International Students
English Language Proficiency
Visa Issues
Curricular Practical Training
End of Enrollment for International Students
English Language Proficiency
It is professionally crucial that you are proficient in both oral and written expression in English. The Graduate School requires that all non-native speakers of English who have not earned their undergraduate degree in a U.S. participate in the English Language Program (ELP). http://gradschool.princeton.edu/academics/policies/elp/
The English Language Program begins with a brief voluntary orientation before classes begin. New students are assessed in September using the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK). Students who score sufficiently well on the SPEAK test are not required to participate further in the English Language Program.
Other students are expected to attend English Language Program classes in addition to their normal academic courses during the school year. Students take the Princeton Oral Proficiency Test (POPT) at the end of each semester of ELP courses. They must continue in ELP courses until they have passed the POPT. Students must pass the POPT before they are eligible to serve as teaching assistants.
The McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning also offers graduate workshops on academic writing. It is highly recommended that you attend some of these to help polish your written English skills.
Princeton’s Office of Visa Services has the most up-to-date information on rules and recent changes regarding visa issues. It is important to note that students who are on single-entry visa should be aware of possible delays when traveling out of the country either for vacation or to attend a conference. Contact Mladenka Tomasevic with questions: mtomasev@princeton.edu.
International students interested in doing a summer internships related to their research at a company should seriously consider Curricular Practical Training (CPT). CPT is used for an internship, practicum, or other type of employment that can be taken for credit toward the degree.
To be eligible for CPT, you must document that:
- you are currently in F-1 status;
- you have been in lawful status and a full-time student for at least one academic year (for example, an F-1 student who was previously a full-time student having F-2 visa status can count the time as an F-2 full-time student toward the academic year requirement).
CPT may be authorized:
- only if you have a job offer from a specific employer with established beginning and ending dates
- part-time or full-time
- part-time is up to 20 hours per week
- full-time is anything more that 20 hours per week
If you are authorized for Curricular Practical Training totaling 12 months or more of full-time employment, you will lose your eligibility for ALL Optional Practical Training (OPT).
While participation in part-time CPT does not affect eligibility for OPT, you will lose your eligibility for ALL Optional Practical Training (OPT) if you are authorized for Curricular Practical Training totaling 12 months or more of full-time employment, .
To apply for CPT, you must bring the following to the Office of Visa Services:
- A recommendation form from your academic adviser indicating that the employment will be credit bearing, that you have registered for the credit, and that the employment is an integral part of the academic program. The letter should also specify the number of hours per week of employment and when you will complete your program of studies;
- a letter from your employer indicating the job title, dates of employment, number of hours of work per week, place of employment, and a brief description of the work; Summer start dates should be after June 1, and completion dates should be before courses begin in September.
- your original I-20 (the visa office will endorse permission for CPT on the original and return it to you);
Please make an appointment to see Mladenka Tomasevic in the Office of Visa Services (258-1445 or mtomasev@Princeton.edu) to review your documents and complete the needed paperwork.
Further information and the CPT application form may be found on the Visa Services website.
As you near the end of your degree program, you should check on issues related to changing from a student visa to whatever comes next. In particular, you are likely to need to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) in advance of graduation in order to remain in the US after your student status is over. Processing times for OPT range from 2-3 months at U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services, so you should start this process sufficiently far in advance.
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