Work Permit in the USA.
If you are an international student studying in the United States, you have the option of working part-time, but keep in mind that your visa requirements limit your ability to do so. It is critical that you understand all of the requirements and limits for your visa.
Please visit our international student immigration centre to learn more about your visa and speak with an immigration attorney if you have any queries.
US Employment Rules for F1 Students:
Most international students in the United States have an F1 visa, which is the country’s non-immigrant student visa. F1 students are permitted to work in the United States, but only under particular conditions and in compliance with the rigorous standards and limits imposed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service.
Generally, all employment is based on adhering to the terms and restrictions of your F1 visa. During your time as an F1 student in the United States, you might work in a variety of settings. On-campus employment is the most readily available, while there are four types of off-campus employment.
On-campus Employment:
On-campus work is the most freely permitted category under USCIS standards, and it does not require USCIS clearance. Despite the fact that F1 status includes the right to work on campus, most colleges have limited on-campus employment opportunities. Even if you can get a job on campus, you should not rely on it to demonstrate financial resources for the year, as these occupations are frequently unrelated to your studies. Many institutions need you to acquire permission from the International Student Office before accepting any on-campus employment, and such employment may not be permitted during a student’s first semester or year.
For on-campus employment, an F1 student must observe the following rules.
1: You must maintain valid F1 status
2: You can work up to 20 hours a week while school is in session.
3: You can work full-time on campus during vacations and vacation periods if you intend to register for the following academic semester.
4: The employment may not displace (take a job away from) a United States resident.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
International students in the United States with valid F1 immigration status may work off-campus in optional practical training (OPT) status both while and after completing their degree. The US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) sets the rules for OPT implementation, and all OPT employment requires prior authorisation from USCIS and your school’s International Student Office.
You can apply for OPT after being enrolled for at least 9 months, but you can’t start working until you get your Employment Authorisation Document (EAD) from USCIS and have been enrolled for at least a year. You do not require a job offer to apply for an OPT EAD, and your OPT employment can take place anywhere in the US. Start early—USCIS takes up to 90 days to process your application—and collaborate closely with your school’s International Student Office. Permission, like everything else you’ll do in the United States, is contingent on retaining lawful F1 status, which your International Student Office can assist you with throughout your stay.
General OPT Requirements:
. Employment should be “directly related” to the student’s major.
. Students must maintain lawful F1 status and apply for OPT before completing all degree-related jobs.
. Students who have completed 12 months or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) are not eligible for OPT.
. OPT is permitted for up to 12 months full-time in total – part-time OPT (while still in school) decreases eligible full-time OPT by half of the duration of part-time work. For example, if you work part-time for 6 months, you can work full-time for up to 9 months.
OPT before completing a degree:
. Students must be enrolled in school full time.
. Students are only allowed to work 20 hours a week while school is in session.
. Students can work full-time during summer and other breaks (as long as they return to school after the break).
. Student may work full-time after completing all coursework, if a thesis or dissertation is still required and the student is making normal progress towards the degree.
OPT after completing a degree:
. After completing your degree, OPT job must be full-time (40 hours per week).
. All OPT must be completed within 14 months after completion of your degree
. Applications for post-completion OPT must be received by USCIS before completing the degree.
Curriculum Practical Training (CPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an off-campus employment option for F1 students where the practical training is an essential component of the established curriculum or academic program. Employment with CPT is referred to as “alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.” To qualify, job experience must be required for your degree or academic credit must be granted. And, yes, you may get compensated for CPT work. Prior authorisation from your school’s International Student Office and notice to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) are required.
Your International Student Office must approve you for CPT. Once you have CPT authorisation, you can only work for the specific employer and on the dates specified (unlike OPT or severe economic hardship off-campus employment, which allows you to work anywhere in the United States). Your CPT authorisation will also state whether you are eligible for part-time (20 hours or fewer per week) or full-time (more than 20 hours per week) CPT work. While in school, you are only eligible for part-time CPT.
Whether you are approved for full or part-time CPT, there is no time limit on how long you can work. However, if you work full-time on CPT for 12 months or more, you are ineligible for OPT. If you work part-time or full-time on CPT for less than a year, you can still use all of your permitted OPT. So make sure you observe the dates and hours carefully – don’t jeopardise your OPT.
As with any job, you should coordinate closely with your International Student Office. The general rules will apply differently to undergraduates, graduate students, and PhD candidates, but they can help you. The office can assist you in determining your eligibility for CPT, ensuring that your employment offer qualifies, and completing all required stages in your application to USCIS. They also have to authorise your CPT, so you have no alternative but to work with them. But they are professionals, particularly when it comes to USCIS laws, so use them – they are there to assist you.
