The EECS Undergraduate Office has launched several online portals for international students to request letters of support from the department.
- CPT letters of support (6A MEng only)
- OPT letters of support
- New or extended I-20’s
Departmental support for OPT and I-20 extensions is intended for students in their sophomore year and up (you must have officially declared and joined Course 6). The department cannot provide OPT support letters for first-year students; the earliest eligible term the department can support OPT is IAP sophomore year. During term time (fall/spring) the department will only support practical training where you are physically located in Cambridge/Boston either working in-person for a metro Boston-based organization or working fully remotely for organizations based elsewhere.
Important CPT Information:
Effective fall 2026, in response to immigration and ISO directives, the EECS undergraduate and MEng programs are no longer able to provide CPT letters of support for any undergraduate or MEng students with only one exception: 6A thesis work may be done under CPT for 6A MEng students.
This means that, with that narrow exception aside, we are unable to issue new CPT letters of support or support CPT requests for upcoming employment or practical training experiences. This includes work to complete the Professional Perspectives Requirement (PPR) in MEng (6.9830; see other ways to fulfill the requirement here).
We understand that this may affect students who are planning internships or other employment opportunities, and we recognize that this is a significant negative change. We recommend you seek pre-completion OPT, apply well in advance of your planned work, and consider premium processing. Remember: you do not need an employment offer to apply for pre-completion OPT.
If you are a 6A MEng student, please connect with 6A for the CPT process well in advance of your planned thesis internship; additional supporting documents will be required (MIT thesis advisor letter; cooperative agreement).
If you have questions about this please contact the International Students Office (ISO) for guidance.
Important I-20 Information:
When changing levels from SB to MEng, you need to complete your request process with EECS and in iMIT at least one month before entering the MEng program (often earlier for those who have graduated SB already; consult ISO).
Requests with incomplete, inaccurate, or missing information cause delays in issuing your letter. Therefore, ensure that confirmed TA/RA funding you’ve secured is entered in MIT systems before you make your letter request. You can view your entered appointment, if any, here. If you don’t see your appointment, follow up with your lab (RAs) or the hiring department (TAs).
Important OPT Information:
Post-completion OPT must start after the graduation date listed in the MIT Academic Calendar. No alternative completion dates can be endorsed by the Department. You must be on the degree list for the term in which you apply for a post-completion OPT letter.
See additional policies and requirements on the ISO site, including important dates for these processes.