→ Aug 12: SEVP Broadcast Message 2608-01 reminded DSOs that CPT under 8 CFR
214.2(f)(10)(i) must be an integral part of an established curriculum and directly related to the student's major. SEVP said it is increasing scrutiny and may ask schools for documentation supporting individual authorizations. It also reminded DSOs that signing an I-20 to authorize CPT is a certification under penalty of perjury.

→ Aug 24: Broadcast Message 2608-02 went further. In Q&A form, SEVP took the position that training is "integral" only if it is required of all students in the program, domestic and international alike. An internship tied to an elective course that students can choose to skip does not qualify.

Campus practice changed quickly. Within days of the two messages, UCLA, UC Berkeley (for Course Credit CPT), and Boston University paused some CPT approvals. Others now authorize CPT only where practical training is a degree requirement.

Both messages are guidance, not rulemaking, and the graduate-program exception that supports Day 1 CPT is still in the text, though it waives only the one-year wait, not the "integral" test. On campus, though, guidance backed by the threat of losing SEVP certification tends to work like a rule.

Why employers should care now:

1. Your 2027 intern pipeline. Elective-credit internships were a common CPT route, and many
   students who would have used CPT next summer may not be able to.

2. Current hires on CPT. Find out whether the student's school has paused or is re-reviewing
   authorizations, especially before any extension or new CPT period. And confirm the
   authorization appears on the I-20 and in SEVIS before the start date. That rule isn't new, but
   expect it to be enforced strictly.

3. A second shoe that hasn't dropped. DHS's rule replacing duration of status with fixed
   admission periods was set to take effect September 15. The day before, a federal court in
   Massachusetts blocked it nationwide for now, and the case is ongoing. That ruling doesn't touch
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   the CPT guidance. If the rule ultimately takes effect, tighter CPT combined with fixed admission
   periods will leave less room to bridge from student status to H-1B or O-1.

4. Paper trails. For employees who will later need a change of status or a green card, keep copies
   of each CPT authorization and the curricular basis the school relied on.

For students with standout records, the planning may need to start earlier, with a realistic look at
O-1 eligibility rather than relying on CPT as a bridge.

***Disclaimer: This post is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is fact specific. Please contact our office to discuss how this decision may affect your individual situation.***