"Co-op" Program Exclusively for International Student

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an employment option available to F-1 students. According to the immigration regulations, this employment may be an internship, cooperative education job, a practicum, or any other work experience. In order to receive the authorization for the CPT, student must obtain a job offer letter from the employer which should clearly indicate your job title, job responsibilities, the begin/end date of the position, name and contact information of your direct supervisor.

Q: Do I need the USCIS approval for doing the CPT ?

USCIS authorization is not needed, but USCIS should be notified by school.

Q: What is considered part-time CPT / full-time CPT?

Employment for 20 hours or less per week while you are enrolled for classes is considered part-time Curricular Practical Training. Employment for more than 20 hours up to 40 hours per week or more is considered full-time Curricular Practical Training.

Q: What are the differences between On-campus job and Off-campus employment ?

1) Based on US immigration law, international students can only engage in on-campus work 20 hours per week, but students can work off-campus for 40 hours per week under internship jobs.

2) On-campus work usually is a non-tech position and pay minimum wage, such as food service in school cafeteria, re-arrange books in the library, or dorm cleaning. While off-campus jobs are major related professional jobs in the real business and industrial environment. Off-campus employment opportunity gives students the freedom to choose the jobs, companies and negotiate salaries. Consequently, students not only receive the training in their chosen business setting, but usually receive higher salaries.

3) On-campus jobs in their nature normally are viewed by your future employers as non-competitive jobs. In contract, through off-campus employment, you will receive strong recommendation letters from American companies and enrich your resume. Apparently, your off-campus employment experience will draw the attention of your future employers and enhance your competitive power when you enter the job market, a life-time benefit.

As far as we know, very few universities in the US offer you such an off-campus employment opportunity with great academic, professional and financial benefits.

Q: Will the university find CPT employment for me?

A: An Human Resource firm will help student find the "co-op" employment, but each students should follow up with all the "leads", prepare for the resume and interview. This is a much more effective method of obtaining suitable employment because most employers want to interview personally with the applicants. New students find that the school staff, as well as other students at the university, are willing to share what they may know about how to locate available employment opportunities.

Q: What is my chance of obtaining employment?

A: Part of the program includes three "co-op" courses to help student prepare for the CPT employment. The "co-op" courses will teach you how to write American style resume, job hunting strategies, interview skills, ethics on the job, US culture and custom, and safety issues, etc. This is part of the first phase of your "hands-on" educational experience and is designed to enhance your CPT off-campus employment options. The type of business or industry employment that you will hopefully secure will depend on your job skills, your experience, and your English ability.

The University will do everything it can to help you find the best opportunities, but it is up to you to ensure your success. That means identifying job locations, preparing for interviews, performing well on the job, and drawing on your workplace and classroom learning to sharpen your professional and academic goals.

Q: How long will it take for me to obtain CPT employment?

A: It depends on how fast you can learn to interview for available employment and your skill level. Some 75% students obtain CPT employment within one month while others require 45 days or so to find employment.

Q: How much can I earn in an "co-op" job?

A: Some entry level jobs will pay approximately $8.00 per hour, but more highly skilled positions may pay up to $10-$12 or more per hour. Students are allowed to work up to 40 hours per week, with overtime also possible, depending on the job.

Q: How many working hours will I probably work each week?

A: Your employment can be as a regular full time employee with the same benefits as are granted to all U.S. citizen employees. Most employees work 40 hours per week and receive a one week vacation per year. However, part-time employment is also available, as you may choose.

Q: Do I have to work overtime? Can I keep the overtime bonus?

A: Some companies want the interns to work overtime, while others do not have overtime available. However, you may keep for your own use all overtime income that you may earn.

Q. What if I can't find employment?

A. Because the employment is a part of the coop program it will be mandatory for you to be working. The school will make sure you are employed in temporary positions. You may then search for a more suitable job.

Q: Do I have to have a social security card and a work permit?

A: The procedure for obtaining a Social Security card and permission to work begins with obtaining a job offer letter from a prospective employer. Once an employer agrees to hire a student, such a letter will be issued by that employer. The letter is to be taken to the University for a signature on the students original I-20 form where Curricular Practical Training is authorized. This signature by the school official on the I-20 serves as the co-op students work permit. The next step is to take the job offer letter and the signed I-20 to the Social Security office where application is made for a Social Security Number. Sullivan U will assist you at all steps in this process

Q: Will I have to pay taxes?

A: Your employer may be required to hold back from your monthly earnings a little bit of money to cover any taxes that you might owe. However, after April 15th of each year most international students find that they get a refund of all, or almost all, of this withheld amount.

Q: Could the work authorization be possibly converted into a full time work permit upon completion of the Masters program?

A: Converting the internship job into a full time job, such as under an H1-b, is possible after graduation from the program.

Q: Am I allowed to engage in both CPT and OPT?

A: Yes. However, if you work for more than one year of full-time CPT, you may not be allowed to do the one year of OPT. If you want to do the OPT, then, you need to limit your full-time CPT to less than 12 months. Part-time CPT, regardless of how long, does not affect your right to do the OPT. For example, you may work full-time for 11 months, then, work part-time for the rest time, and still have the legal right to do the OPT after graduation.

Full-time = work more than 20 hours per week up to 40 hours or more.

Part-time = work no more than 20 hours per week.

Q: How can I go to school and work at the same time?

A: All Co-op courses will be offered in the executive format. That is, classes will be offered in the evenings and on weekends as well as during the week during the day.

Q: Can I transfer my credits from another school?

A. The University may give credit for courses already taken at the Master's level at another school, if the other school is accredited and if the course content being transferred is basically the same as one of the courses in the University's requirement for that major. The Registrar will make this decision when you arrive for your first class.

Q: Can you tell me if I will be accepted with my current degree?

A: If you have a bachelor degree from a recognized and accredited College in any major you are qualified for acceptance to Management “co-op” program.

Q: Is there any financial aid available?

A: The financial aid that Sullivan U can offer is the legal right to obtain full time employment from an American company for the entire time you are in the graduate school. Thus, in most cases students have the potential of earning in internship employment much more than what they might obtain in a scholarship or other financial aid from a different university

Q. Do I have to apply for a visa in my own country?

A: The American consulates in each country of the world make the decision about whether or not a visa applicant must be in his/her own country in order to apply for a visa. However, the general custom is that an international student will be allowed to apply for a visa, at U.S. consulate located in countries other than his/her own.

Q. Do I have to pay the Sevis fee before I go in for my interview?

A. Homeland Security is now requiring F-1 students to pay a $100 SEVIS fee before the student can apply for the visa. Students will need a receipt showing payment of the fee before they can go to the visa interview.

Q. How do I pay the Sevis fee?

A. Students can go to www.fmjfee.com and apply on line using a credit card which is the fastest way to make this payment. Students will receive an e-mail receipt which they will take to the consulate office at the time of their visa interviews.

Q. Can my spouse or children accompany me to the US?

A: A spouse will be allowed to apply for a visa to accompany the student. The spouse (with children) may apply at the same time the student applies, or may wait for several months to apply until after the student arrives in the U.S. and gets settled. The spouse will need to show additional financial support or a bank statement with sufficient additional money to support him/herself (and children) when accompanying the student spouse to the U.S.

Q: What is required in order to bring my spouse and family?

A: In order for your spouse and/or children to accompany you, the university must issue a separate I-20 form. Your family can apply for an F2 (dependant) visa. The university will need the following information for each family member (including spouse): full name, date of birth, country of birth, and country of citizenship.

Q. Do I need permission from Immigration Services in order to work off campus?

A. Students will have an F-1 student visa and, by the nature of the Antioch's "co-op" program (which requires internship employment) no further permission is required by the Immigration Service. Once the student finds employment that is certified to be "curriculum related", the Sullivan U will issue the appropriate authorization signature allowing the student to begin working.

Q: Can I take a break during summer quarter to return to my country then return back to school for fall quarter?

A: Students must attend school full time for 9 months before they are eligible to take a vacation from their studies.

Q: If my visa is valid for only 2 years, will I need to get it extended before it expires?

A: Having a 2 year visa does not mean that you have to go back to your home country at the end of two years. Rather, you can stay for as long as you like beyond the two years to finish your education in the U.S. The length of the visa just limits how long you have to cross the border into the U.S. That is, if, during those two years you want to go home to visit a number of times you can use that visa (permission to cross the border into the U.S.) as often as the visa permits. But, after the two years are over, you need to renew your visa so that, if you leave the U.S. and come back, you will have a valid visa to do so. All visas can generally be renewed for students who are legally in the U.S. and want a longer time during which they are allowed to leave the U.S. for a visit to their home countries.

Q: I am already in the US on a B-1 visa. Can I change to F-1?

A: If you are going to change to F-1, which you need to do in order to get into the paid internship program at the Antioch, it is much better to do that while in your home country. If you come to the U.S. and then apply for a change of status to F-1 it can take up to several months of waiting while the immigration service processes your application. But if you take your I-20 form from the Antioch to the consulate in your home country and apply for an F visa, the decision can me made immediately by the visa officials there. Then there will be no delay in your starting school and getting a paid internship job.

Q. Is there a deadline for applying?

A: No. Applications will be accepted and processed at all times of the year and the University will make special efforts to notify the applicants quickly of the status of their applications.

Q: I can not get my bank statement until I have an acceptance letter from the University . Can I send my application packet in now (without a financial document) and send the bank statement in later?

A: If you need the acceptance letter before you can get the financial documents, then please write a note to the University stating this fact and include it with your application packet. This way the University can go ahead and process your application without the financial information. As soon as you do receive your financial documentation you will need to send it to the University because they cannot issue your I-20 without having the required financial documents.

Q: Does the bank statement have to be in a sponsors name or is it ok if it is in my name?

A: The bank statement can be either one from your bank account, or that of a "sponsor", or a combination of the two. If you use a sponsor's bank statement you will also need to have the sponsor write a letter to the University stating, "I am the sponsor for _______ and I intend to provide him/her with financial assistance during his/her first year at the University up to the amount of $_____,

Q: What should I do if my bank statement does not reflect US dollars?

A: If you can not obtain a bank statement reflecting the equivalent value of your money in U.S. dollars, you may get the conversion from the internet. Just print the page showing the conversion and include it with your bank statement. www.currency-exchange.co.uk/Currency-Converter.htm

Q: Can I have more then one sponsor?

A: You can have as many sponsors as you need. However, you and the sponsors need to make it clear to the visa officials why they are willing to provide money to you for your education in the U.S.

Q: Is the GRE or GMAT score required for admission?

A: No. For admission, it is not required that you have taken either the GMAT test or the GRE tests. However, we recommend you take the GMAT or GRE test. We suggest this because, having taken the test, you are more likely to be viewed as a more serious student by the U.S. visa officer when you go to apply for your visa. You will be required to take the GMAT score before you graduate from the co-op program.

Q: What if I am in my last semester of undergraduate study. Can I apply to the program now?

A: You can send the transcripts that you now have along with the other required application materials. Also, include a letter indicating that your final transcripts will be sent as soon as you have received them .

| Cost / Financial Aid | | Admissions | | Application | | FAQ |

>>> FAQ