Working As An International Student: Summer Opportunities

International students on an F-1 visa are permitted to work during the summer, but there are several rules and requirements that must be followed. The ability to work is dependent on the type of visa, the student's academic program, and whether the work takes place on or off campus. Students must also ensure they do not exceed the maximum number of hours they are authorized to work per week.

Working in the US as an international student

International students in the US can work, but there are restrictions depending on their immigration status. Most international students in the US hold an F1 visa, which is a non-immigrant student visa. F1 students are allowed to work in the US, but only under certain conditions and in accordance with complex guidelines and restrictions issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).

On-campus employment is the most freely available option for F1 students. They can work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week during the school term and up to 40 hours per week during the school vacation. Students in valid F1 status can also work off-campus in optional practical training (OPT) status both during and after their degree. OPT employment requires prior authorization from USCIS and the student's school International Student Office. Students can apply for OPT after being enrolled for at least nine months, but they cannot begin employment until they have been enrolled for at least a year.

F1 students can also participate in curricular practical training (CPT), which is a full-time or part-time training opportunity during the school year or summer vacation. CPT can be authorized by a designated school official (DSO) but must be part of the student's academic program and be integral to their major field of study. CPT may be a paid or unpaid internship, cooperative education job, practicum, or other experience related to the student's field of study.

International students can also take part in the Summer Work and Travel Program, which is offered under the J-1 visa. Students can live and work in the US for up to four months during their summer or winter vacation, and they must return to their home country to continue their studies afterward.

Working in Canada as an international student

International students in Canada are allowed to work off-campus without a work permit, provided they meet certain requirements. These include being a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI) and having a valid study permit. Students can work up to 24 hours a week without a work permit, and this limit helps them focus on academics while allowing some work. During the summer, students on an academic break can work unlimited hours. This is because the summer months are considered a "scheduled break" unless an international student chooses or has to take classes during this period.

If you are an international student in Canada and want to work during the summer, you should start by understanding the work hours policy and eligibility requirements. You can work off-campus without a work permit if you meet the requirements, or you can apply for a co-op permit if you want to work an internship or co-op placement. You will also need to set up a Canadian bank account and consider factors such as international transaction fees and monthly fees. Additionally, your post-secondary institution will have resources and offices you can access to learn more about working as an international student in Canada.

It is important to note that you must be a full-time student both before and after the break to work full-time during the summer. Your employer must also follow all provincial laws on overtime pay and time between shifts. If you work more than 24 hours per week, you will be violating your study permit conditions and may lose your student status.

If you are in your last semester and do not need a full course load to complete your program, you can work off-campus without a work permit. You can also apply to change the conditions of your permit if you switch to a study program that allows you to work off-campus.

Canada's Post Graduation Work Program (PGWP) provides a path for international students to gain permanent residence. If your program was eight months to two years long, the length of your PGWP will match your program length. If it was longer than two years, you may qualify for a three-year work permit.

Understanding F-1 student visas

The F-1 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows individuals to enter the United States as full-time students at accredited academic institutions. To be eligible for an F-1 visa, several criteria must be met:

• Enrolment in an "academic" educational program, a language-training program, or a vocational program.
• The chosen school must be approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program, Immigration & Customs Enforcement.
• Enrolment as a full-time student at the chosen institution.
• Proficiency in English or enrolment in courses leading to English proficiency.
• Sufficient funds to support oneself during the entire duration of the course.
• Maintenance of a residence abroad with no intention of giving it up.

F-1 students are not permitted to work off-campus during their first academic year but may accept on-campus employment under certain conditions. After the first academic year, F-1 students can engage in three types of off-campus employment: Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), and the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) OPT extension. CPT is a training opportunity available during the school year or summer vacation that must be authorized by a Designated School Official (DSO) and be integral to the student's major field of study. OPT refers to temporary employment directly related to the student's area of study, for which authorization must be obtained from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The STEM OPT extension allows F-1 students to work off-campus for a longer period in STEM fields.

F-1 students experiencing economic hardship may also seek authorization to work full-time during the summer vacation in off-campus jobs. Additionally, F-1 students are eligible to receive authorization to work full-time or part-time on-campus during the summer break. It is important to note that any off-campus employment for F-1 students must be authorized by the DSO and USCIS before starting work.

How to get a work permit

International students can work during the summer, but the process for doing so varies by country and student status. Here is some information on how to get a work permit as an international student.

Canada

If you are an international student in Canada, you can work off-campus without a work permit under certain conditions. You must be a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI) and be working during a scheduled break, such as the summer holidays. During these breaks, you can work an unlimited number of hours. However, you must ensure that you are a full-time student both before and after the break. Additionally, your employer must follow provincial laws on overtime pay and time between shifts.

If you wish to work off-campus during your studies rather than just during breaks, you may need a work permit. You can apply to change the conditions of your study permit if you switch to a study program that allows off-campus work. There is a fee for making this change, and you must apply for it before applying for a Social Insurance Number (SIN), which is required to work in Canada.

United States

In the United States, F-1 students can work, intern, or train during the summer, but they must first speak with their Designated School Official (DSO) to ensure they follow the correct procedures and maintain their student status. F-1 students may be eligible for pre-completion or post-completion optional practical training (OPT), which must relate to their major field of study. To receive authorization for pre-completion OPT, students must file a Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Summer internships, whether paid or unpaid, typically require authorization. F-1 students may also be eligible to work off-campus due to special circumstances, such as severe economic hardship.

To work in the United States, international students generally need an F-1 Visa (Academic Student) or an M-1 Visa (Vocational Student). F-1 students cannot work off-campus during their first academic year but can accept on-campus employment. After the first year, they may engage in off-campus employment, including STEM OPT. Any off-campus employment must be authorized by the DSO and related to the student's area of study.

Please note that the requirements and procedures for obtaining a work permit as an international student may change, and it is essential to refer to the official government sources for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

Working off-campus

International students in Canada are allowed to work off-campus for up to 24 hours per week without a work permit, provided they meet other requirements. These include being a full-time student at a designated learning institution, having a valid study permit, and being in the last semester of your study program. You can work more than one job to make up the 24 hours per week, but you must continue to meet the conditions of your study permit. During scheduled breaks, such as the summer holidays, you can work an unlimited number of hours.

In the United States, international students with an F-1 visa are generally not allowed to work off-campus. However, there are some circumstances in which off-campus employment is authorized. These include:

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT): This is a type of temporary work that is directly related to your major area of study. It can be a paid or unpaid internship, cooperative education job, practicum, or other experience that is related to your field of study. CPT must be authorized in advance by the Office of International Education, and students must arrange to receive academic credit during the employment period.
• Optional Practical Training (OPT): OPT allows students to work in areas related to their major for up to one year either before or after graduation. To be eligible, students must have been enrolled for at least one academic year and have active F-1 status.
• Severe Economic Hardship Employment: This is available to students who have completed at least one academic year and can prove a severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond their control.

It is important to note that the rules and regulations for international student employment vary by country and even by state, so it is always best to check with the relevant government websites or consult an international student counselor for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Frequently asked questions