How Can You Work With an F1 Visa?

If you are studying in the US on an F1 visa, you may want to find ways to make money. But you must be careful to follow all of the rules and regulations governing your status.

The United States government takes working illegally seriously, and if it is found out during your immigration process, you could be deported.

On-Campus Work

Many students are looking for ways to supplement their income, and on-campus work is a great way to accomplish this. It also gives you the chance to become more engaged in your school and community.

There are a few different types of on-campus work that can be done with an f1 visa, including work performed for your university, jobs in the university library, dormitory dining facilities, laboratory or administrative offices, and jobs with on-location commercial firms that provide services to students on campus (for example, food stores or restaurants). Each type of employment has specific rules that must be followed.

F-1 students may work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during the academic year and full-time (more than 20 hours per week) during official school breaks, including vacation periods. You must complete a form to request permission from the International Student Office at your school before you accept any on-campus employment.

Students on OPT who wish to continue working on campus while their employment authorization is valid must also complete a form. This form must be signed by both the student and the employer.

On-campus work can be obtained through your university’s employment center, department websites, and networking with professors and friends. Make sure to review the job opportunities carefully before accepting any position.

Some schools have restrictions on on-campus employment for new students, so it is best to check with your university’s International Student Office before you begin looking for a job. You can also ask your employer if they pay from their own funds or through the university payroll.

Most universities will have a special on-campus jobs page that lists various positions available to students. Some will even have job fairs where students can apply for on-campus positions.

Getting an on-campus job is easier than you think. Just go to the Student Job Center, Just ISSued, GradConnections Weekly, and department websites. You can also ask your professors, students, and parents for referrals.

There are some limitations to on-campus work, but it is a good option for many students. It can help you support yourself financially while studying, and it can be a great way to meet new people and build relationships with administration members.

Off-Campus Work

Off-campus employment may be a great way to earn some extra cash, but you need to know the rules before you take on any work. Unauthorized off-campus employment can jeopardize your immigration status and could result in the termination of your F-1 visa.

The most common types of off-campus employment are curricular practical training (CPT) and optional practical training (OPT). CPT allows F-1 students to apply what they learn in the classroom to a work experience related to their degree program.

CPT may be a part-time or full-time job, internship, or volunteer position. The student must complete all required documents and meet all other eligibility requirements before they can start working. These documents include a W-4 and online I-9. The supervisor will use the Student Employment Management System (SEMS) to appoint the student to a job number using their Penn ID. An e-mail will be sent to the student, supervisor, and Tam Nguyen to confirm the job appointment.

OPT allows F-1 students to gain practical work experience by engaging in a paid internship or co-op placement. The student must follow the same requirements as CPT and will need to obtain authorization, a new I-20 from ISSS, and an employment authorization document (EAD) from USCIS.

During off-campus work periods, a student must be in good academic standing. This includes a minimum grade point average of 2.50. If the student does not meet this requirement, he or she should contact their DSO to discuss possible alternatives.

Many schools offer stipends to grad students who are employed as teaching or research assistants. This type of employment does not violate your F-1 status if it is performed on campus, you receive payment directly from the university, and you are not working more than 20 hours per week while school is in session.

Some graduate students are offered non-NYU research positions at outside organizations that are paid by a grant or contract. These positions are usually not included in UW’s work study awards.

Another type of off-campus employment is political aide work for an elected official. This is a form of partisan or nonpartisan work, such as a political aide for an elected official or lobbying on behalf of a specific candidate.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular practical training (CPT) allows international students to engage in off-campus employment or an internship directly related to their major area of study prior to completing their degree program. It is an important component of the UB academic experience, and it can be authorized for either part-time or full-time work during fall and spring semesters or summer terms.

If you are interested in CPT, the first step is to complete the curricular practical training application available on ISS. This form must be submitted to ISS before each term you will be participating in your CPT.

In the form, you will need to indicate the type of work that you plan to do, the start date and end date of your CPT, and the duration of the training. In addition, you must include the employer name and address where the work will take place.

You must also indicate whether the training will be full or part time. You must upload your CPT offer letter, and any other relevant documentation you have received from the employer.

The information you enter into this form will be reviewed by ISS before the I-20 is processed. It is critical that you provide accurate, detailed information in this section to ensure that your work will be approved and not rejected by ISS.

It is very important that you meet the F-1 visa requirements for CPT in order to be authorized. If you do not meet the minimum criteria for CPT, you cannot be approved for this type of employment and will not be able to obtain an I-20.

Please be sure to follow the CPT guidelines from your department and submit a detailed CPT request to your academic advisor so that you can receive authorization for your off-campus employment before your program deadlines.

For more information about CPT, see our CPT vs OPT page. It is important to note that accumulating more than 12 months of full-time CPT will eliminate your eligibility for Optional Practical Training, another type of employment authorization.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

If you are an F-1 student with a valid Form I-20, you may be eligible for optional practical training (OPT). This program permits students to take up to 12 months of full-time employment related to their field of study.

OPT can be taken during your studies, known as pre-completion OPT, or immediately after you complete your degree, called post-completion OPT. Any time spent in OPT before graduation will be deducted from the total amount of post-completion OPT you are eligible to receive.

During your OPT period, you can work part-time or full-time as long as you meet the requirements of the job. The minimum requirement is 20 hours per week. However, you can work more than that during summer break and other vacation periods if you have the opportunity to do so.

While on OPT, you can work for any employer who hires international students. You can have a variety of different types of jobs, including paid internships, paid work on campus, unpaid or volunteer work, contract work, self-employment, and more.

You can also have multiple employers at once, so long as the work you do for each employer is directly related to your studies and does not violate any labor laws. As long as you report each new job on your OPT Employment Update Form within 10 days, your OPT can continue without issue.

Note: If you work for more than one employer, you will need to keep a log of all hours worked and pay rates. You can do this in a Word document or on the Internet, and you should also keep copies of all employment contracts.

The main benefit of OPT is that it allows international students the chance to gain real-world work experience before they graduate. This will allow them to secure and retain good jobs when they graduate, as well as give U.S. employers the chance to evaluate recent graduates as future employees and contributors.