F-1 Student Employment Options

On-Campus Employment

Students may not work on campus without prior approval from the ISIC.  International students who are maintaining a full-time course of study can work WITH approval from the ISIC part-time(20 hrs/wk) during the academic year and full-time(40 hrs/wk) during the summer months and any periods when school is not in session. On campus employment assumes that the work will not interfere with studies and that the student is maintaining good academic standing.  Permission to work on-campus is given in the form of the ISIC's signature on a job offer letter.

A Graduate Assistantship (GRA) accounts for the full 20 hours per week permitted.  Permission to work on-campus based on a GRA is given in the form of the ISIC's signature on the GRA award letter.

IMPORTANT:  If you are a Teaching Assistant (TA), Research Assistant (RA), Graduate Assistant (GRA) or on a Fellowship, you are NOT ALLOWED to work an additional job.  Such a position is considered, along with your class load, a full-time position.  

Off-Campus Employment

Students are eligible to apply for off-campus work permission if they have been in valid F-1 status for at least one academic year (also defined as nine consecutive months) and they are in good academic standing. Types of off-campus employment include:

Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows students to work for up to a total of twelve months in a job related to their field of study. OPT can be granted at the following times:

• during the student's annual vacation period and at other times when school is not in session, if you are currently enrolled and intend to register for the next term;
• while school is in session, provided that the practical training does not exceed twenty hours per week;
• after completion of course requirements (but before completion of a course of study) excluding thesis or dissertation if the student is in a Masters or Ph.D. program;
• after graduation.

Applications for OPT are sent to the U.S. Immigration & Citizenship Service (USCIS). It generally takes the USCIS about two months to approve an OPT application.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) allows a student to work before graduation in an internship or practicum related to their field of study. There are two types of CPT:

• non-credit training programs that are a required part of the stated curriculum;
• for-credit training programs which are an integral, but not required, part of the stated curriculum.

Off Campus Employment Due To Severe Economic Hardship - Students who encounter an unforeseen severe economic hardship after completing one academic year (also defined as nine consecutive months) in F-1 status can apply to the USCIS for permission to work off campus. Students must be able to document that there has been an unanticipated change in their financial support so that either their expenses have increased significantly or that their income has decreased significantly since their arrival in the U.S. Students must also be able to document that other employment opportunities are not available through the other employment options. Students who can document that they have encountered an unforeseen economic hardship after completing one academic year in the U.S. should contact the ISIC. It generally takes USCIS two months to approve an application for off campus work based on severe economic hardship.