U.S. Universities Restrict International Student Internships Following Federal Warning

Several prominent U.S. universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, New York University, and UC Berkeley, have begun pausing or limiting applications for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for international students. This action, reported on September 2, 2026, comes in response to a federal warning from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) on August 24, 2026, which reinforced that CPT is only allowed as an integral part of an established curriculum, not merely for employment opportunities. Violations could jeopardize a university's SEVP certification.