F1 Students: Teaching Beyond University Boundaries

International students in the US on an F-1 visa are allowed to work, but there are strict guidelines they must follow. F-1 students may not work off-campus during their first academic year, but they may accept on-campus employment, provided it does not displace a US citizen or lawful permanent resident. After the first academic year, F-1 students may engage in off-campus employment under certain conditions, such as economic hardship or special student relief. This includes part-time work while school is in session and full-time work during holidays and vacations. To be eligible for off-campus employment, F-1 students must have completed at least one full academic year of their program and meet specific criteria defined by the Department of Homeland Security.

F-1 students can work on-campus without needing US government authorization

F-1 visa holders can work on their school campus without needing to obtain US government authorization. However, there are several rules and regulations that must be adhered to.

Firstly, F-1 students must maintain valid F-1 status. Secondly, they may not displace a US citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) – in other words, the job must be one that is typically filled by students. Examples of jobs that would likely satisfy this requirement include working in the cafeteria, library, or bookstore, or working as a teaching or research assistant. A job as a secretary or janitor, on the other hand, would probably not.

On-campus employment is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session, and full-time during school vacations. F-1 students must also report their work and receive a certification letter to present to the Social Security Administration in order to receive a Social Security number.

It is important to note that F-1 students must obtain permission from their Designated School Official (DSO) before accepting on-campus employment, and they may not be permitted to work during their first semester or year.

In addition to on-campus employment, there are four types of off-campus employment that F-1 students may engage in: optional practical training (OPT), curricular practical training (CPT), severe economic hardship, and approved international organizations. However, off-campus employment requires authorization from either the DSO or the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Off-campus work is permitted in cases of severe economic hardship

Off-campus employment is only permitted for F-1 students in cases of severe economic hardship. This is defined as a financial condition caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control that make it difficult for them to continue their education in the United States.

Examples of unforeseen circumstances include:

• Loss of financial aid or on-campus employment (if the student is not at fault)
• Substantial increases in tuition or living costs
• Unexpected changes in the financial state of the student's source of financial support
• Large medical bills not covered by insurance
• A substantial decrease in the relative value of the currency the student depends on to pay expenses

To qualify for off-campus employment, the student must demonstrate why on-campus employment is unavailable or insufficient to meet their financial needs. They must also have been enrolled for at least one academic year, be in good academic standing, and be enrolled in a full course of study.

The process for applying for off-campus employment begins with the student asking the Designated School Official's (DSO) permission. The DSO will then enter their recommendation into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The student must then file a Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization", with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within 30 days of the DSO's endorsement. If the application is approved, the student will receive a Form I-766, "Employment Authorization Document", from USCIS and can begin working. Approval for off-campus employment is valid for one year.

It is important to note that F-1 students may not work off-campus during their first academic year.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of off-campus work that is an integral part of a student's curriculum

F-1 students may engage in three types of off-campus employment, one of which is Curricular Practical Training (CPT). CPT is defined as off-campus work that is an integral part of a student's curriculum and directly related to their major area of study. For example, if a student is studying psychology and their program requires them to work at a hospital or treatment facility to earn credit or fulfill graduation requirements, this would be considered CPT.

CPT is only available to students who have completed one academic year at the college level or above, except for those enrolled in graduate programs that require immediate participation in such training. Students in English-language-only programs are not eligible for CPT.

There are two types of CPT: required and optional. Required CPT is when the academic program mandates practical work experience for all students to graduate. Optional CPT is work experience directly related to the student's field of study but is not required. Students must have a job offer at the time of application, and CPT employment must not delay the completion of the academic program.

To be eligible for CPT, students must:

• Have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis while physically present in the US for one academic year (two full terms) with the same SEVIS record ID, unless their academic program requires immediate participation.
• Be in lawful F-1 status.
• Have approved health insurance.
• Not be enrolled in an intensive English language training program.

The CPT authorization process typically takes 1-2 weeks and requires the following documents:

• CPT Certificate.
• Academic/Faculty Advisor Recommendation Form.
• Detailed Training Description from the employer, including the job description, address, number of work hours, and start and end dates.
• Most recent Form I-94.
• Unofficial transcript showing CPT course enrollment.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a form of off-campus work that doesn't need to be part of a school's academic offerings

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a type of off-campus work permission available for eligible F-1 students. It allows students to gain real-world work experience related to their field of study. OPT is not required to be a specific part of a school's academic offerings, but it does need to be related to the student's major area of study.

To be eligible for OPT, students must:

• Maintain valid F-1 status at the time of application
• Be enrolled full-time for at least one full academic year in the U.S.
• Be physically present in the U.S. when the application is submitted

There are two types of OPT: pre-completion and post-completion. Pre-completion OPT can be used before the student's program end date and may be part-time or full-time. Post-completion OPT is used after the student's program end date and must be at least 20 hours per week or full-time. The total amount of OPT is 12 months, which can be split between pre-completion and post-completion.

Students can also apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT if they have a degree in certain Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, are employed by an employer enrolled in the E-Verify government program, and received an initial grant of post-completion OPT based on their STEM degree.

To apply for OPT, students must first request that their designated school official (DSO) recommend the OPT by endorsing their Form I-20. Then, they must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with the required fee and supporting documentation. Students must not begin working before their OPT is approved and they receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

International organization internships are another option for F-1 students

F-1 students are not permitted to work off-campus during their first academic year. However, they may undertake internships with international organisations as part of their off-campus employment.

International organisation internships are a viable option for F-1 students who have received an offer of employment with an international organisation that qualifies under the "International Organizations Immunities Act". These organisations are usually located in Washington, DC.

To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled as a full-time student in a degree program and hold F-1 status.
• Have a written offer for an internship position within the scope of a recognised international organisation.

The process of applying for an international organisation internship involves two steps. Firstly, students must obtain a recommendation from their university's international centre or office of international students and scholars in the form of an updated I-20. Secondly, they must apply to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by submitting Form I-765 for an Employment Authorisation Document.

The application process can be lengthy, with processing times of up to four months. Students must also be prepared to submit various documents, including their academic transcript, passport, visa, and proof of their internship offer.

It is important to note that F-1 students must maintain their full-time student status and make progress toward degree completion while interning part-time or full-time for the international organisation. Additionally, the time spent working for an international organisation does not affect their 12 months of optional practical training.

Frequently asked questions