Employment Overview

International students, with an F-1 or J-1 visa, are allowed to work in the United States. Here’s a brief introduction to working in the United States as an F-1 Student.

What options do I have?

Location	Options	Qualification	Working hours
On-campus	Student worker	All students	Part time
	Graduate assistant	Graduate students	Part time
	CPT	All students before graduation	Part time / Full time
Off-campus	CPT	All students before graduation	Part time / Full time
	Pre-completion OPT	All students before graduation	Part time
	Post-completion OPT	All students after graduation	Full time

Part time: maximum of 20 hours/ week
Full time: maximum of 40 hours/ week

WORK AUTHORIZATION

F-1 students may ONLY work on-campus. Any off-campus jobs MUST be authorized by a Designated School Official and be listed on your I-20 (CPT, OPT). Do not accept employment in any job that is off campus and is NOT listed on your I-20. Working without employment authorization is a serious violation of F-1 visa status and can have severe consequences.
Potential consequences of accepting a paid or unpaid practical training opportunity without proper authorization may include:

and loss of your F-1 benefits, including on-campus employment and OPT.
Potential accrual of
Ineligibility for future visas that allow for work authorization, such as H-1B, O-1, TN, or permanent residency.
Denial of your USCIS application for OPT.

You should meet with an ISGSS advisor as soon as you become aware that you have violated your F-1 status.

TYPES OF EMPLOYMENT

CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING (CPT)
CPT is alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, clerkship, or optional/required internship or practicum, available only while the student is in F-1 status before completion of the educational objective.

PRE-COMPLETION OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (PRE-OPT)
Pre-completion OPT: Occurs before a student's program end date. This option is not common and requires consultation with International Student and Global Scholar Services before the application process.

POST-COMPLETION OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (POST-OPT)
Post-completion OPT: Occurs before a student's program end date.

OPT STEM EXTENSION
The STEM OPT extension is a 24-month period of temporary training that directly relates to an F-1 student's program of study in an approved STEM field.

EMPLOYMENT BASED ON ECONOMIC HARDSHIP
USCIS makes case-by-case decisions for off-campus employment for students who can show that new, unexpected circumstances beyond their control have created severe economic hardship.

SPECIAL STUDENT RELIEF (SSR) APPLICATION
SSR may be authorized for students whose home countries are impacted by natural disasters, wars and military conflicts, and national and international financial crises. SSR becomes possible when DHS issues a Federal Register Notice.

QUESTIONS? Email isgss@lewisu.edu.