Monthly Immigration Update

Excerpted from the International Services Newsletter | Updated September 15, 2026

F-1 CPT Eligibility Changes

New SEVP guidance significantly narrows F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) eligibility. Going forward, CPT will only be approved for employment that is embedded in the curriculum, required of all students for degree completion, and supported by a formal employer agreement. See the F-1 CPT Eligibility Advisory alert for guidance.

For Students: Activate Your Immigration Status Now

New F-1 and J-1 students sponsored by Cornell: You have a legal obligation to complete a status activation with International Services. If you don’t complete this required first step, your SEVIS record may be terminated. If you have received messages from our office asking you to activate your status, please respond immediately.

If you have already activated your status, no action is required. Once you’ve completed your status activation, read Maintaining Your Status for rules and requirements for all international students studying in the United States.

F/J Students: Stay Enrolled Full-Time

You must stay enrolled full-time during your Cornell degree program to maintain your immigration status. Full-time enrollment is generally considered to be 12 credit hours, with limited exceptions for some graduate programs. Failure to enroll and maintain full-time enrollment could impact your immigration status and your ability to remain legally in the U.S.

If you need to drop below full-time or take a leave of absence, visit Get Advice to connect with International Services or Cornell Tech advisors. To learn more about maintaining your status, review About Your F/J Student Status and Maintaining Your F/J Status. 

OPT Reporting Requirements

F-1 students on OPT: Please report any changes to your employment or contact information through the SEVP portal within 10 days of the change. Find out more about how to Report Your OPT or OPT STEM Employment.

If you’re on STEM OPT: You have a final reporting requirement! If you’ve changed to H-1B status from STEM OPT, don’t forget to submit your final I-983 evaluation. You must submit the Report H-1B Petition Approval form within 10 days of your change of status.

On-Campus Employment for J-1 Students

If you’re a J-1 student working on campus, your on-campus employment must be authorized by your J-1 sponsor before you start working.

• If you are a J-1 student on a Cornell DS-2019 form, get your J-1 student employment authorization letter from International Services. Complete this form to request a J-1 student on-campus employment letter.
• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​If a different sponsor, such as Fulbright, issued your DS-2019, you need to get an authorization letter directly from your sponsor.
• If your home government funds you, there may be limitations on your employment, or no employment may be allowed. Please check your funding letter to see if there is a work limit.

For Faculty & Staff: H-1B and O-1: I-94s

H-1B/O-1 scholars: Be sure to check your I-94 after every U.S. entry. You are required to upload a copy of your I-94 in myStatus every time you enter the U.S. Once logged in, you can find what you need by selecting “University Employment,” and then “H-1B/O-1 Employment Eligibility Review.”

If you’ve recently traveled internationally using a passport that is valid for less time than your H-1B/O-1 approval notice, you may have been issued an I-94 record that is valid for less time than listed on your H-1B/O-1 approval notice.

If Cornell has filed for a change or extension of your status since your last entry to the U.S., you have a USCIS-issued I-94 on the bottom of your approval notice, so you can disregard this reminder.

International Services Student FAQ

Find more answers to questions about student travel, visa status, employment rules, and more.