The Do's and Don'ts of Employment with F-1 Status
Four-year degree students in F-1 status are allowed to work on campus. You do not need prior approval from Immigrations or from the International Student Advisor in order to accept on-campus employment, if you have F-1 status. School policy does not allow students on mobility/exchange programs, however, to hold campus jobs.
Student employment opportunities are posted at the top of the Sculpture Ramp at the 800 Chestnut Street campus. Once you secure a job, you will need to apply for a Social Security number (SSN). US law says that you are allowed to begin work while your application for a SSN is pending. Your employer is also required to pay you on the regularly-scheduled payday, even if you have not yet received your SSN. If your employers tell you otherwise, ask them to contact your International Student Advisor, who will inform them as to their legal obligations.
On-campus employment is limited to a maximum of 20 hours per week while school is in session. During winter break, spring break and summer, you are allowed to work full-time. There are severe consequences if you work more than 20 hours per week, so do not do it. Most importantly, DO NOT WORK OFF-CAMPUS UNLESS YOU HAVE AUTHORIZATION! You can be deported, and even barred from returning to the US for ten years if you are discovered working illegally.
Off-Campus Employment
There are four categories of off-campus employment that are available to students in F-1 status. Each of these requires the authorization of your International Student Advisor, and in most cases, requires the approval of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. These categories are:
Employment Based on Severe Economic Hardship
Immigration regulations allow F-1 students to work off-campus if they have been in F-1 status for one full academic year and have suffered a severe economic hardship that was beyond the student’s control and occurred after obtaining F-1 status. The student must present documentation as proof of the urgent need for employment. Examples of situations that have resulted in approval by CIS have included severe devaluation of the currency of the student’s home country or the country of the person providing financial support to the student, and loss of employment of the student’s parents.
Employment with an International Organization
F-1 students are allowed to work full-time with a US government-recognized international organization that is party to the International Organizations Immunities Act of December 29, 1945. A list can be found at http://foia.state.gov/masterdocs/09fam/0941024X1.pdf
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
CPT is defined as an “internship ... or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.” Regulations require that the CPT must be “an integral part of an established curriculum.” CPT can be used to work off-campus in paid or unpaid positions. This requires the authorization of your International Student Advisor, and students must have completed at least one academic year, as well as have been in continuous F-1 status. While these types of opportunities have not previously been available to SFAI international students, we are working to develop a program that will. More information will be announced when a school policy has been created.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
OPT is the most commonly known work authorization. As a benefit of your F-1 student status, you are allowed up to 12 months of off-campus employment that is directly related to your major. Although the vast majority of students prefer to use their OPT benefit immediately after graduation, there are other categories of OPT. All of these require the authorization of not only your International Student Advisor, but of the regional CIS Service Center. The three options of OPT are:
Part-time Pre-Completion OPT
You may work while you are still a student, during the school year, no more that 20 hours per week. Since you are not working a full schedule, this is the least desirable option; however, in some instances this may be for you. For instance, if you are certain you will be returning to your home country immediately upon graduation, you may wish to work part-time during your senior year. Be aware that you will lose some or all of your Post-Completion OPT if you choose this.
Full-time Pre-Completion OPT
You may work full-time hours while you are still a student, during summer or winter breaks. This is desirable if you have a rare employment opportunity you do not wish to pass up. If you choose this option, you may still do Post-Completion OPT, but you will lose a comparable amount of time from the 12 months available to you. For example, if a student receives Full-time Pre-Completion OPT for the three months of summer between his/her junior and senior years, he/she may still do Full-time Post-Completion OPT for nine months after graduation.
Full-time Post-Completion OPT
This is the option that the vast majority of students choose because it both maximizes their stay in the US and allows them to obtain the most on-the-job experience in their chosen field. Students apply several months before graduation and choose a start date that will take place after they have graduated. They are then allowed to work up to 12 months, full-time.
Four-year degree students in F-1 status are allowed to work on campus. You do not need prior approval from Immigrations or from the International Student Advisor in order to accept on-campus employment, if you have F-1 status. School policy does not allow students on mobility/exchange programs, however, to hold campus jobs.
Student employment opportunities are posted at the top of the Sculpture Ramp at the 800 Chestnut Street campus. Once you secure a job, you will need to apply for a Social Security number (SSN). US law says that you are allowed to begin work while your application for a SSN is pending. Your employer is also required to pay you on the regularly-scheduled payday, even if you have not yet received your SSN. If your employers tell you otherwise, ask them to contact your International Student Advisor, who will inform them as to their legal obligations.
On-campus employment is limited to a maximum of 20 hours per week while school is in session. During winter break, spring break and summer, you are allowed to work full-time. There are severe consequences if you work more than 20 hours per week, so do not do it. Most importantly, DO NOT WORK OFF-CAMPUS UNLESS YOU HAVE AUTHORIZATION! You can be deported, and even barred from returning to the US for ten years if you are discovered working illegally.
Off-Campus Employment
There are four categories of off-campus employment that are available to students in F-1 status. Each of these requires the authorization of your International Student Advisor, and in most cases, requires the approval of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. These categories are:
- Employment Based on Severe Economic Hardship
- Employment with an International Organization
- Curricular Practical Training
- Optional Practical Training
Employment Based on Severe Economic Hardship
Immigration regulations allow F-1 students to work off-campus if they have been in F-1 status for one full academic year and have suffered a severe economic hardship that was beyond the student’s control and occurred after obtaining F-1 status. The student must present documentation as proof of the urgent need for employment. Examples of situations that have resulted in approval by CIS have included severe devaluation of the currency of the student’s home country or the country of the person providing financial support to the student, and loss of employment of the student’s parents.
Employment with an International Organization
F-1 students are allowed to work full-time with a US government-recognized international organization that is party to the International Organizations Immunities Act of December 29, 1945. A list can be found at http://foia.state.gov/masterdocs/09fam/0941024X1.pdf
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
CPT is defined as an “internship ... or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.” Regulations require that the CPT must be “an integral part of an established curriculum.” CPT can be used to work off-campus in paid or unpaid positions. This requires the authorization of your International Student Advisor, and students must have completed at least one academic year, as well as have been in continuous F-1 status. While these types of opportunities have not previously been available to SFAI international students, we are working to develop a program that will. More information will be announced when a school policy has been created.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
OPT is the most commonly known work authorization. As a benefit of your F-1 student status, you are allowed up to 12 months of off-campus employment that is directly related to your major. Although the vast majority of students prefer to use their OPT benefit immediately after graduation, there are other categories of OPT. All of these require the authorization of not only your International Student Advisor, but of the regional CIS Service Center. The three options of OPT are:
- Part-time Pre-Completion OPT
- Full-time Pre-Completion OPT
- Full-time Post-Completion OPT
Part-time Pre-Completion OPT
You may work while you are still a student, during the school year, no more that 20 hours per week. Since you are not working a full schedule, this is the least desirable option; however, in some instances this may be for you. For instance, if you are certain you will be returning to your home country immediately upon graduation, you may wish to work part-time during your senior year. Be aware that you will lose some or all of your Post-Completion OPT if you choose this.
Full-time Pre-Completion OPT
You may work full-time hours while you are still a student, during summer or winter breaks. This is desirable if you have a rare employment opportunity you do not wish to pass up. If you choose this option, you may still do Post-Completion OPT, but you will lose a comparable amount of time from the 12 months available to you. For example, if a student receives Full-time Pre-Completion OPT for the three months of summer between his/her junior and senior years, he/she may still do Full-time Post-Completion OPT for nine months after graduation.
Full-time Post-Completion OPT
This is the option that the vast majority of students choose because it both maximizes their stay in the US and allows them to obtain the most on-the-job experience in their chosen field. Students apply several months before graduation and choose a start date that will take place after they have graduated. They are then allowed to work up to 12 months, full-time.
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