CPT to OPT

[Nutchanok K.]

I just started my master degree in Engineering management this fall semester and I am also currently on a full-time CPT. My company is applying for a green card for me but I know that it is less likely that I will get the green card before finishing my degree. I know that you won't be eligible for OPT if you stay on a full-time CPT for 356 days or mor. So my plan is, instead of taking minimal credits per semester and staying on full-time CPT as long as I can, I was thinking of rushing and finishing my degree within 1 year (3 semesters) and I was wondering if it is possible for me to stay on full-time CPT as close as I can to 355 days and apply for OPT once I finish with my degree. I understand that I will have a small gap between the full time CPT and the OPT but not using 3 years of OPT seems like a waste since I know green card process can take multiple years. 

[Attorney_9]

F-1 students who have received an aggregate of one year or more of full-time curricular practical training (CPT) become ineligible for optional practical training (OPT) at the same educational level. So long as you can demonstrate you received less than one year of CPT, which can be done through your pay statements, you will likely be eligible for post completion OPT.