Ibrahim Gardner
International students in the US on an F-1 visa are allowed to work but only under certain conditions and in accordance with complex guidelines and restrictions issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). F-1 students may not work off-campus during their first academic year but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions. After the first academic year, F-1 students may engage in four types of off-campus employment: Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), severe economic hardship, and approved international organizations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Visa type | F-1 (Academic Student) |
| Who is it for? | Full-time students at an accredited college, university, seminary, conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, or other academic institution or in a language training program. |
| Requirements | Enrolled in a program or course of study that culminates in a degree, diploma, or certificate. School must be authorized by the U.S. government to accept foreign students. |
| Work eligibility | Allowed to work but only under certain conditions and in accordance with complex guidelines and restrictions issued by the USCIS. |
| On-campus employment | Most freely available and does not require USCIS approval. Students can work up to 20 hours per week during classes and up to 40 hours per week when classes are not in session. |
| Off-campus employment | Four sub-categories: OPT, CPT, severe economic hardship, and approved international organizations. Requires authorization prior to starting work. |
| OPT eligibility | Must be enrolled for at least one academic year and have active F-1 status. |
| CPT eligibility | Must be an integral part of the established curriculum or academic program and must be required for the degree or academic credit must be awarded. |
| Severe Economic Hardship Employment | Available to students who have completed at least one academic year and can prove severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond their control. |
| International Organization Employment | Must be on the official State Department list, e.g., Red Cross, African and Asian Development Banks, the World Health Organization. Requires a job offer and sponsorship from the organization. |
| Dependents | Spouses or children of F-1 visa holders can stay in the US on an F-2 visa but are not allowed to work. |
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What You'll Learn
On-campus employment
International students in the United States with an F-1 visa are allowed to work, but only under certain conditions and in accordance with complex guidelines and restrictions issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). On-campus employment is the most freely available option for F-1 visa holders.
To be eligible for on-campus employment, you must be in valid F-1 status, which means that you are enrolled and attending classes full time with satisfactory academic progress. While school is in session, you may work a maximum of 20 hours per week. This is the combined total for all employers, so if you have multiple jobs, you must be careful not to exceed this limit. During vacation periods, such as winter break, spring break, and summer vacation, you may work full-time on campus.
Work with an employer that is contractually affiliated with the school is also considered on-campus employment, even if the worksite is not located on campus, such as a research lab affiliated with your school. On-campus employment must not displace a US citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR).
To work on campus, you will need to complete several forms with the Human Resources Office on campus to show that you are eligible to work and in valid F-1 status. You will also need a Social Security Number (SSN) to get a job on campus. You can apply for an SSN at the Social Security Office with a letter from your employer stating the job title, work hours, start date, and rate of pay, along with a letter from your International Student Services Office confirming your eligibility to work, your passport, F-1 visa, and I-94 number.
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Off-campus employment: Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a 12-month work authorization available to F-1 international students who have been full-time students for at least two consecutive semesters and plan to seek employment in the United States in their fields of study. Students can apply for OPT by submitting an OPT request in SEVIS and filing Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization", with the required fee and supporting documentation. The OPT request in SEVIS cannot be pending for longer than 180 days, and students cannot change any information on the application after submission, except for their mailing address.
To be eligible for OPT, students must maintain their F-1 status, be seeking employment in their major field of study, and not have used all optional practical training available at their current level of study. The employment must be directly related to the student's major area of study and must be authorized by the Designated School Official (DSO) before starting work. The DSO will make the recommendation by endorsing the student's Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status", and entering the recommendation into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
During the 12-month OPT period, students are only allowed a cumulative total of 90 days of unemployment. Students must report their employment to the International Student Office and maintain their F-1 status by complying with all requirements, including obtaining fresh travel signatures every six months. Students can extend their OPT to apply for an H1-B visa if they are employed by companies enrolled in the E-Verify program and are studying specific subjects, including Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
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Off-campus employment: Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
F-1 students may engage in off-campus employment through Curricular Practical Training (CPT). CPT is a type of work authorization that allows F-1 students to participate in paid and unpaid off-campus internships and practicums during their degree program. CPT employment is defined as "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 the degree, or academic credit must be awarded. CPT employment must be directly related to the student's major area of study with a US-based employer. CPT is typically done on a part-time basis (up to 20 hours per week) during the school year and on a full-time basis during vacation periods.
To apply for CPT, students must submit the following:
- A completed CPT I-20 Request Form
- An internship offer letter for review by their Academic Advisor/Internship Coordinator
- A specific job/internship offer
- A Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status," signed within the last 30 days, certifying that the applicant is a bona fide F-1 student
- An Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
It is important to note that CPT authorization cannot be modified or changed retroactively after the employment start date. Students must also maintain a full course of study even when CPT is authorized.
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Off-campus employment: Severe Economic Hardship
F-1 students are allowed to work off-campus in cases of severe economic hardship. To qualify, students must meet the following criteria:
- The student must have been enrolled in an academic program for at least one full academic year, maintained good academic standing, and remained in F-1 status.
- The student must be unable to secure on-campus employment, or the pay from available on-campus employment must be insufficient to meet their financial needs. They must provide documentation to prove that on-campus employment opportunities are unavailable or insufficient.
- The student must demonstrate that working off-campus will not adversely impact their ability to attend school full-time and maintain academic standing.
- The severe economic hardship must be due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control, such as the loss of financial aid or on-campus employment (if the student is not at fault), natural disasters, wars, military conflicts, or international financial crises.
If a student meets these criteria, they can apply for off-campus employment authorization by submitting Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," along with a fee to USCIS. They will also need a Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status," endorsed by a Designated School Official (DSO) to indicate that the student qualifies for off-campus employment. The DSO must enter this information into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
It is important to note that off-campus employment authorization ends one year after issuance or upon completion of the program, whichever comes first. Additionally, off-campus employment must be related to the student's area of study and must be authorized by the DSO and USCIS prior to starting work.
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Off-campus employment: Approved International Organizations
F-1 visa holders are allowed to work in the United States, but only under certain conditions and in accordance with complex guidelines and restrictions issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Off-campus employment is one of the categories of employment available to international students in the US on F-1 visas. This category includes employment with a "recognized international organization." To qualify, an organization must be on the official State Department list. Examples of such organizations include the Red Cross, African and Asian Development Banks, the World Health Organization, and the World Trade Organization.
To be eligible for off-campus employment with an approved international organization, F-1 students must first obtain an internship offer with the organization. The internship does not have to be related to the student's course of study, and it can constitute up to 20 hours per week when school is in session or be full-time during periods of recess. The student must then work with the Designated School Official (DSO) and apply for an Employment Authorization Document with USCIS. The DSO will enter their recommendation into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and print the supporting Form I-20, which must be signed and given to the student.
The student must then submit the following documents to the USCIS Lockbox facility:
- Form I-20: Copy of the I-20 with the international organization recommendation from the DSO (pages 1-3)
- Employment offer: Copy of the offer letter from the international organization, including a description of the internship, dates of employment, place of employment, and number of hours per week
- Form I-765: Completed and signed
- Two recent photos meeting specification requirements
It can take up to 90 days to process the application. If approved, the student will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) and may begin employment according to the dates noted on the card. The off-campus employment authorization ends one year after issuance or upon completion of the program, whichever comes first.
It is important to note that F-1 students must show an ability to afford the costs of school and living expenses before entering the United States. USCIS will only authorize off-campus employment in cases of severe economic hardship occurring after the student has been in F-1 status for at least one full academic year or in emergent circumstances as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, international students in the US with an F-1 visa are allowed to work but only under certain conditions and in accordance with complex guidelines and restrictions issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
There are five types of employment available to F-1 visa holders: on-campus employment, and four sub-categories of off-campus employment: optional practical training (OPT), curricular practical training (CPT), severe economic hardship, and approved international organizations.
To be eligible for off-campus employment, students must have been enrolled for at least one academic year and have an active F-1 visa status. Off-campus employment must be related to the student's area of study and must be authorized by the Designated School Official (DSO) and USCIS prior to starting work.
