Does engaging in CPT make one ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT)?
Remaining eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) respectively depends on the amount of time authorized for CPT. If an F-1 student has done full-time CPT for one year, he/she is not eligible for OPT. Is a Social Security Number required for CPT? Do I have to pay taxes on CPT earning? All paid employment in the U.S. requires a social security number. Please keep in mind that it may take 4 to 12 weeks to receive a social security number. The student may not have obtained the card by the start of employment. In this case, the student must inform the employer that he/she has applied for a social security number and give the employer a ‘Proof of Application’, the receipt obtained from the Social Security Office. You are not required to have a Social Security number before you start work. However, the Internal Revenue Service requires employers to report wages using a Social Security number. While you wait for your Social Security number, your employer can use the ‘Proof of Applicatio
