International Students: Part-Time Work Options In The Usa

International students in the USA on an F1 visa are generally allowed to work part-time on-campus for up to 20 hours per week during the school term and up to 40 hours per week during school breaks. Off-campus work is not usually an option for international students, but there are exceptions for those facing severe economic hardship or special circumstances. There are also programs like Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) that allow international students to gain experience in their field of study. CPT may be a paid or unpaid internship, while OPT allows students to work in areas related to their major for up to one year before or after graduation.

Can international students be part-time in the USA?

On-campus and off-campus jobs

International students in the US on an F1 Visa are allowed to work on-campus without additional work authorization, but they need to be enrolled in an academic program full-time. They can work up to 20 hours per week during the school term and more than 20 hours per week during periods when school is not in session or during the summer vacation before graduation. On-campus jobs are typically meant to support university operations, and students can work in the library, bookstore, or cafeteria.

F1 students can also work off-campus, but they need prior authorization from their school's International Student Office and notification to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Off-campus employment is only authorized in cases of severe economic hardship or special student relief. Students can work off-campus for up to 12 months full-time in total, and part-time work reduces the available full-time employment by half the amount of part-time work.

F-1 Visa requirements

International students who wish to study in the United States need to apply for an F-1 Visa (Academic Student). This is a non-immigrant visa that allows international students to enter the US and enrol as full-time students at institutions certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

• Institution certification: The college or university where you plan to study must be approved by the SEVP and Immigration & Customs Enforcement.
• Full-time enrolment: You must be enrolled as a full-time student at the institution while your academic term is in session.
• English language proficiency: You must meet the required English language proficiency score of the institution you are attending or be enrolled in courses that will help you improve your English proficiency.
• Sufficient funding: You must prove that you have sufficient funds available to finance your studies and living expenses while in the US.
• Valid passport: Your passport should be valid for US travel for at least six months after your program completion date.
• Home country residency: You are required to maintain a residence in your home country that you have no intention of giving up and will return to following the completion of your degree.
• Visa application: You must complete the DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Application form and schedule a visa interview at the nearest US embassy or consulate.
• Form I-20: Your school will send you this form once they have entered your information in the SEVIS database. You and your school official must sign the form.
• SEVIS fee: Although not always required, your school must issue you an individual Form I-20, which is necessary for your visa application.
• Interview: You must attend a visa interview and bring the required documentation, including your DS-160 confirmation page, passport, photo, and Form I-20.

Please note that these are general guidelines, and you should refer to the US government websites for the most up-to-date and comprehensive information on F-1 Visa requirements.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

International students on F-1 visas are permitted to work off-campus in the US in cases of severe economic hardship, special student relief, or curricular practical training (CPT). CPT is an off-campus employment option for F1 students when the practical training is an integral part of the established curriculum or academic program. CPT employment includes "alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school".

To qualify for CPT, the work experience must be required for your degree, or you must receive academic credit for it. You must have been enrolled in school full-time for one year on valid F1 status (except for graduate students where the program requires immediate CPT). CPT employment must be authorized by the Designated School Official (DSO) and the DSO must enter their recommendation into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The DSO should then print the supporting Form I-20, sign it, and give it to the student. The student must then apply for work authorization by filing a Form I-765 with USCIS and paying a filing fee.

CPT authorization will specify whether the student is approved for part-time (20 hours per week or less) or full-time employment (more than 20 hours per week). Students can only be approved for part-time CPT while they are in school. Regardless of whether CPT is full- or part-time, there is no limit to how long a student can work. However, if a student works full-time on CPT for 12 months or more, they are not eligible for OPT. Students who work part-time on CPT, or full-time CPT for less than 12 months, remain eligible for OPT.

Students with CPT are required to maintain a full course of study even when CPT is authorized. Students must also report changes in name, address, employer, and loss of employment to their DSO within 10 days of any change. CPT authorization is only required when the training is inside the United States.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

International students in the USA on an F-1 visa are required to be enrolled as full-time students. However, they may be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows them to gain valuable experience and build their professional networks. OPT is a type of temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student's major area of study. Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization, which can be used either before or after completing their academic studies.

There are two types of OPT: pre-completion and post-completion. To be eligible for pre-completion OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time for one full academic year at a college or university certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll F-1 students. The OPT employment can be part-time or full-time, and it can take place anywhere in the US. However, part-time OPT will reduce the available full-time OPT by half of the amount of part-time work. For example, if a student works part-time for six months, they can only work full-time for up to nine months.

Students can apply for OPT by filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), along with the required fee and supporting documentation. The student's Designated School Official (DSO) will also need to make a recommendation by endorsing their Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status," and entering the recommendation into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

It is important to note that OPT is not available to students who have already engaged in 12 months or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Additionally, if a student transfers to another school or begins studies at a higher level, their authorization to engage in OPT employment will automatically terminate.

OPT is particularly important for international students in STEM fields, as it allows them to gain work experience and build connections with potential employers while exploring their future immigration options. In FY 2023, over 270,000 students were authorized for post-completion OPT, with more than 120,000 additional students authorized for STEM OPT.

Social Security Numbers

To answer your first query, international students on an F-1 visa must be enrolled as full-time students at an accredited academic institution.

Now, here is some detailed information about Social Security Numbers for international students in the USA.

If you are an international student seeking a Social Security Number based on on-campus employment, you must submit a Social Security Letter Request to the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS). The OISS will issue a letter confirming your on-campus employment and full-time student status. This confirmation letter is not required if your employment is based on curricular practical training, optional practical training, international organisation employment, or severe economic hardship employment.

The OISS recommends that you do not apply for an SSN more than 30 days before the start of your employment, as applications may be rejected as too early. Once your application is accepted, you can expect to receive your SSN within 4-6 weeks.

You can apply for an SSN at any of the Social Security Card Centres, and there is no requirement to apply at the card centre in the borough where you live.

Frequently asked questions