Janice Lozano
International students in the United States on an F1 visa are allowed to work but only under certain conditions and in accordance with complex guidelines and restrictions. Students must first obtain an internship offer with an international organization and then apply for an Employment Authorization Document with USCIS. There are several categories of employment during the term of an F1 student's stay in the United States, including on-campus employment and four categories of off-campus employment. On-campus employment is the most freely available option and does not require USCIS approval. However, although F1 status includes an on-campus employment privilege, on-campus employment opportunities at most schools are limited. Off-campus employment is only available to F-1 students who have completed at least one full academic year of their program and who have an economic hardship that qualifies for the Department of Homeland Security's emergent circumstances.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Visa | F-1, M-1, H-1B, B-1/B-2 |
| Visa Requirements | Enrolled in an academic, language-training, or vocational program, proficient in English, sufficient funds for self-support, and maintaining a residence abroad |
| On-Campus Employment | Allowed for up to 20 hours per week, must not displace a U.S. resident, and may not be available in the first semester or year |
| Off-Campus Employment | F-1 students must complete one full academic year and face economic hardship or special circumstances; M-1 students can engage in practical training only after completing their studies |
| Optional Practical Training (OPT) | Available during and after studies, requires prior authorization, and is permitted for up to 12 months full-time |
| Curricular Practical Training (CPT) | Available for up to 12 months full-time, after which students become ineligible for OPT |
| Social Security Number | Required for all students who wish to work |
| Work Visa Process | Find an employer during OPT who will support a work visa application (H, L, O, or E visas) |
| Permanent Residence | Acquiring a green card is a long-term goal, as it may take years to obtain |
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What You'll Learn
Getting an F-1 visa
To study as a full-time student in the United States, you will need a student visa. The F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows international students to enter the US and study at institutions certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
Eligibility Criteria:
- You must be enrolled in an "academic" educational program, a language-training program, or a vocational program.
- Your school must be approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program, Immigration & Customs Enforcement.
- You must be enrolled as a full-time student at the institution.
- You must be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency.
- You must have sufficient funds available for self-support during the entire proposed course of study.
- You must maintain a residence abroad which you have no intention of giving up.
Application Process:
- Get accepted by a SEVP-certified institution before submitting your visa application.
- When you are accepted, you will receive your I-20 form, which you will need to apply for your F-1 visa.
- Pay your SEVIS fee.
- Complete your DS-160 visa application.
- Schedule your visa interview.
- Attend your visa interview.
Employment:
F-1 students may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions. After the first academic year, F-1 students may engage in three types of off-campus employment:
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT): Students who have engaged in 12 months or more of full-time CPT are not eligible for OPT. OPT is permitted for up to 12 months full-time in total.
- Optional Practical Training (OPT): F-1 students may be eligible to work off-campus in OPT status during and after the completion of their degree. OPT employment requires prior authorization from USCIS and your school's International Student Office.
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) OPT Extension: F-1 students may be eligible to work off-campus on a case-by-case basis due to special situations such as severe economic hardship.
Other Considerations:
- F-1 students must show an ability to afford the costs of school and living expenses before entering the United States and should not plan to work off-campus.
- For on-campus work, an F1 student can work full-time during holidays and vacation periods if they intend to register for the next academic semester.
- Employment must be directly related" to the student's major.
- Only aliens who have permission from DHS to work can apply for a Social Security number.
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On-campus employment
To be eligible for on-campus employment, you must have a valid F1 visa, which is the most common non-immigrant student visa in the US. To obtain an F1 visa, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be enrolled in an academic, language-training, or vocational program
- Attend a school approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program, Immigration & Customs Enforcement
- Be enrolled as a full-time student
- Be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency
- Have sufficient funds available for self-support during your studies
- Maintain a residence abroad, which you do not intend to give up
Before accepting on-campus employment, you will likely need to obtain permission from your school's International Student Office. Some schools may not permit international students to work on campus during their first year or semester.
As an international student with on-campus employment, you are subject to the following rules:
- You can work full-time during holidays and vacations, but only if you intend to return to school the next academic semester
- Your employment must not displace a US resident
- Your job does not have to be related to your field of study
- You may not engage in on-campus employment after completing your degree
- On-campus employment includes work performed directly for your school and on the school's premises, such as teaching or research assistant positions, or jobs in the university library, dining facilities, laboratories, and administrative offices
- On-campus employment also includes work for on-location commercial firms that provide services for students, and work at off-campus locations that are directly affiliated with the school
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Off-campus employment
F-1 students may not work off-campus during their first academic year. After the first academic year, F-1 students may engage in three types of off-campus employment: Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Severe Economic Hardship Employment, and Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Curricular Practical Training is an off-campus employment option for F-1 students when the practical training is an integral part of the established curriculum or academic program. CPT employment can be a paid or unpaid internship, cooperative education job, practicum, or other experience related to the student's field of study. To qualify, the work experience must be required for the student's degree, or academic credit must be awarded. Prior authorization by the school's International Student Office is required.
Severe Economic Hardship Employment is available to students who have completed at least one academic year and have proven a severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond their control, which arose after obtaining F-1 status. On-campus employment opportunities must also be insufficient or unavailable. Students must make an appointment with International Student Services to see if they are eligible.
Optional Practical Training is work authorization that allows students to work in areas related to their major for up to one year either before or after graduation. OPT employment can occur anywhere in the US, and students do not need a job offer to apply. However, when students do get a job, it must be directly related to their area of study. OPT applications can take 90-120 days to process, and there is a filing fee and a biometric fee.
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Applying for a Social Security Number
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 their degree. However, all OPT employment requires prior authorization from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and the student's school International Student Office.
To apply for a Social Security Number (SSN), you must first obtain valid employment authorization. F-1 students must provide evidence of lawful F-1 employment, such as an on-campus job or authorization for curricular practical training (CPT) or OPT. You can apply for an SSN in person at a local Social Security Administration office.
- Wait at least 2-3 weeks from your arrival in the U.S. before requesting an SSN.
- Obtain evidence of employment and valid F-1 employment authorization.
- Complete the social security application online.
- Gather the required documents, including:
- ISS On-Campus Employment Authorization/SSN Eligibility Letter
- I-94 card, or a copy of your J-1 admission stamp in your passport and a printout of your electronic I-94 information
- An employment offer letter from your department/hiring office (you can use the letter template provided by the Social Security Administration)
- Documentation for employment authorization from your ISS adviser or sponsoring agency
- Visit your local Social Security Administration office to show them your documents in person.
- When you submit your application, an SSA examiner will review your documents.
- Once your application is accepted, ask for an application receipt to show your employer that you have applied for an SSN.
- You can expect to receive your SSN within 4-6 weeks, although processing times may vary.
Please note that having an SSN does not grant you legal authorization to work in the U.S. You must have valid work authorization before applying for an SSN. Additionally, dependents in F-1 status are not eligible for an SSN.
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Getting a work visa
International students in the US on an F1 visa are allowed to work but only under certain conditions and according to specific guidelines and restrictions. Generally, all employment is contingent on remaining within the terms and restrictions of your F1 visa.
On-campus employment
On-campus employment is the most freely available option for F1 students. To be eligible, you must be enrolled as a full-time student and your school must be approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program. You can work up to 20 hours per week when school is in session and full-time during holidays and vacation periods. You must also apply for a Social Security Number (SSN).
Off-campus employment
Off-campus employment is only available to F1 students who have completed at least one full academic year of their program and who are experiencing economic hardship. There are three types of off-campus employment:
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT): CPT allows you to gain work experience during and after your course of study. To be eligible, you must have been enrolled for at least 9 months.
- Optional Practical Training (OPT): OPT is available to students both during and after completion of their degree. You can apply for OPT after being enrolled for at least 9 months, but you cannot begin employment until you have been enrolled for at least a year. OPT is permitted for up to 12 months full-time in total.
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) OPT Extension: An extension to your OPT that allows you to stay in the US legally after you graduate.
Work visas
If you are able to find an employer during your OPT who will support a work visa, you can apply for a permanent or temporary work visa. Temporary work visas include the H, L, O, and E visas, which allow you to work in the US temporarily. The H-1B visa is granted for an initial period of three years and can be extended for an additional three years. To qualify for this visa, your employer is required to initiate the visa process.
To apply for a work visa, you must first obtain permission from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to work and then apply for a Social Security number.
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Frequently asked questions
To work in the USA as an international student, you will need a nonimmigrant F1 visa. This is the most common visa for international students in the US. You will need to prove you can afford school and living expenses before entering the country.
On-campus employment is the most freely available type of work for F1 visa holders. You can work up to 20 hours per week when school is in session and full-time during holidays and vacations. You may also be able to engage in off-campus employment, but only after your first academic year and if you have an economic hardship that qualifies as an emergent circumstance.
You will need to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT). OPT is permitted for up to 12 months full-time and part-time OPT reduces the available full-time by half. You can apply for OPT after being enrolled for at least 9 months and receiving your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
