Lana Oconnell
International students in the US on an F-1 visa are classified as nonimmigrants and may be eligible to work off-campus after their first academic year. To do so, they must obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The EAD card number and expiration date must be entered under List A in Section 2 of Form I-9. If the EAD expires, employers must reverify the student's employment authorization using Supplement B. Students can also enter EAD EXT and the new expiration date (180 days from the original expiration date) in the Additional Information field. In some cases, employers may accept an EAD that appears to be expired.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Student type | F-1 nonimmigrant |
| Student status | In good academic standing |
| Employment type | Off-campus |
| Work authorization validity | One year |
| Work hours | Up to 20 hours per week while school is in session; full-time when school is not in session |
| Work authorization extension | Interim employment authorization if USCIS does not approve or deny Form I-765 within 90 days of receiving the application |
| Passport validity | At least six months after the date of entry or re-entry to the US |
| Visa type | F-1 visa |
| Visa validity | Must be valid to re-enter the US |
| Visa renewal | Allowed to renew while in the US or when returning home for a visit |
| Passport renewal | Delay leaving the US until the passport is renewed |
| CPT Employment End Date | Enter in Section 1 as the date employment authorization expires |
| Form I-20 | Must be endorsed by DSO recommending a STEM extension |
| Form I-765 | Must be filed with supporting documents and fees |
| Form I-9 | Must be completed with List A or List C documents |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
F-1 visa holders and work authorisation
International students in the US on F-1 visas are permitted to work off-campus in optional practical training (OPT) status during and after the completion of their degree. However, this requires prior authorization from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the student's school's International Student Office. Students can apply for OPT after being enrolled for at least nine months, but they cannot begin employment until they receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS and have been enrolled for at least a year.
To apply for an EAD, students must file a Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization", and pay a fee to USCIS. Students should file within 30 days of the Designated School Official (DSO) endorsing the Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status". USCIS can take up to 90 days to process the application, and employment authorization is valid for one year. Students must reapply if they wish to continue working off-campus after this period.
F-1 students can also work on-campus, but only after they have been enrolled for at least one academic year. On-campus work must take place either at the school or at an educationally affiliated off-campus location, such as a bookstore or cafeteria. Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is another option for F-1 students, where 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.
It is important to note that F-1 students must demonstrate the ability to afford school and living expenses before entering the US and should not plan to work off-campus. USCIS will only authorize off-campus employment in cases of severe economic hardship occurring after a student's enrollment or in emergent circumstances defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Hosting International Students: A Guide for Families
You may want to see also
Explore related products
M-1 visa holders and work authorisation
The M-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows foreign students to pursue vocational or technical courses in the United States. It is intended for students who want to enrol in vocational studies such as cooking classes, technical courses, mechanical classes, flight school, and cosmetology. To be eligible for an M-1 visa, students must be enrolled in a full course of non-academic study at a college, university, or conservatory in the U.S.
M-1 visa holders face strict restrictions on employment during their stay. They are generally not permitted to work off-campus and are limited to working only under specific conditions. To be allowed to work, M-1 visa holders must obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) by completing Form I-765 and obtaining approval from their designated school official. Employment authorisation will be granted for one month for every four months of full-time study completed, up to a maximum of six months.
M-1 visa holders can only work on-campus, part-time when school is open and full-time during breaks. Any off-campus training or employment must be directly related to their area of study and must be authorised in advance by the Designated School Official and USCIS. Additionally, M-1 visa holders must maintain their status by proving their financial stability and strong ties to their home country, as they are expected to return after completing their education.
It is important to note that the M-1 visa is a single-intent visa, meaning that holders cannot enter the U.S. with the intention of adjusting their status to an immigrant visa (Green Card). However, they can apply for an employment-based visa if it was not their initial intention to do so when they entered the U.S. The M-1 visa also allows for extensions under certain circumstances, such as educational or medical reasons, and there is no annual limit on the number of M-1 visas issued.
Social Security Number Options for International Students
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and OPT
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an alternative work/study, internship, co-op, or other type of required practical training offered by a sponsoring employer through cooperative agreements with a college or university. CPT must be integral to the student's program of study. To qualify for CPT, you must be an F-1 student and have completed one full academic year of study at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school. CPT can be full-time and is not restricted by a weekly 20-hour work limit. CPT authorization is only required when the training is inside the United States.
To apply for CPT, students must first obtain an internship offer and then work with the designated school official (DSO) to apply for an Employment Authorization Document with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The DSO must enter their recommendation into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and provide the student with a completed Form I-20. The student must then submit Form I-765 and supporting documentation. CPT employment authorization details, such as start and end dates, employment type, and employer details, should be included on Form I-20.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a form of often-paid training that directly relates to a student's program of study. OPT can be applied for during a student's program (pre-completion OPT) or after they finish their program (post-completion OPT). F-1 students on OPT receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with a validity of one year. To maintain F-1 status after the completion of a program or OPT, students can request to extend the period until the start of their H-1B status, which allows for temporary employment authorization in the US for up to six years.
To apply for OPT, students must submit Form I-765 and, upon approval, will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The EAD card number and expiration date are entered under List A of Form I-9. If the EAD expires while the student is employed, employers must reverify the student's employment authorization using Supplement B. If an F-1 student has an expired EAD and has filed an H-1B petition, they may be eligible for an automatic extension of their F-1 status and, in some cases, employment authorization (OPT) until September 30 of that year.
How Students in the USA Can Receive International Money Transfers
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Employment Authorisation Documents (EAD)
Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) are issued to eligible applicants when U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) fails to adjudicate an application within 90 days of receiving a properly filed application. An interim EAD is issued for a maximum of 240 days and is subject to the conditions noted on the document.
To request an EAD, you generally must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. You will need to apply for an EAD if you are authorized to work in the United States because of your immigration status or circumstances (for example, you are an asylee, refugee, or U nonimmigrant) and need evidence of that employment authorization.
If your EAD is lost, stolen, or destroyed, you may request a replacement EAD by filing a new Form I-765 and filing fee (if required), unless a fee waiver is requested and approved. If your EAD contains incorrect information due to a USCIS error, we will make the appropriate correction at no additional cost to you. In these cases, you do not need to submit a new Form I-765 or a filing fee. Instead, you may submit a service request via the USCIS website.
If you are a current DACA recipient and only need to replace a valid EAD because yours was lost, stolen, or damaged, file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and select box 1.b. Submit the properly completed Form I-765, evidence that you are a current DACA recipient (such as your most recent DACA approval notice), and the filing fee to the filing address for the location where you live.
If you are an F-1 student, you must maintain status and be in good academic standing. Employment authorization automatically ends if that student does not maintain status. One example of a violation of status is working more hours than authorized. An F-1 student whose EAD has not expired may work at the transfer-out school up to the transfer release date, but not after. An F-1 student who needs to continue working off-campus after the transfer must apply at the transfer-in school. The student will have to file a new Form I-765 with supporting documents and fees, but does not have to wait a year before reapplying.
International Students: EI Benefits and Eligibility in Canada
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Off-campus work and international students
International students in the United States on an F-1 visa are usually expected to prove that they can afford school and living expenses without needing to work off-campus. However, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will authorize off-campus employment in cases of severe economic hardship, after a student has been in F-1 status for at least one academic year. This includes situations such as the loss of financial aid or on-campus employment, substantial changes in the exchange rate, unexpected increases in tuition or living costs, and unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters, wars, and financial crises.
To apply for off-campus employment, a student must first obtain an internship offer with an international organization and work with the Designated School Official (DSO) to apply for an Employment Authorization Document with USCIS. The DSO must enter their recommendation into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and provide the student with a signed Form I-20. The student then files a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with USCIS.
Authorization for off-campus employment lasts for one year or until the completion of the program, whichever comes first. Students must also ensure they do not exceed the authorized number of working hours, as this can lead to the loss of their F-1 status and employment authorization. If a student's work authorization expires before their new Form I-765 application is approved, they may apply for interim employment authorization.
In Canada, international students can work off-campus without a work permit for up to 24 hours per week, provided they meet certain requirements. These include being a full-time student at a designated learning institution and being in the last semester of their study program. Students must ensure they comply with the conditions of their study permit, which may include limits on the number of working hours.
International Students: Tax Returns and You
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The student should enter the "Card Expires" date from their EAD in the "Authorized to Work Until" field in Section 1.
Enter the EAD card number and card expiration date under List A in Section 2.
The student may apply for interim employment authorization.
