Janice Lozano
International students often take up part-time jobs to support themselves financially and gain valuable work experience. The number of hours they can work per week depends on the country they are studying in and their visa status. For instance, in the US, F-1 students can work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week during classes and up to 40 hours per week when classes are not in session. In Canada, international students can work off-campus for up to 24 hours per week without a work permit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| International students in the US with F-1 status | Can work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week during classes, and up to 40 hours per week when classes are not in session |
| International students in the US with F-1 status | Can only work off-campus in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) |
| CPT | Can be paid or unpaid internships, cooperative education jobs, practicums, or other experiences related to the student's field of study |
| CPT | Requires authorization from the International Student Office |
| OPT | Optional Practical Training that allows students to work in areas related to their major for up to one year before or after graduation |
| OPT | Requires students to have been enrolled for at least one academic year and have active F-1 status |
| OPT | Students can accumulate a maximum of 90 days of unemployment while seeking employment |
| International students in Canada | Can work off-campus up to 24 hours per week without a work permit |
| International students in Canada | Can work unlimited hours during breaks, but must be full-time students before and after the break |
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What You'll Learn
- On-campus work: 20 hours a week during classes, 40 hours when classes are not in session
- Off-campus work: Requires authorization, with strict eligibility requirements
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT): Paid or unpaid internships, practicums, etc. related to your field of study
- Optional Practical Training (OPT): Work authorization for up to 12 months in areas related to your major
- Work permits: International students in Canada can work off-campus without a permit for up to 24 hours a week
On-campus work: 20 hours a week during classes, 40 hours when classes are not in session
International students in the US with an F1 visa are allowed to work, but only under certain conditions. On-campus work is the most freely available option for international students, and they can work up to 20 hours per week during classes and up to 40 hours per week when classes are not in session. Students can work multiple on-campus jobs, but the combined hours cannot exceed 20 per week during the school term.
On-campus employment is a privilege for F1 students, but opportunities are limited at most schools. Students must be enrolled full-time and maintain their F1 status to be eligible for on-campus work. They also need a Social Security number, which is used for taxation purposes, to get a job on campus.
After the first academic year, F1 students can undertake Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which is a required part of their school curriculum and relates to their major. CPT can be full-time with no hourly limit. It can be a paid or unpaid internship, cooperative education job, practicum, or other experience related to the student's field of study. Students must get CPT authorization from their International Student Office, and it will specify whether the employment is part-time (20 hours per week or less) or full-time.
Off-campus employment is only allowed under specific circumstances, such as Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Severe Economic Hardship Employment. Students must meet eligibility requirements and obtain official authorization to work off-campus.
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Off-campus work: Requires authorization, with strict eligibility requirements
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). On-campus employment is the most freely available option and does not require USCIS approval. However, off-campus work requires authorization and has strict eligibility requirements.
To be eligible for off-campus work, international students must have been enrolled for at least one academic year and have active F-1 student status. Additionally, the work must be related to their area of study and must be authorized by the Designated School Official (DSO) and USCIS prior to starting. This includes Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which must be an integral part of the student's degree program or a requirement for a course for which they receive academic credit. Students must have received a qualifying job offer in their major or field of study and must obtain CPT authorization from their International Student Office before starting work. CPT authorization specifies whether the student is approved for part-time (20 hours per week or less) or full-time employment.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is another form of off-campus work authorization that allows students to work in areas related to their major for up to one year before or after graduation. Students can apply for post-completion OPT up to 90 days before graduation, but it is recommended to apply at least 45 days in advance to ensure timely processing. Students on OPT are allowed to accumulate a maximum of 90 days of unemployment while seeking employment.
In cases of severe economic hardship, F-1 students may be eligible to work off-campus for up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and full-time during breaks. To qualify, students must have completed at least one academic year and demonstrate severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond their control, such as natural disasters, wars, or financial crises.
International students should carefully review the eligibility requirements and seek guidance from their International Student Office to ensure they comply with all necessary regulations and authorizations for off-campus work in the US.
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Curricular Practical Training (CPT): Paid or unpaid internships, practicums, etc. related to your field of study
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of work authorization that allows international students on F-1 visas to participate in paid or unpaid off-campus internships, practicums, and other work related to their field of study during their degree program. CPT is considered "curricular" and is therefore only approved for work directly related to a student's major field of study and important for their academic progress.
To qualify for CPT, a student's program must have an internship elective that contributes to the required credits to complete their degree, or a fieldwork/practicum requirement as part of the curriculum. Students must be in good academic standing (a minimum GPA of 3.0 for graduate students and 2.0 for undergraduate students) and have been enrolled in a full course of study for at least one academic year. Enrollment in an English language school or US high school does not count towards this requirement.
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. Students can work part-time on-campus and full-time CPT simultaneously. However, very few graduate programs allow for full-time CPT during the fall or spring semesters. Students must receive prior approval for CPT, and the work experience must be related to their academic program. CPT is tied to a specific employer and job with a set duration, and students must have a US-based employer with a physical address to be eligible.
Students must maintain a full course of study even when CPT is authorized, and they must successfully complete all internship courses to be eligible for current and future CPT authorizations. CPT can be authorized on a per-semester basis only, and students must keep all original copies of CPT I-20s for future USCIS applications.
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Optional Practical Training (OPT): Work authorization for up to 12 months in areas related to your major
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a type of temporary work authorization for international students in the United States with an F-1 visa. OPT allows students to work for up to 12 months in areas directly related to their major field of study. This can be done before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after (post-completion), but the total period of OPT cannot exceed 12 months. Students must be enrolled full-time for one academic year and have active F-1 status to be eligible for OPT.
For pre-completion OPT, students can work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) or full-time (up to 40 hours per week) while also studying. If a student has already received one year of part-time pre-completion OPT, their post-completion OPT will be reduced by six months. If they have received one year of full-time pre-completion OPT, they will not be entitled to any period of post-completion OPT.
Students can apply for post-completion OPT up to 90 days before graduation, but it is recommended to apply at least 45 days in advance. During this time, students are allowed to accumulate a maximum of 90 days of unemployment while seeking employment. After graduation, there is a 60-day "grace period" for students to prepare to leave the United States or apply for post-completion OPT to continue working.
Students interested in OPT should first request a recommendation from a Designated School Official (DSO) at their academic institution. The DSO will endorse the student's Form I-20 and make the appropriate notation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The student must then file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with the required fee and supporting documentation. It is important to note that students cannot begin their OPT before receiving approval and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
Additionally, F-1 students who have earned degrees in certain Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields may be eligible for a 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT. To qualify, students must meet specific requirements, including having previously obtained STEM degrees from accredited institutions.
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Work permits: International students in Canada can work off-campus without a permit for up to 24 hours a week
International students in the United States can work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week when classes are in session and up to 40 hours per week when classes are not in session. However, international students with an F-1 visa are not eligible for off-campus employment without meeting eligibility requirements and obtaining official authorization.
In Canada, international students with a valid study permit may be authorized to work off-campus for up to 24 hours a week without a work permit if their school participates in an off-campus work permit program through Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Additionally, international students in Canada can pursue various paths to obtain work permits, including co-op and internship programs, post-graduate work permits, and work permits for spouses of foreign students. However, recent changes in immigration policies aim to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada, which may result in limited work permits for international students and their spouses.
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Frequently asked questions
International graduate students in the US can work up to 20 hours per week during the school term. During holidays and school breaks, they may work more than 20 hours per week. Students with an F-1 visa who are enrolled in school, maintain their status, and follow the guidelines for on-campus employment may continue to work.
CPT stands for Curricular Practical Training. It is employment that trains international students in their field of study, and for which they fulfill academic credit or part of their degree requirement. CPT can be paid or unpaid and can be part-time (20 hours per week or less) or full-time (more than 20 hours per week).
OPT stands for Optional Practical Training. It is work authorization that allows international students to work in areas related to their major for up to one year before or after graduation. OPT can be full-time or part-time, but the total amount of full-time OPT is reduced by half the amount of part-time work.
To get an SSN, you need to complete an online application and then take your original documents to the local Social Security Administration Office. The required documents include your passport, F-1 visa, I-94 number, and Form I-20.
