Students and Employment In the United States

If you are an international student studying in the US, you have the opportunity to work part-time but remember that you are restricted by the terms of your visa. It is a MUST that you know all the requirements and restrictions concerning your visa! If you would like to study as a full-time student in the United States, you will generally need a student visa. There are two nonimmigrant visa categories for persons wishing to study in the United States. These visas are commonly known as the F and M visas. You may enter in the F-1 or M-1 visa category provided you meet the following 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. Employment F-1 students may not work off-campus during the 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 three types of off-campus employment: Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Optional Practical Training (OPT) (pre-completion or post-completion) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training Extension (OPT) F-1 students may also be eligible to work off-campus on a case-by-case basis as a result of special situations such as severe economic hardship or special student relief. M-1 students may engage in practical training only after they have completed their studies. On-Campus Employment On-campus employment is the category most freely permitted by the USCIS regulations, and it does not require USCIS approval. However, although F1 status includes an on-campus employment privilege, on-campus employment opportunities at most schools are limited. Even if you can obtain a job on campus, you may not rely on it to prove financial resources for the year, and often these jobs are not related to your studies. Many schools do require that you obtain permission from the International Student Office prior to accepting any on-campus employment, and may not permit such employment in a student's first semester or year. For on-campus work, an F1 student is subject to the following rules: You must maintain valid F1 status You can work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session You can work full-time on campus during holidays and vacation periods if you intend to register for the next academic semester The employment may not displace (take a job away from) a U.S. resident Since your status is always contingent on your school's support, you must seek guidance and clearance from your International Student Office prior to applying for or accepting any employment and you should request their particular interpretation of any ambiguous situation. You will also need your school's guidance to ensure that you file all appropriate forms with USCIS and receive any necessary USCIS approval. Internship Hiring an F-1 International Student for an Internship Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is work authorization that allows F-1 students to accept practical training in their academic field after one year of full-time study. Internship programs are some of the most common types of CPT opportunities for international students. Students can choose to work full or part-time during their internships, depending on the institution’s CPT policy. In some cases, graduate students who are required by their academic program to participate in an internship in the first year do not have to complete one full academic year before they are eligible. Duration: There is no limit, but 12 months of full-time CPT eliminates eligibility for OPT. Part-time CPT employment does not affect eligibility for OPT. Note: Graduate students can accept CPT on Day 1 of their full-time study, if required by their program. Employer Role: Applying for CPT is solely the responsibility of the student and therefore requires no action on the part of the hiring organization. (The employer usually needs to issue a letter to confirm the internship offer.) Student Role: After the student has been offered an internship, he or she submits an online application to the sponsoring school providing the internship start and end dates the organization’s name and complete physical address. the job title and a detailed job description. Hiring an F-1 STEM Graduate for Practical Training—24 Month STEM OPT An additional 24 months of OPT work authorization (for a total of 36 months) allows F-1 student status holders who have graduated with an approved degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) to gain extra practical work experience related to their STEM field. Duration: STEM OPT allows for an additional 24 months for F-1 students. Employer Role: Be enrolled and in good-standing with E-Verify. Prepare and implement a formal training program to support the student’s academic learning through practical experience. The training program is signed by both the employer and student, and submitted to the international student services office for approval. A report of the student’s progress is submitted to the student’s international student services office mid-way and at the end of the 24month program Report termination of employment to the student’s international student services office within 5 business days. Be prepared for a government agent worksite visit to verify STEM OPT program requirements are being met. Provide an employment opportunity similar to US workers in duties, hours, and compensation. Attest that: The company has enough resources and trained personnel available to appropriately train the student; The student will not replace a full- or a part-time, temporary or permanent US worker; Help the student attain his or her training objectives. Student Role: These are the steps for obtaining STEM OPT work authorization: The students submits the completed I-983 training plan as part of their STEM OPT request to the international student services office, which processes the STEM OPT recommendation for the student. The F-1 student files her/his completed OPT application, supporting documentation, and required fee to USCIS. General OPT Requirements: Employment must be "directly related" to the student's major Student must maintain lawful F1 status Student must apply for OPT before completion of all work towards a degree Students who have engaged in 12 months or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) are not eligible for OPT OPT is permitted for up to 12 months full-time in total – part-time OPT (while still in school) reduces available full-time OPT by half of the amount of part-time work (for instance, if you work part time for 6 months, you can work full-time for up to 9 months) Full Time Employment on OPT Hiring an F-1 International Graduate for a Full-Time Internship or Employment — Initial 12 month OPT Post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a work authorization that allows F-1 status students who have graduated to gain practical work experience related to their major field of study. Duration: OPT allows for 12 months of work for F-1 students. (Please note, Any approved pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the 12-month OPT period.) Employer Role: Applying for OPT is solely the responsibility of the students and therefore requires no action on the part of the hiring organization, OPT can be granted to the student with or without an offer of employment. Student Role: Obtaining OPT work authorization is a two-step process. The F-1 student submits a request for an OPT recommendation which is processed and approved by an international advisor at the student’s international services office. The F-1 student files her/his completed OPT application, supporting documentation, and required fee to the USCIS(U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) to secure OPT work authorization. OPT before completing a degree: Students must be enrolled in school full-time Students may only work 20 hours per week while school is in session Students may work full-time during summer and other breaks (as long as the student will return to school after the break) Student may work full-time after completion of all coursework, if a thesis or dissertation is still required and student is making normal progress towards the degree OPT after completing a degree: After completion of your degree, OPT work must be full time (40 hours/week) All OPT must be completed within 14 months after completion of your degree Applications for post-completion OPT must be received by USCIS before the completion of the degree