Lori Meadows
International students in the US on F1 visas have several options for working in the country. One of these options is Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows students to work for up to 12 months full-time. OPT can be done pre-completion or post-completion of a degree, and students can work for multiple employers, including short-term gigs and self-employment. To maintain legal F-1 OPT status, students must work a minimum of 20 hours per week, and they must submit employment information to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Portal. Students who have earned degrees in certain STEM fields can apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT employment authorization.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pre-completion OPT | |
| Work hours | 20 hours or less per week while school is in session; full time when school is not in session |
| Number of employers | No limit |
| Unemployment time | No limit |
| Post-completion OPT | |
| Work hours | 20 hours or more per week |
| Number of employers | No limit |
| Unemployment time | 90 days |
| STEM OPT | |
| Work hours | 20 hours or more per week |
| Unemployment time | 150 days |
| Employment type | Paid job |
| Employment duration | 24 months |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Pre-completion OPT
To be eligible for pre-completion OPT, students must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year at a college, university, conservatory, or seminary that has been certified by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll F-1 students. Students must also maintain their F-1 status, which includes not working on a terminated EAD, as this means the student is no longer authorized to work in the United States using that OPT EAD.
Students can work for multiple employers, including short-term gigs, self-employment, contract work, or work for hire, as long as the cumulative number of hours is within their authorized limit. Employment may be paid or unpaid as long as the unpaid work does not violate labor laws. Students must keep records of their employment, including job offer letters, agreements/contracts, job descriptions, pay vouchers or stubs, bank statements, tax forms, and employment agreements or contracts.
To apply for pre-completion OPT, students must file Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," within 30 days after the DSO OPT recommendation. The authorization process typically takes around 3 months but can take longer, and USCIS guarantees adjudicative action within 30 business days for forms filed with premium processing. Students should also sign up for the OPT Canvas course at least one semester before they graduate.
International Students: Federal Loans Availability
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Post-completion OPT
During the entire Post-Completion OPT period, students must submit employment information to the SEVP Portal. For the first 12 months, employment does not have to be paid, and students who are self-employed, interning, or volunteering in a position related to their academic field would be considered "employed." Students can work full-time during the OPT period, and they are allowed to accrue up to 90 days of unemployment during this 12-month period.
Students who have earned a degree in certain STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) can apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT employment authorization. To be eligible, students must meet specific requirements, including being employed by an E-Verify employer and having received an initial grant of post-completion OPT based on their STEM degree.
It is important to note that working in the United States without authorization can have serious consequences, including removal from the country and re-entry bars. Students should carefully review the requirements and maintain their student status by not working on a terminated EAD.
International Students: Working at Morgan Stanley
You may want to see also
Explore related products
STEM OPT extension
International students on an F-1 visa are allowed to work for a limited time under Optional Practical Training (OPT). The OPT program allows students to work in their field of study for up to 12 months after graduation. This is known as post-completion OPT. Students can also work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during their studies, which is called pre-completion OPT.
The duration of OPT depends on various factors, including the student's field of study and the type of employment. Students with degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields may be eligible for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT, known as the STEM OPT extension. This extension allows students with STEM degrees to gain additional practical training directly related to their field of study.
To be eligible for the STEM OPT extension, students must meet certain requirements. Firstly, they must have earned a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from a school accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized agency and certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The degree must be in a STEM field included on the STEM Designated Degree Program List. Additionally, students must be employed by an employer enrolled in and using E-Verify, and they must have received an initial grant of post-completion OPT employment authorization based on their STEM degree.
During the STEM OPT extension period, students are allowed a maximum of 150 days of unemployment. This includes 90 days of unemployment during the initial 12-month post-completion OPT period and an additional 60 days during the STEM OPT extension. Students must work a minimum of 20 hours per week per employer, and their employment must meet the requirements of a Form I-983 Training Plan.
It is important to note that the rules and regulations regarding OPT and STEM OPT extensions can change, and students should refer to the official websites and their academic institutions for the most up-to-date information.
Working International Students: Spring Break Work Hours Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Employment types
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student's major area of study. OPT employment must be directly related to the student's major field of study and commensurate with the degree level.
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). Pre-completion OPT can be authorized either part-time (up to 20 hours per week) or full-time (21 hours or more per week). It can be paid or unpaid training related to the student's major field of study. Students may work for multiple employers, including short-term gigs, self-employment, contract work, or work for hire, as long as the cumulative number of hours is within their authorized limit.
Post-completion OPT may be paid or unpaid as long as the unpaid work does not violate labor laws. Students may work for multiple employers, as long as the work is directly related to their program of study. Students such as musicians and other performing artists may work for multiple short-term employers (gigs) and must maintain a list of all gigs, dates, and durations. Students may also engage in work for hire, performing a service based on a contractual relationship rather than an employment relationship. Students may also start a business and be self-employed, but they must be able to prove that they have the proper business licenses and are actively engaged in a business related to their degree program.
Students with a degree in certain Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT. The requirements for work under STEM OPT are more restrictive than those for standard post-completion OPT. Employment must meet the requirements of a Form I-983 Training Plan, and students must be employed in a paid job related to their STEM major field by a qualified E-Verify employer. During STEM OPT, students are entitled to 60 calendar days of unemployment, plus the number of unemployment days remaining from the initial 90 calendar days allowed under standard post-completion OPT.
International Students in the US: Earning Income?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Maintaining F-1 status
To maintain their F-1 status, international students in the US must comply with immigration regulations and fulfil the purpose for which the Department of State issued their visa. This includes following the regulations associated with that purpose. F-1 students must enrol in an "academic" educational program, a language-training program, or a vocational program at a school approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program, Immigration & Customs Enforcement. They must also be enrolled as full-time students and be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency. Additionally, F-1 students must have sufficient funds to support themselves during their studies and maintain a residence abroad that they do not intend to give up.
F-1 students must complete at least one full academic year at an SEVP-certified school to be eligible for annual vacation. They must also intend to register for classes in the academic term following their annual vacation. During an annual vacation, F-1 students can take as many or as few courses as they like, or none at all. However, they may only work when authorized by a DSO or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Working without authorization will result in forced departure from the US and possible difficulties re-entering the country.
F-1 students may work on-campus part-time (no more than 20 hours per week) while school is in session and full-time during school vacations. Off-campus employment (paid or unpaid) is generally not permitted during the first academic year. After the first year of study, restricted off-campus employment authorization may be requested, which may require USCIS permission.
F-1 students can also participate in Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows them to work off-campus in positions related to their major field of study. OPT can be pre-completion or post-completion. During pre-completion OPT, students can work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) while school is in session and full-time when school is not in session. Post-completion OPT requires students to work part-time (at least 20 hours per week) or full time. For the first 12 months of post-completion OPT, employment does not have to be paid, and self-employment, internships, or volunteering in a field related to the student's academic field are considered "employment". Students who have earned a degree in certain STEM fields may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT employment authorization. However, during STEM OPT, students must adhere to more restrictive requirements, such as having paid employment related to their STEM major with a qualified E-Verify employer.
International Students: In-State or Out-of-State?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
An international student can work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) or full-time (21 hours or more per week) under pre-completion OPT.
An international student can work for up to 12 months full-time under post-completion OPT. This includes paid employment that is directly related to their major field of study.
Yes, students with a degree in certain STEM fields can apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT employment authorization.
