Lori Meadows
International students in the United States on an F1 visa are permitted to work off-campus in certain circumstances. To be eligible for off-campus employment, students must have remained enrolled for at least one academic year and be in good academic standing. They must also demonstrate that they are unable to secure on-campus employment or that the pay from on-campus employment is insufficient to meet their financial needs. Off-campus employment for international students typically falls into two categories: Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). CPT is a form of paid or unpaid internship or practicum that is directly related to the student's field of study and fulfills academic credit or degree requirements. OPT, on the other hand, allows students to work in areas related to their major for up to one year before or after graduation. It is important to note that international students must obtain proper work authorizations and comply with visa regulations when seeking off-campus employment in the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Visa type | F-1, J-1, M-1 |
| Visa status | Non-immigrant |
| Work type | On-campus, off-campus |
| Off-campus work requirements | Must be related to the student's area of study, must be authorized by the Designated School Official and USCIS |
| On-campus work hours | Up to 20 hours per week during the academic year |
| Off-campus work hours | Up to 20 hours per week during the academic year |
| On-campus work hours during breaks | Up to 40 hours per week |
| Off-campus work hours during breaks | Up to 40 hours per week |
| Off-campus work eligibility | Must have remained enrolled for at least one academic year, in good academic standing, and have a demonstrated inability to secure on-campus employment or insufficient pay from on-campus employment |
| Off-campus work authorization | Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), or severe economic hardship |
| CPT eligibility | Must be enrolled full-time for one year on valid F-1 status (except for graduate students where the program requires immediate CPT), must be an integral part of the degree program or a requirement for a course for which academic credit is received |
| OPT eligibility | Must be related to the student's field of study, can be before or after graduation (pre-completion OPT or post-completion OPT) |
| OPT duration | Up to one year |
| OPT eligibility after CPT | Working full-time on CPT for 12 months or more makes a student ineligible for OPT |
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What You'll Learn
F-1 visa holders can work off-campus under specific conditions
International students in the US on an F-1 visa are permitted to work off-campus in optional practical training (OPT) status both during and after completion of their degree. However, this is subject to certain conditions and restrictions.
Firstly, F-1 students must have completed their first academic year and must be in good academic standing. They must also show that they have suffered a severe economic hardship due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control, such as the loss of financial aid or on-campus employment, and that they are unable to secure on-campus employment or that the pay is insufficient to meet their financial needs. The off-campus employment must be authorised by the student's Designated School Official (DSO) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DSO will provide the student with a Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status", and the student must file a Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization", and pay a fee to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
F-1 students can also work off-campus through Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which is when the practical training is an integral part of the established curriculum or academic program. To qualify, the work experience must be required for the student's degree, or academic credit must be awarded. Prior authorisation by the school's International Student Office and notification to the USCIS is required. CPT employment is limited to a specific employer and specific dates and can be either part-time (20 hours per week or less) or full-time (more than 20 hours per week).
It is important to note that F-1 students must ensure that their off-campus employment complies with federal laws and regulations and that they have received clearance from their International Student Office.
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Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
International students in the United States on an F1 visa are permitted to work off-campus in optional practical training (OPT) status during and after completing their degrees. However, this is subject to certain conditions and restrictions set by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). One such option is Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
To apply for CPT, students must first take the CPT Certification Course and save their certificate as a PDF. They must then speak with their company or employer and obtain a Detailed Training Description. Next, they should meet with their Academic or Faculty Advisor to discuss their CPT plans and show them the Detailed Training Description. If their advisor believes the training is integral to their curriculum, they may recommend them for CPT by completing the Academic/Faculty Advisor Recommendation Form. The student's advisor may also help them enrol in a Registrar-designated CPT course (if applicable). The student must then gather all the required documents and submit them via the M-Passport portal. An International Student and Scholar Advisor will review the CPT application.
CPT authorization is only required when the training takes place inside the United States. For example, a summer internship in a student's home country does not need CPT authorization. Once a student receives CPT authorization, they can only work for the specific employer and for the specific dates authorized. CPT authorization will specify whether the student is approved for part-time (20 hours per week or less) or full-time (more than 20 hours per week) CPT employment. While in school, students can only be approved for part-time CPT. There is no limit to how long a student can work on CPT, but if they work full-time for 12 months or more, they are not eligible for OPT.
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Optional Practical Training (OPT)
International students in the US on an F1 visa are permitted to work off-campus in Optional Practical Training (OPT) status. OPT is a type of work permission available for eligible F-1 students, allowing them to gain real-world work experience related to their field of study.
To be eligible for OPT, students must meet several requirements. Firstly, they must have been enrolled in school full-time for at least one academic year and be in good academic standing. Secondly, they must demonstrate that on-campus employment opportunities are insufficient to meet their financial needs or are unavailable. Finally, their proposed employment must be directly related to their major area of study, and they must not have used all their available optional practical training at their current level of study.
The OPT application process involves several steps and requires the submission of specific forms. Students must first obtain a recommendation from their Designated School Official (DSO) and then submit Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," along with a filing fee to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS will review the application and issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) if it is approved. Students must not begin working before the start date on their EAD and must comply with federal regulations during their OPT.
It is important to note that OPT authorization can end one year after issuance or upon completion of the program, whichever comes first. Additionally, transferring to another school or beginning studies at a different educational level will result in the termination of OPT employment authorization. Students should carefully consider these factors when planning their OPT and ensure they comply with all requirements to maintain their student status and work authorization in the US.
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Severe economic hardship
International students in the US on an F1 visa are permitted to work off-campus in cases of severe economic hardship. To qualify for off-campus employment under these circumstances, students must meet several requirements and gain approval from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Firstly, students must have been enrolled in an academic program for at least one full academic year and be in good academic standing. They must also be unable to secure on-campus employment or prove that the pay from available on-campus employment is insufficient to meet their financial needs.
Secondly, the economic hardship must be caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control. This could include the loss of financial aid or on-campus employment (if the student is not at fault), substantial changes in the exchange rate or value of the currency upon which the student depends, unexpected changes in the financial state of the student's source of support, medical bills, or other substantial and unexpected expenses.
To apply for off-campus employment due to severe economic hardship, students must submit a Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization", along with a fee to USCIS. They must also provide a Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, endorsed by a Designated School Official (DSO) to confirm their eligibility for off-campus employment.
It is important to note that off-campus employment authorization under severe economic hardship ends one year after issuance or upon completion of the academic program, whichever comes first.
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Off-campus work authorization
International students in the United States on an F-1 visa are permitted to work off-campus in optional practical training (OPT) status both during and after the completion of their degree. However, off-campus work authorization is subject to strict rules and regulations.
Eligibility
To be eligible for off-campus work authorization, F-1 students must meet the following requirements:
- They must have been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year, maintain valid F-1 status, and be in good academic standing.
- They must demonstrate that new, unexpected circumstances beyond their control have resulted in severe economic hardship, such as the loss of financial aid or on-campus employment, provided they are not at fault.
- They must be unable to secure on-campus employment, or the pay from available on-campus employment must be insufficient to meet their financial needs.
Application Process
To apply for off-campus work authorization, eligible F-1 students must:
- Obtain a Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status," endorsed by their Designated School Official (DSO) to confirm their eligibility for off-campus employment.
- File a Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and pay the associated fee.
- Receive authorization from the USCIS prior to starting any off-campus employment.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Another option for off-campus employment is Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which is available when the practical training is an integral part of the student's curriculum or academic program. CPT may include internships, cooperative education, or other experiences related to the student's field of study. Prior authorization from the school's International Student Office and notification to the USCIS are required for CPT.
Limitations and Considerations
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Frequently asked questions
International students in the US can work off-campus in certain circumstances. Students with an F-1 visa can work off-campus if they have been enrolled for at least one academic year and are in good academic standing. They must also show that unexpected circumstances beyond their control have led to a severe economic hardship. Students with a J-1 visa may also be able to work off-campus depending on their exchange program's rules.
There are four categories of off-campus employment for international students in the US: Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), emergent circumstances, and severe economic hardship. CPT is a paid work experience that is required for your degree or for which you receive academic credit. OPT is a type of temporary work authorization related to your field of study.
To get authorization to work off-campus, international students must first seek guidance from their International Student Office and get clearance from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). They must then file a Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization", and pay a fee to USCIS.
