F1 Student Employment Options

It is always beneficial to have the option to work while studying abroad. International students on an F1 visa that are studying in the United States can work in specific situations.  In this article, we cover exactly what these conditions are. 

Employment Types for Students on F1 Visa

• On-Campus Employment
• Off-Campus Employment
• Curricular Practical Training
• Optional Practical Training
• Employment due to Economic Hardship
• Employment with an International Organization

F1 visa status allows only authorized work. Unauthorized work is a breach of this and can have major repercussions. To search for legal and authorized work you can find out the F1 employment opportunities at your university. The International Student Services (ISS) at your university or program can give you this information. 

On-Campus Employment

Any employment at the university or academic institution is considered to be on-campus employment. This can be in roles such as research assistant, teaching assistant, student services worker or library worker. It can also include jobs that do not happen on campus itself but conduct university work. 

Students can check with their university’s career center if a job is appropriate for them. No other special permission is required. 

Requirements 

F1 students with on-campus employment:

• Have to continue on F1 visa status.
• Can work a maximum of  20 hours per week while class is in session and a maximum of 40 hours per week during breaks or vacations.
• Might be permitted to work on-campus once their program is finished. This will require filling form I-765 for employment authorization. 

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

This is an off-campus opportunity for employment for students on an F1 visa. This is a mandatory part of an F1 visa holder student’s academic degree and can also be used towards academic credit. CPT opportunities consist of internships, practicums, or work/study programs and more. 

In order to apply for CPT,  F1 visa holder students that are eligible must receive a job offer, and then request for CPT authorization from their school or university. They must file form I-765 for employment authorization.

Requirements 

F1 students entering into a CPT program:

• Must continue their F1 visa status.
• Have to have enrolled as a full-time student for a minimum of one academic year.
• Can only enter into CPT before their degree has been completed.
• Have to be receiving practical training in an area directly correlated with their main area of their studies.
• Can only work for the specific employer between the dates that have been authorized.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional practical training is an opportunity for off-campus employment for F1 visa holders. This allows them to get experience in the main areas of their studies. OPT students can work both before and after graduation. 

A job offer is not required to apply for OPT. The OPT application must be submitted to the USCIS upto 90 days before the program ends and up to 60 days after it. Form I-765 must be submitted along with the OPT application. 

Requirements 

F1 visa holder students entering into an OPT program:

• Must continue on their F1 visa status.
• Have to work in an area that is related to the main area of their studies. 
• Have to have been enrolled as a full-time student for a minimum of one academic year.
• Can work before or after their program ends, or both.
• Can stay and work in the US for a maximum of 12 months after their program has finished. 

Employment due to Economic Hardship

F1 visa holder students that show enormous economic difficulty can apply for authorization for work off-campus. This requires the students to have unforeseen changes in their financial situation such as :

• Unforeseen changes on loss in financial support 
• Lack on-campus employment
• Costly medical bills
• To apply for off-campus employment authorization due to economic difficulty, F1 students must first meet with the International Student Service Advisor of the university. If eligible, they can submit form I-765 for employment authorization to the USCIS. 

Requirements

F1 visa holder students applying for off-campus employment due to economic difficulty:

• Have to have held an F1 visa status for a minimum period of one academic year.
• Have to be in sound academic standing.
• Have to prove that on-campus employment is not available or cannot meet financial needs.
• Have to show evidence of economic difficulty based on unforeseen occurrences.

Employment with an International Organization

If an F1 visa holder student gets an offer from an international organization, they can apply for authorization to work off-campus. Examples of these international organizations could be the United Nations, World Trade Organization and the World Health Organization. In order to apply students have to submit form I-765 to the USCIS. 

Requirements 

F1 visa holder students working for an international organization:

• Have held valid F1 visa status for a minimum of one academic year.
• Have to have a sound academic standing.
• Have to maintain full-time student status.
• Have to receive a job offer from an international organization that is eligible

You can visit your university’s International Student Services for answers to any further questions you may have. 

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