Employment for F-1 Visa Holders 

On-Campus Employment

Eligibility to engage in on-campus employment is "incident" to F-1 status.  This means that anyone currently maintaining F-1 status may engage in on-campus employment at the institution that issued his or her curent form I-20, within the limitations listed below, without requesting formal authorization from either an international student advisor or the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).  Employment eligibility ends whenever a student fails to maintain legal status.

Characteristics of F-1 on-campus employment:

• Must be considered to be "on-campus"
• Can be used throughout the period the student is pursuing a full course of study
• Must be limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session; employment can be full-time during official school breaks
• Employment does not have to be related to the student's course of study.

• The applicant must have been in F-1 status for at least one full academic year before applying for this type of work permit.
• The applicant must prove to USCIS that employment is necessary due to severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond his or her control that arose after obtaining F-1 status.

• Granted by USCIS in increments of one year at a time, or until the program end-date, whichever is shorter. 
• Work authorization is automatically ended if the student transfers schools.
• Work is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session; work can be full-time during official school breaks.
• Employment can be for any job.  It does not have to be related to the student's course of study.
• Use of this category of employment does not count towards the 20 hour on-campus maximum, nor does it affect eligibility for practical training.

• Explain in writing the circumstances that have caused your severe economic need, with documentation verifying your circumstances.
• Explain in writing why other employment options (on-campus) are unavailable or insufficient to meet your need.
• Complete form I-765 (see your international student advisor).
• Ask your international student advisor to update your I-20 (and SEVIS) with a recommendation for this type of employment.
• Include with your application 
  • a photocopy of your I-94 (both sides)
  • your passport ID page(s) and visa
  • two ADIT style photos.
  • a money order or personal check to "USCIS" for $340.
  • Within a month of sending your application you should be mailed a receipt.  You can go to this web site and type in your receipt number to determine whether your work permit has been granted.  At this writing it is taking USCIS between two to three months to issue work permits. 

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.  Under the following conditions an F-1 student may engage in CPT within his or her field of study:

• The student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis in a DHS-approved college, university, conservatory, or seminary for one full academic year.
• Practical training is not available for students in intensive English language training programs. 
• A student may engage in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for
  •  a specified employer,
  • at a specified location, and
  • for a specified period of time, approved by and recorded in SEVIS by the international student advisor.
• CPT may be granted in increments of no more than one year.
• CPT can be approved for part-time (20 hours or less per week) or for full-time employment (over 20 hours per week).
• CPT must be an integral part of an established curriculum in the student's course of study.
• An offer of employment is required.
• Use of full-time CPT for one year or more eliminates eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT).  Use of part-time CPT does not affect eligibility for OPT.
• Written authorization is required from the school's international student advisor, who records authorization in SEVIS and issues a new SEVIS I-20 with a CPT notation before work begins.
• During CPT the student is required to maintain a full course of study in F-1 status (some exceptions exist).

Ask your academic advisor whether there is at least a one credit hour internship course that you can count toward your degree requirements.

 

Apply for a job where your experience can be used to fulfill the requirements of an internship course within your academic department.

 

Bring your job offer letter (on company letterhead) and proof of your internship course registration to your international student advisor. 

 

Do not begin employment until you have been given a new I-20 with the CPT authorization added to page 3.  Work only within the dates and at the location specified on your I-20 with CPT authorization.  

 

• during an F-1 student's annual vacation and at other times when school is not in session, assuming the student is currently enrolled and is eligible, and intends to register for the next term or session;
• while school is in session, provided OPT does not exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session;
• after completion of all course requirements for the degree, excluding thesis or equivalent; and
• after completion of the course of study.

• Complete form I-765 (see your international student advisor).
• Ask your international student advisor to update your I-20 (and SEVIS) with a recommendation for OPT.
• Include with your application 
  • a photocopy of your I-94 (both sides)
  • your passport ID page(s) and visa
  • two ADIT style photos.
  • a money order or personal check to "USCIS" for $340.

Within a month of sending your application you should receive through the mail a receipt from USCIS.  You can go to this web site and type in your receipt number to determine whether your work permit has been granted.  At this writing it is taking USCIS approximately two months for work permits to be issued.