Services, at pfdeguzman@ucsd.edu.
Thank you.
