US universities pause CPT programs after ICE warning, leaving Indian students in a difficult situation

Several U.S. universities are halting Curricular Practical Training (CPT) programs after a recent directive from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). CPT allows F-1 international students to gain off-campus work experience integral to their academic curriculum.

The SEVP issued a compliance guidance memo on August 12, 2026, reminding Designated School Officials (DSOs) of their liability for CPT authorizations. The memo states that CPT is being misused as a backdoor work permit rather than a genuine academic requirement. DSOs signing off on CPT authorizations do so under penalty of perjury, facing personal endangerment and risking their university's SEVP certification if authorizations are improper.

Institutions like UC Berkeley and UC Davis have announced pauses on "course credit CPT," which is not always mandatory for a course and can serve as a pathway for work authorization. UC Berkeley's International Office director stated the decision was not taken lightly, acknowledging the importance of course credit CPT for students' academic journeys. Both campuses clarified that CPT required by the degree curriculum will continue to be processed normally.

Other universities, including UC San Diego, Purdue, and Santa Clara, are also reviewing or pausing their CPT programs. The scrutiny extends to "Day 1 CPT," which allows students to work from the start of their program. While not explicitly banned, SEVP warned DSOs about audit risks and potential fraud charges if the "required curriculum" is merely a pretext for work authorization. This has created significant uncertainty for thousands of Indian students who rely on CPT programs annually.

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Please know that we do not take this decision lightly as we know the importance that course credit CPT plays in your academic journey. We will support (international students) to the full extent allowed by law.