I am an F-1 student in the US. Summer of 2024, I worked at a company on CPT authorization. At the end of the summer I accepted a return offer to join the company when I graduate, starting in October 2025. I am not currently working for the company but as part of the return offer, the company provides me a stipend, to help us with covering costs / expenses associated with certain professional examinations and certifications we have to apply for and pass prior to joining the company. I was already given and accepted part of the stipend in December 2024, and the second stipend will be coming in May 2025.
I have a few questions regarding this. (1) Am I allowed to receive this stipend, or is that a breach of my F-1 Visa. From my understanding relocation stipends are generally allowed to be accepted by non authorized employees, so my gut tells me this is similar, but I can't find any verification of this. (2) if this is not allowed and a breach of my F-1 Visa, what do I do now, can I return it somehow?
