Savanna Hoffman
International students in the United States can work off-campus in optional practical training (OPT) status during and after their degree. Students with F-1 status can gain practical work experience related to their major field of study for up to 12 months. To qualify for CPT employment, the work experience must be required for their degree or academic credit must be awarded. Students must have been enrolled in school full-time for one year on valid F1 status. They can also work for a contractually affiliated company, such as a school bookstore. However, an F-1 student cannot work for a construction company, even if the job site is on campus.
Can international students have two jobs?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Student visa type | F-1, M-1, J-1 |
| Work type | On-campus, off-campus |
| Work authorisation | Designated School Official (DSO), USCIS |
| Work duration | 12 months full-time CPT, OPT |
| Work conditions | Related to the area of study, economic need |
| Work eligibility | Enrolled full-time, valid F1 status |
| Work limitations | 20 hours a week, no construction work |
| Work opportunities | CPT, OPT, O-1 status |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
F-1 students and off-campus employment
International students on F-1 visas are permitted to work on-campus, provided the work is for the school or a company that contracts with the school to provide services to students. For instance, an F-1 student can work in a school bookstore or cafeteria, but only if the work directly provides services for students.
F-1 students are not permitted to work off-campus during their first academic year. After the first year, they may engage in three types of off-campus employment:
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
- Optional Practical Training (OPT)
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training Extension (OPT)
To qualify for off-campus employment, students must demonstrate that on-campus employment is unavailable or insufficient to meet their financial needs, which may arise from unexpected circumstances. F-1 students must also have their off-campus employment authorized by a Designated School Official (DSO) and USCIS prior to starting work. The DSO must verify that the student qualifies for off-campus employment by entering the employment information in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
In the case of special global circumstances, such as wars or economic downturns, the US government may allow students from affected countries temporary benefits, including the ability to apply for off-campus employment. This practice is called Special Student Relief (SSR), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will issue a notice in the Federal Register with timelines and details of the benefits.
F-1 students must also be aware of certain restrictions and requirements when seeking employment. For example, they must be enrolled as full-time students, be proficient in English, and have sufficient funds for self-support during their studies. Additionally, any off-campus training employment must be related to their area of study.
International Students: Filing Canadian Taxes
You may want to see also
Explore related products
On-campus work for F-1 students
International students in the US with an F-1 visa are permitted to work off-campus in optional practical training (OPT) status during and after completing their degrees. However, on-campus employment is the most freely available option for F-1 students and does not require USCIS approval.
F-1 students can work up to 20 hours per week during school terms and full-time during holidays and vacation periods if they intend to register for the next academic semester. However, they must ensure that their on-campus employment does not displace a US citizen or lawful permanent resident.
F-1 students can work for their school directly or for companies that contract with their school to provide services to students. For example, an F-1 student can work for a school bookstore or cafeteria, but not for a construction company, even if the job site is on campus.
Before changing jobs, F-1 students must talk to their DSO to ensure that the new position qualifies as on-campus employment and that their SEVIS record is updated. They may also need to inform the DSO before starting their first on-campus job.
F-1 students can continue their on-campus employment if they finish one program and start another at the same campus, provided they plan to enrol in the new program for the next term.
International Students: Minority Status and Its Complexities
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Emergent circumstances and F-1 students
F-1 students are nonimmigrants who are enrolled in academic, language-training, or vocational programs in the United States. Emergent circumstances are unforeseen world events that affect a specific group of F-1 students and cause them to suffer severe economic hardship. These events include natural disasters, wars, military conflicts, and international financial crises.
In response to emergent circumstances, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may provide special benefits to eligible F-1 students, including an emergent circumstances determination and temporary protected status (TPS). An emergent circumstances determination allows for the suspension or alteration of regulatory requirements related to the full course of study, on-campus employment, off-campus employment, and duration of status. F-1 students experiencing severe economic hardship due to emergent circumstances may be granted Special Student Relief (SSR), which suspends certain regulatory requirements.
To be eligible for SSR, F-1 students must demonstrate that they were lawfully present in the United States as F-1 students on the date of the Federal Register notice and that they are enrolled in a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). They must also show that they are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the emergent circumstances specified in the notice. The Secretary of Homeland Security may suspend the duration of status, full course of study, and on-campus and off-campus employment regulatory requirements for F-1 students under SSR.
To engage in off-campus employment, F-1 students must first obtain authorization from USCIS by filing Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," and demonstrating that the employment is necessary to avoid severe economic hardship. This authorization is typically granted for one year, but it may be extended by the Secretary of Homeland Security. During this period, F-1 students are limited to working a maximum of 20 hours per week, unless they can demonstrate to their Designated School Official (DSO) that additional work is necessary due to emergent circumstances. In such cases, the DSO must endorse the student's Form I-20, referencing the Federal Register notice that announced the emergency exception.
International Students Driving in Canada: What's the Deal?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Students must maintain a full course of study even when CPT is authorized. CPT is available on a part-time or full-time basis, with full-time employment defined as more than 20 hours of work per week. Students must be enrolled full-time or have an approved Reduced Course Load (RCL) during the fall and winter terms. CPT authorization is required for training inside the United States, but not for training outside the country, such as a summer internship in the student's home country.
To apply for CPT, students must take the CPT Certification Course and obtain a certificate. They should then discuss their CPT plans with their Academic or Faculty Advisor and obtain a Detailed Training Description. If the advisor believes the training is integral to the curriculum, they may recommend CPT by completing the Academic/Faculty Advisor Recommendation Form. Students must then gather all the required documents and submit their CPT application through the designated portal.
DSOs (Designated School Officials) must authorize CPT in accordance with school policies. They can view CPT information in four locations in the student's record: the Student Lists page, Employment Information page, Current Requests/Authorization Details page, and Event History page. DSOs can cancel CPT authorization before the start date and edit the end date after authorization.
Staying in the US: Options for International Students Post-Graduation
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)
F-1 students can apply for up to 12 months of post-completion OPT employment authorization. This allows them to work in positions related to their degree for a maximum of 40 hours per week. However, if a student has already utilized their full entitlement of pre-completion OPT, their post-completion OPT entitlement will be reduced accordingly. For example, if a student has received one year of full-time pre-completion OPT, they will not be entitled to any period of post-completion OPT.
Students must follow a specific process to apply for post-completion OPT. They must first request a recommendation from their Designated School Official (DSO) by having them endorse their Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status." The DSO will also make the appropriate notation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). After receiving the DSO's recommendation, students must submit Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," along with the required fee and supporting documentation, to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS will review the application, and if approved, they will issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Students must not commence their OPT before receiving their EAD and ensuring the start date has been reached.
It is important to note that students authorized for post-completion OPT are expected to be employed. A student can be unemployed for a maximum of 90 days during their OPT, after which their authorization may be terminated. Additionally, if a student transfers to another school or begins studies at a higher level, their OPT employment authorization will automatically terminate. However, as long as the student maintains their F-1 status and complies with the requirements, their F-1 status will not be affected by the termination of their OPT authorization.
International Students: Getting Car Insurance in a Foreign Country
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
International students in the US with an F1 visa are permitted to work off-campus with optional practical training (OPT) status during and after their degree. However, this requires prior authorization from the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and the student's school International Student Office.
CPT, or Curricular Practical Training, is a type of work authorization that allows F-1 students to gain practical training in their academic field. To qualify for CPT, the work experience must be required for the degree or academic credit must be awarded. Prior authorization from the school's International Student Office and notification to the USCIS are also required.
F-1 students must talk to their DSO (Designated School Official) before changing jobs to ensure that the new position qualifies as on-campus employment. The DSO will also need to update the student's SEVIS record with the correct employment information.
