Off-Campus Employment is available to non-immigrants in F-1 and J-1 student status under certain conditions. You may begin off-campus employment only AFTER you have obtained authorization to do so.


F-1 STUDENTS

Optional Practical Training (OPT): OPT is off-campus work authorization that may be obtained from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to accept employment in your academic field.  You are eligible to apply for OPT once you have maintained your F-1 status for a minimum of one academic year.  F-1 students may receive up to a total of 12 months of OPT authorization either before (pre-) and/or after (post-) completion of studies. F-1 students are eligible for 12 months of optional practical training at each academic level (example: students may receive 12 months of OPT at the bachelor's degree level, and if they continue with a master’s program, they may receive an additional 12 months of OPT; however, students who complete two master’s degrees are not eligible for an additional 12 months of OPT).  There are very specific restrictions and timetables stipulated in the new regulations related to this benefit.  For more information, please sign up for an Employment Q&A advising session.

Effective April 8, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published an interim final rule that affects students who wish to use OPT.  The new provision includes information regarding an extended deadline for OPT applications, new reporting requirements, STEM extensions, Cap-Gap extensions, and restrictions on unemployment for post-completion OPT.  For more details please review the ISO’s handout on OPT Changes, the USCIS Q&A release #1 and USCIS Q&A release #2.  Questions regarding the interim final rule can be addressed by an advisor in weekly Employment Q&A advising sessions.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT): CPT is off-campus work authorization that may be obtained from the International Student Office to accept employment in your academic field. You are eligible to apply for CPT once you have maintained your F-1 status for a minimum of one academic year. CPT requires that you receive academic credit for the work experience for which you are requesting authorization. For more information, please make an appointment for an Employment Q&A advising session.

Economic Hardship: Work permission based on unforeseen severe economic hardship is available to students who have maintained lawful F-1 status for a minimum of one academic year and can demonstrate that they have suffered an unforeseen change in their financial circumstances, and have found that on-campus work opportunities are not available or adequate. For more information, schedule an appointment with an International Student Advisor.


J-1 STUDENTS

Academic Training: Academic Training allows students in J-1 status to gain practical experience in their major field of study. Academic Training authorization permits you to take a job that is directly related to your field of study and appropriate to your educational level. You may apply for academic training either prior to or after completion of studies. For more information, read our Academic Training handout and schedule an appointment with an International Student Advisor.

Economic Hardship: Work permission based on unforeseen severe economic hardship is available to students who have maintained lawful J-1 status for one academic year, are currently in good academic standing, can demonstrate that they have suffered an unforeseen change in their financial circumstances, and have found that on-campus work opportunities are not available or adequate. For more information, schedule an appointment with an International Student Advisor.

Updated 08.2008