美国移民局允许F-1签证的留学生有两种实习:CPT-Curricular Practical Training;OPT-Optional Practical Training。一般人只知道OPT,OPT是毕业后留美实习,一般大学都不会为学生联系OPT实习工作,学生交学费,受教育。学生一毕业和学校没关系。学生需要自己找。一年之内找不到,或找到工作,公司不给办工作签证,时间到就要回国。我的一个中国朋友在一个有名的州立大学学计算机专业硕士,课程都学完了,只等毕业,拿到了一份工作, 学校只让作半工,20小时一周,还要交钱修其他课程的学分才能做,授权实习也很慢,一拖再拖,这个朋友最后丢掉了工作。为什么?学校不管国际学生找实习工作。这个学校可是真心实意、巴心巴干为学生找实习,因为实习是完成学业不可缺少的一部分,还要算学分。学校专门有一个团队做这事。这个项目的学生动手能力很强,已遍及全美,得到很高的评价。有微软猎头早早拉关系问学生何时可以开始实习。
CPT是和课程相关的学习中的实习。CPT对学校的管理非常麻烦,移民局要求定期报告学生的实习情况,一般大学不愿为此增加额外的工作,所有很少学校提供CPT实习。且CPT的学习课程和实习关联公司都必须在美国移民局备案,实习关联公司必须要有能力为学生学习提供指导,它们一般都是很大的、知名的公司。
CPT 介绍:
(i) Curricular practical training programs. An F 1 student may be authorized by the DSO to participate in a curricular practical training program that is an integral part of an established curriculum. Curricular practical training is defined to be alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school. Students who have received one year or more of full time curricular practical training are ineligible for post-completion academic training. Exceptions to the one academic year requirement are provided for students enrolled in graduate studies that require immediate participation in curricular practical training. A request for authorization for curricular practical training must be made to the DSO. A student may begin curricular practical training only after receiving his or her Form I-20 with the DSO endorsement. (Revised effective 1/1/03; 67 FR 76256 (PDF))
美国移民局网站:http://www.ice.gov/sevis/regs/8cfr214_2f.htm