CPT and OPT both connect study to work, but the authorising document and timing are different. An employer's preferred start date cannot override the student's immigration record.
CPT and OPT both connect study to work, but the authorising document and timing are different. An employer's preferred start date cannot override the student's immigration record.
Who needs to deal with this
Education planning becomes an immigration and cash-flow question as soon as an offer is accepted. The US decision should therefore be tested against admission conditions, visa timing, funding and the student's actual study plan.
A note saying “done” tells the next case owner very little. The file should at least identify who was in scope, which version was used, when the action was taken and what the authority returned.
A working checklist
These four points can sit directly in the working paper, each tied to a filename or confirmation number.
- Ask the DSO which training category fits the proposed work.
- For CPT, check the Form I-20 employer and authorised dates.
- For OPT, wait for the required employment authorisation and start date.
- Report employment and address changes through the required channel.
Do not lose this distinction
An offer letter is not work authorisation. Unpaid activity can also count as employment depending on what the student is actually doing.
What should survive a handover
Keep the offer, DSO recommendation, updated Form I-20, employment authorisation document and employment-reporting records.
The handover note can be short, but it should name open items, deadlines and owners. The next case owner should not have to infer progress from email.
Publication date: 2026-09-07; editorial review date: 2026-09-14. The publication date completes the website category timeline; sources were checked on the editorial review date. This article is based on public information from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and provides general information, not legal, tax, immigration, education or financial advice. Recheck the official page and account notices before acting on a particular case. Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.