Employment
Employment Opportunities for Foreign Students
There are a number of opportunities for the international student with an F-1 or M-1 visa to gain legal employment in the United States during the duration of his/her studies. The student must be enrolled full time and must have a 2.00 G.P.A. Students on other types of visa are not allowed to work
- On Campus Part Time Employment inside the school campus or with a company who directly serves students in the campus (border commuter students are not eligible for this type of employment).
- Curricular Practical Training. This employment is an integral part of an established curriculum (degree plan) and it can be a cooperative education, internship or work study monitored by the school and obtained through the support of the educational institution.
- Optional Practicum Training. Students in F-1or M-1 visa may apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) before the completion of their studies. OPT allows the student to be employed only in his/her field of study for a total of 12 months (6months for M-1 students) during his/her stay in the U.S. OPT used prior to the completion of studies is subtracted from the 12 month total. Student can request OPT at the completion of each level of education. Each period of OPT requested requires a recommendation from a designated school official (DSO) in the International Student Services Office.
On Campus Employment
An F-1or M-1 student may accept employment at the university he/she is authorized to attend, provided the student is enrolled in a full course of study. On-campus employment primarily means work performed on the school’s premises. It includes employment with “on-location” commercial firms which provide services for students on campus, such as school bookstore or cafeteria.” [8CFR 214.2(f) (9) (i)] It also allows for students participating on a special project supervised by school faculty at an “off campus location” It does not include employment on the school’s premises for a commercial firm that is not providing on-campus services for students such as a construction site for a new building. Students awarded “scholarships” for work (volunteer or otherwise) who are or will be employed by the University on a part time basis, must not exceed the 20 hours per week limit with the combination of paid work and “volunteer” work. Otherwise they’ll be violating their “student status”.
Number of Hours
On-Campus employment is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session and full time (40 hours) during vacation periods.
Who can work on-campus?
Any student with F-1 visa who is currently enrolled full time and has a 2:00 g .p.a.
Students beginning a new program at the same institution may work on-campus. (Example: Student completed a bachelor’s degree in May and has been accepted for a master’s degree beginning in August, may work on-campus over the summer).
Transfer students –A student may work on-campus of the new school before classes begin or on the campus of the old school until the new school’s classes begin.
4. On-campus employment is not permitted once the degree is completed, except if the employment is authorized through O. practical training. This type of work is only permitted to students on F-1 visa with authorization from USCIS (ICE).
On Campus Employment Procedures
- Student must posses an F-1 visa, a valid passport and a valid SEVIS I-20.
- Student must be enrolled in school full time with a minimum of 2.0 G.P.A.
- Student will apply for position in the same manner as other U.S. citizens and legal residents.
- Student must have completed one semester of classes.
- Student must bring note from future employer with specifics about the job.
- Student must request social security card with letter from International Advisor, passport and birth certificate.
- Student will need to obtain permission in writing from the International Student Advisor (DSO) in MRC North 103 before employment begins.
- Student may not work more than 20 hours per week while school is in session and full time during vacations.
- Student must fill out required documents at Office of Human Resources before beginning employment.
- Students with other type of VISA cannot work on-campus.
- All foreign students who work on campus must fill out an Income Tax report using the 1040NR form before April 15 of the following year.
Curricular Practical Training
- Employment must be an “integral part of an established curriculum.”
- “Alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or required internship or practicum offered by sponsored employers through a cooperative agreement with the school.”
- Sponsored employment is structured, monitored by the school, and obtained through the support of the educational institution.
- Student must have completed at least one academic year on student status.
- Graduate student may engage in curricular practical training without the required 10 months in student “status”.
- Student may engage in Curricular Practical Training for no more than one year. It must be prior to the last semester of study.
- It must be not more than 20 hours per week.
- Student on full time. “Curricular Practical Training” will become ineligible for optional practicum training upon graduation.
- DSO must update the student SEVIS Form I-20 employment page with “full-time (or part –time) curricular practical training authorizing for a specific employer and note location specifying beginning and end date.
- Work must be in an area directly related to the field of study and under the supervision of a faculty member.
- A printed copy of the Employment page of SEVIS form I –20 must be issued to the student.
- I-20 SEVIS Form must be signed and dated before returning it to the student. This indicates that Curricular Practical Training has been approved.
Steps to Follow
Present the following documents to the DSO:
-Obtain a job offer letter from the prospective employer (on company letterhead) which indicates the job title and description, the exact number of hours to be worked each week, and the beginning and ending dates of the employment.
Curricular Practical Training will not be authorized without a job offer letter.
-Have the attached CPT Certification Form completed by your Department to verify that you are eligible to participate in Curricular Practical Training and indicate the course number assigned to your employment request.
-Your current I-20, valid passport, and I-94 card.