Employment for F-1 Students
On-campus Employment
Students in F-1 status may work up to 20 hours per week on campus while enrolled in
a full course of study (12 credits for undergraduates, 9 credits for graduate students,
3 credits for dissertators) and otherwise maintaining status. You may only work on
the campus having jurisdiction over your SEVIS record. "On-campus" jobs include work
in the SHU university center, libraries, recreational centers, and in academic and
administrative departments. As a full-time student, you do not need permission to
work on-campus up to 20 hours per week. You will need to show your employer documents
which establish your identification and employment eligibility, as listed on the I-9
form that all new employees must complete. There is no exception to the 20 hour per-week
maximum, even if the employment is a teaching or project assistantship. On-campus
employment may exceed 20 hours per week during vacation periods (winter, spring, and
summer breaks) for students who have maintained full-time status before the vacation
and intend to register for the following semester.
If you would like to search for on campus employment, please click here.
Off-campus Employment
If you have been in valid F-1 status for a full academic year, you have several options
for working off-campus:
Curricular Practical Training (CPT): this program is defined as alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education,
or any other type of required internship that sponsoring employers offer through cooperative
agreements with the university. You will need authorization from OIP for this type
of practical training. If you are authorized for one year or more of full-time Curricular
Practical Training, you will not be eligible for post-degree Optional Practical Training.
Optional Practical Training (OPT): this program allows you to accept employment in your field of study, part or full-time. The total amount of time that you can work under optional practical training is 12 months, full-time. OPT may be done during specific times before you graduate, or after you graduate. Student jobs (PA, TA, or RA) do not qualify as jobs for Optional Practical Training. To be authorized for Optional Practical Training, OIP recommends you apply several months in advance of your proposed employment. You will need a recommendation (updated I-20 form with OPT recommendation) from OIP and authorization from USCIS for OPT. Please allow OIP 5 working days to determine eligibility and prepare its recommendation and school certification portion, before sending your application to USCIS to obtain the Employment Authorization Document (EAD Card).
Off-campus work due to serious economic necessity: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can authorize this kind of work permission when a student has fully documented severe economic hardship arising after arrival in the US or changing to F-1 status. Please reach out to OIP fo further guidance you feel you fall under this category.