Working At Different Universities: Options For F1 Students

F-1 students are eligible to work on their home campuses while studying in the US, and can begin working up to 30 days before the start of their program. However, there are strict guidelines that must be followed. F-1 students may work up to 20 hours per week during the school term and full-time during annual breaks. On-campus employment must take place either at the school or at an educationally affiliated off-campus location, and the work must directly provide services for students. F-1 students may also be eligible for off-campus employment, but only after completing at least one full academic year of their program and meeting certain eligibility requirements. Off-campus employment is typically only granted in cases of severe economic hardship or special student relief.

On-campus employment

F-1 students are eligible to work on-campus while studying in the US. This includes work that takes place on campus or at an off-campus location that is educationally affiliated with the school.

Eligibility

F-1 students with Active status in SEVIS may apply for on-campus employment. Students can begin working up to 30 days before the start of classes, but they must first talk to their Designated School Official (DSO) and get a letter of approval. A valid I-20 document serves as proof of work eligibility for on-campus employment.

Work Hours

F-1 students may not work more than 20 hours per week when school is in session. However, they may work full-time during school breaks and annual vacations. Graduate students with a teaching or research assistantship must also meet the 20-hour-per-week limit, and they must consult their primary ISS adviser about additional work authorization if they have an opportunity for additional employment on campus.

Job Types

Examples of on-campus employment include working at a university bookstore or cafeteria, or in an on-campus commercial business such as a food service company contracted by the school. It can also include work with an employer that is contractually affiliated with the school, such as a research lab, even if the work site is off-campus.

Restrictions

DSO Responsibilities

The DSO has several responsibilities with regards to on-campus employment, including counselling the student on the number of hours they may work, the need to maintain F-1 status, and tax and Social Security implications. The DSO must also provide the student with a letter certifying that the job qualifies as on-campus employment and that the student is in F-1 status, and keep records of the student's employment.

Termination of Employment Eligibility

Off-campus employment: Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a type of off-campus employment for F-1 students. It is a temporary employment opportunity directly related to an F-1 student's major area of study. Eligible students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). However, all periods of pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available period of post-completion OPT.

To be eligible for OPT, students must:

• Be enrolled full-time for at least one academic year in a degree program.
• Not have used 12 months of OPT for a previous degree at the same level.
• Not have used OPT at a higher degree level.
• Be present in the U.S. with a valid F-1 status at the time of application.

The OPT application process involves two steps:

• Obtain a recommendation from the school's Designated School Official (DSO) and receive an updated Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status."
• File Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," along with the required fee and supporting documentation, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

During OPT, students are required to work at least 20 hours per week in a job directly related to their field of study. They can work for multiple employers, provided that each position meets the required employment criteria. Additionally, students must report all employers directly in their SEVP Student Portal within 10 days of starting a new job. Failure to meet these reporting requirements may result in issues with their immigration status.

It is important to note that OPT is not employer-specific, and students do not need a job offer to apply. However, they must not begin working until they receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and the start date on the card has been reached.

Off-campus employment: Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

F-1 students are eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) when they meet the following requirements:

• Have active F-1 status.
• Have completed one year (three academic quarters) of full-time academic study in the U.S.
• Are making normal academic progress.
• Have obtained a job or internship offer letter by the time you request CPT.
• Are registered for CPT credits for the internship/job offer by the time you request CPT.

CPT is a benefit of F-1 status that permits off-campus training that is physically located in the U.S. and is closely and integrally related to the student's program of study. CPT will be approved only if it fulfills one of the following academic objectives:

• A course (credit or non-credit) offered in the Johns Hopkins University course catalog that will appear on the student's official transcript.
• An established JHU cooperative education (co-op) program.
• An internship or practicum that is required of all students in the program.
• An off-campus placement arranged by JHU to pursue graduate thesis or dissertation research that cannot be accomplished on campus, and is required to complete the degree program.

There are two types of CPT: required and optional. Required CPT is when the academic program mandates practical work experience for all students in order to graduate. Optional CPT is work experience directly related to your field of study that is not required.

To apply for CPT, students must first consult their academic advisor or department about CPT. They will need to discuss whether the work is related to their major and whether they meet the departmental requirements to participate in CPT. Students will also need to register for CPT credit to be authorized. This must happen before they submit their CPT request.

Once they have completed these steps, students can submit their CPT request. This will require the following details:

• Job offer letter and employment details.
• Start and end date of CPT employment.
• Name and contact information for the academic department approver.
• Proof of enrollment in CPT credit (if applicable).

After submitting their CPT request, students will receive approval and a CPT I-20. They cannot begin their work until they have been authorized and issued a CPT I-20.

Off-campus employment: Severe economic hardship

F-1 students may be eligible for off-campus employment if they are experiencing 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.

To qualify for off-campus employment under these circumstances, students must:

• Have been in F-1 status for one full academic year.
• Be in good academic standing.
• Be enrolled in a full course of study.
• Show that working will not adversely affect their ability to attend school full-time and maintain academic standing.
• Demonstrate severe economic hardship due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control.

Examples of unforeseen economic hardship include:

• Loss of financial aid or on-campus employment (if this is not the student's fault).
• Substantial increases in tuition or living costs.
• Substantial decrease in the relative value of the currency the student depends on to pay expenses.
• Unexpected changes in the financial conditions of the student's sources of financial support, such as the loss of a family business.
• Unexpectedly large medical bills not covered by insurance.
• Other substantial, unexpected expenses.

To apply for off-campus employment due to severe economic hardship, students must first explain their situation and receive approval from their Designated School Official (DSO). The DSO will then recommend the student and provide them with an updated Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status". Once the student has this form, they must file a Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization", with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within 30 days of receiving their recommendation. If approved, the USCIS will send the student a Form I-766, "Employment Authorization Document" (EAD), which will state the dates that the student may work off-campus.

Off-campus employment: Approved international organizations

F-1 students are allowed to work, but there are strict guidelines that must be followed. One of the five types of employment available to international students in the US is off-campus employment with approved international organizations.

To work with an approved international organization, F-1 students must first obtain an internship offer with a qualifying international organization. The internship must be based in the US and the organization must be a public international organization that falls within the International Organization Immunities Act, as defined in 22 U.S.C. § 288 59 Stat. 669. Some of the organizations that fall under this act include the Red Cross, African and Asian Development Banks, the World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization.

Once an internship offer has been obtained, the student must work with their Designated School Official (DSO) to apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The DSO will enter the employment information in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to verify that the student qualifies for off-campus employment. The DSO will then print and sign the Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status", and give it to the student. The student must then submit the Form I-20, along with the Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," to the USCIS.

In addition to the Form I-20 and Form I-765, the following documents are required as part of the application:

• Two passport-style photos
• Photocopy of I-94 card (front and back)
• Written certification from the international organization confirming that the employment is within the scope of their sponsorship
• Photocopy of passport identification page
• Photocopy of visa page
• Photocopies of any previously issued EAD cards

It is important to note that the Form I-765 should not be filed until the DSO has recommended off-campus employment in the student's SEVIS records and the student has received the updated Form I-20 with the off-campus employment recommendation. Filing the Form I-765 prematurely will result in the application being denied by the USCIS, and the student will have to reapply and pay the fee again.

The approval process for off-campus employment with an approved international organization can take between two to four months. If approved, the USCIS will issue an EAD for a maximum of one year. Students cannot begin working until they receive the EAD and must maintain a full course of study in F-1 status during their employment. This type of employment does not affect the student's eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT). However, employment authorization will be automatically terminated if the student fails to maintain F-1 status or transfers to another school.

Frequently asked questions