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International Student Information

International students (first-year or second-year in either F-1 or J-1 visa status) are eligible to participate in the PE/VC Lab but must have Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Academic Training (AT) employment authorization before beginning their internships.

Please review the information below and consult the University of Chicago Office of International Affairs (OIA) website on CPT or AT authorization for additional details.

The Polsky Center requires international student applicants to complete an attestation form to confirm they’ve met with OIA and will take the necessary steps outlined below to complete their CPT or AT.

Eligibility

F-1 visa:

If you are a full-time program student on an F-1 visa, in order to intern with a firm through the PE/VC Lab, you will need CPT authorization approved before starting work. To obtain this authorization, you must:

  • Request a “CPT employer letter” (template) from the firm

  • Next, complete the Work Authorization Recommendation Request Form

  • Submit the CPT recommendation form and CPT employer letter to the CPT Request

  • The process to obtain CPT authorization takes 1-2 weeks. You must receive your updated I-20 with CPT authorization before beginning your internship (including any “pre-work” training or orientations)

  • If and when you receive an offer to intern with a firm through the PE/VC Lab, you should immediately begin the CPT authorization process and set your start date with the firm accordingly

  • CPT authorization allows you to intern with a PE/VC Lab firm for up to 20 hours per week for a maximum of 10 weeks between January 4, 2027, and May 28, 2027. You may not exceed 20 hours per week or 10 weeks in total, or you will be in violation of your visa status

  • You will be administratively enrolled in the required winter or spring quarter PE/VC Lab class in conjunction with your internship

J-1 visa:

If you are a full-time program student on a J-1 visa, in order to intern with a firm through the PE/VC Lab, you will need AT authorization approved before starting work. To obtain this authorization, you must:

  • Request an “AT employment letter” (template) from the firm

  • Complete the Work Authorization Request Form

  • Submit the completed and signed AT recommendation form and AT employment letter to the J-1 Academic Training Request

  • The process to obtain AT authorization takes 1-2 weeks for approval. You must receive your updated DS-2019 with AT authorization before beginning your internship (including any “pre-work” training or orientations). If and when you receive an offer to intern with a firm through the PE/VC Lab, you should immediately begin the AT authorization process and set your start date with the firm accordingly

  • AT authorization allows you to intern with a PE/VC Lab firm for up to 20 hours per week for a maximum of 10 weeks between January 4, 2027, and May 28, 2027. You may not exceed the 20 hours per week or 10 weeks max, or you will be in violation of your visa status

  • You will be administratively enrolled in the required winter or spring quarter PE/VC Lab class in conjunction with your internship

  • Please note: AT used for PE/VC is deducted from your total 18 months of AT available during the MBA program. For example, using 10 weeks of AT for PE/VC leaves you with 18 months minus 10 weeks of remaining AT

International Student FAQs

No, students on an F-1/J-1 visa participating in the PE/VC Lab may not extend their internship beyond 10 weeks, 15–20hours per week because the work authorization is only for when the student is enrolled in the PE/VC Lab course (the 10 week time period of the internship).

No, you are only permitted to start interning with your firm when you receive your updated document with CPT/AT authorization. It is important to start the work authorization process as soon as your internship is confirmed, in order to receive your work authorization in a timely manner. OIA asks for 1–2 weeks from the date of request submission to authorize CPT/AT.

It is recommended that even though your firm is not based in the United States, you should still apply to receive your CPT/AT authorization.

No, Professor Chris McGowan or Jason Heltzer do not need to sign any of the CPT/AT work authorization paperwork. If you have questions about who needs to sign the paperwork, please reach out to Kayla Smith in the Office of International Affairs.

The University will be closed from December 25 – January 1, 2027. Students who intend to begin their internships the week of January 5 should submit their complete CPT request by December 14, 2026. Any submissions after that date should have a start date of January 15 or later.

Additional Information

For questions, please contact: