Employment includes accepting money or any other form of compensation for work or services. You may not accept employment without appropriate authorization. Paid employment may include a job that you do on or off-campus or payment received for work you do as part of optional practical training or curricular training (e.g. internship, field experience, or practicum) that is a part of your major degree requirements.

On-Campus Employment

Students may work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week while school in session or full-time during summer or vacation periods. Work must be done on the premises for a campus office, department or program. It does not require prior approval from the UCIS before work may be started. However, since you must be in legal status you should notify your International Student Advisor of your interest or intent to accept on-campus employment. To be eligible to accept on-campus employment you must be in legal status.

Off-Campus Employment

Off-campus employment requires prior approval from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (UCIS). You must not accept employment until authorization is received and you have received an Employment Authorization Document that documents that you have been authorized to accept employment. The employment options available to international students include optional practical training, curricular practical training and employment authorization due to unforeseen economic hardship.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

To be eligible to apply for optional practical training a student must have been in legal F-1 status for a full academic year. A student is allowed up to one year of paid practical training experience before or after graduation in a job directly related to his or her major. The application process requires certification of eligibility from the International Student Advisor and then authorization from UCIS that may take up to 3 months to receive after filing. For this reason you should apply up to 90 days before graduation or within 60 days of completing your program, You are not authorized to accept employment until your application is approved and you have received your Employment Authorization, (EAD) from UCIS.

A job description is required to determine if the experience is related to your field of study. You do not need to have a job offer but the approval is dependent on the job relating to your field of study. You are allowed a total of 12 months of practical training.

To apply for practical training see an International Student Advisor to discuss your intent and to obtain the necessary forms for submission to UCIS for employment authorization. You will need to bring your passport, I-20, I-94 and job information with you. You will submit a photocopy of your I-20, I-94, and the completed form I-765 to the advisor for signature and review. The forms and fees will then be sent to the UCIS for processing. You will also need to submit color photographs that will need to be done by a photographer familiar with UCIS photo requirements. UCIS requires that fees be paid when the forms submitted. You may want to obtain and complete the forms prior to your visit with your advisor. Links to the forms and fee information is listed below.

Please note: A new change in processing now requires that applicants include a United States address when completing the I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. Please review all instructions on the forms carefully before submitting your application.

Form I-765 - Application for employment authorization. Please check fee from current form.

Form I-765 instructions and fees.

Form I-539 - Application for extension of stay/Change of non-immigrant status. Please check fee from current form.

For current form and fee information you may visit the UCIS forms web site.

OPT Checklist - A PDF checklist of what must be done to apply for OPT.

Guide for Photographs - A PDF flyer that provides samples and guidelines for the new photo requirements.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Students who are enrolled in a college internship, practicum or other training experience that is an integral part of an established curriculum may apply for curricular practical training authorization. To be eligible for CPT the training experience must be required of all students in the major for graduation credit. To apply for curricular practical training, a student must submit a completed request for curricular practical training on Form I-538 and bring his or her I-20 ID to the advisor for authorization.

Employment Authorization Due to Unforeseen Economic Hardship

An international student is eligible to apply for off-campus employment based on severe economic hardship if:

• He or she has been in F-1 status for one full academic year
• Is in good academic standing
• Is carrying a full course of study
• Can demonstrate that acceptance of employment will not interfere with their studies
• He or she can provide evidence that the employment is necessary to avoid severe economic hardship and this hardship is due to unforeseen circumstances beyond his or her control
• Employment opportunities on campus are either unavailable or insufficient to meet financial needs

To apply for employment authorization based upon unforeseen economic hardship the student submits his or her request on form I-538 and form I-765. Additionally, you should submit a letter explaining the circumstances of the hardship and the reasons why the funds described on your affidavit of support are no longer applicable. Bring your I-20, I-94, and the completed forms I-538 and I-765 with fee with you when you visit an International Student Advisor for authorization. After authorization the application, forms, fees, and photos will be submitted to UCIS for adjudication.

Working under NAFTA

Students from Mexico or Canada may be eligible to work in the United States based on provisions in the North American Free Trade Agreement. The student will receive a special temporary status called TN status. To be eligible for TN status the student must hold the equivalent of a Bachelor's Degree or other degrees that is specifically stated in the agreement. For a detailed explanation of the agreement and a list of occupations and training eligible for TN status visit the following web sites from the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs or this site from the US Embassy in Canada.

See an International Student Advisor for more detailed information or if you have questions about any of the above requirements.

Updated June 2, 2008