Hello guys,

This post is regrading F1 CPT:

So I am done with all my coursework for masters and already have a job offer from a related company for this summer. I could not graduate in May though due to some technical issue. So I wanted to use CPT to work in summer and then graduate at the end of summer and continue full time with the company afterwards. However, my department says I can't do so because I already have all the coursework completed and also they don't have any internship course listed for the department.
Please let me know what my options are.

Thanks in advance!

Apply for pre-completion OPT and use it to work full time in Summer. And after graduation apply for post-completion OPT and continue working for the same job.
More info : https://www.uscis.gov/opt

Thanks NE_Patriots. Do you know how long is the processing time for the precompletion OPT?
What kind of paperworks are required?
It seems like regular OPT processing time has been increased lately from 3 months to almost 4 months now. Thanks in advance.

Your college should have International Student Center. Go there and ask DSO about the documents and processing times.

I was in a similar situation last year. However, my university does not allow the CPT for the last semester or the semester which you are graduating. I had an interview on sept and was asked if i could join in October. As you know it takes about 90 days to get the opt these days so it was not possible. My employer suggested i talk to my DSO about CPT but i was told CPT is not allowed for the final semester.

Now, the precompletion OPT takes almost same time as regular OPT. If you are doing thesis-based masters then you can defend as soon as you can and once you finalize the defense date, you could apply the OPT ASAP.

If your masters in non-thesis based, and you have to take some class in summer then I think you cannot start OPT before the end of summer semester. BUt you can apply 90 days in advance.