The University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, Davis have paused applications for Course Credit Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for international students after new guidance from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).The two universities will continue processing Degree-Requirement CPT, which applies when practical training forms a formal requirement of a student’s degree programme.Also Read| US immigration authorities tighten scrutiny of student work permits; warns colleges over improper CPT approvalsBerkeley International Office (BIO) announced the pause on Wednesday and said it would remain in place “for the foreseeable future”.“It is unlikely that we will be processing such applications in the near future, so please plan accordingly,” BIO wrote in an email to international students. “We regret taking this action but we believe that it is in the best interest of students who hold F-1 status and that of the university.”Course Credit CPT allows F-1 students to gain practical work experience in exchange for academic credit. Under ICE guidance, the training must be an “integral part of an established curriculum”.BIO said it was acting in accordance with a new ICE memo sent to the university on Monday. The memo follows another issued less than two weeks earlier and provides additional guidance on monitoring CPT authorisations.Also Read| US pauses visa appointments worldwide as Trump administration begins global screening trainingThe Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which oversees international and exchange students, has started auditing universities to check whether CPT approvals comply with federal regulations, according to the memo.Universities that fail to comply could lose their certification to enrol international students. The memo also warned that Designated School Officials could face scrutiny for approving CPT that does not meet federal requirements.SEVP has introduced a tip line for cases where DSOs face pressure from university officials to make non-compliant decisions. Reports will be reviewed by SEVP and Homeland Security Investigations.BIO said it had hoped to resume processing Course Credit CPT applications the following week. However, it said it needed more time to consult legal counsel.“We want to continue to emphasize that we do not take these actions lightly, as we know the importance that CPT plays in your academic journey,” BIO wrote. “We will work collaboratively with academic programs to ensure that we have the necessary infrastructure in place so that we can move forward with processing Degree Requirement CPT applications that comply with ICE requirements.”UC Davis announced a similar pause on August 19. Its Services for International Students and Scholars office said it was “temporarily suspending, until further notice” all applications for Course Credit CPT.The UC Davis office said it was taking the step after receiving new ICE guidance to reduce risks to students’ immigration status and protect the university’s ability to host international students and scholars.UC Davis will continue processing Degree-Requirement CPT applications as usual. Students whose Course Credit CPT applications had already been fully processed and who had received a CPT I-20 before the pause will not be affected, the university said.The university is consulting legal counsel on how to handle Course Credit CPT applications in the longer term and said it would provide further updates after receiving legal guidance.