Hmm that's a good question. Maybe their schools authorized CPT for the student's own companies? https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevis-help-hub/student-records/

Hmm that's a good question. Maybe their schools authorized CPT for the student's own companies? https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevis-help-hub/student-records/fm-student-employment/f-1-curricular-practical-training-cpt https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevis-help-hub/student-reco... Some random sites claim "CPT does not allow for self-employment. If an F-1 student were to request CPT employment to work at the student’s own business, they must show that their work is controlled by other individuals at the business. The F-1 student cannot have 50% or greater control of the business". Some school's F-1 pages say they won't approve self-employment. I think in practice the school has discretion