Employment Overview
International students, with an F-1 or J-1 visa, are allowed to work in United States. Here’s a brief introduction to working in the United States as an F-1 Student.
What options do I have?
Location |
Options |
Qualification |
Working hours |
On-campus |
Student worker |
All students |
Part time |
Graduate assistant |
Graduate students |
Part time |
CPT |
All students before graduation |
Part time / Full time |
Off-campus |
CPT |
All students before graduation |
Part time / Full time |
Pre-completion OPT |
All students before graduation |
Part time |
Post-completion OPT |
All students after graduation |
Full time |
Part time: maximum of 20 hours/ week
Full time: maximum of 40 hours/ week
Student workers and Graduate Assistants (GA) are part-time jobs and work with Staff, Faculty, or Professors on campus.
To find a Student Worker position on campus, use .
- The way to check: My²¨É«µ¥Ë« -> Resource: Handshake -> “Jobs” on the top -> On campus
To find a GA position on campus, these are a few ways to learn about hiring information:
- On Human Resources Website -> Employment -> Employment Opportunities -> Search Jobs: Select Position type: Graduate Assistance
CAREER SERVICES FOR STUDENTS
Your ²¨É«µ¥Ë« experience will extend beyond your time on campus. You will carry your expertise in your chosen field of study along with the practical skills needed to adapt to an ever-changing world.
More than 300+ employers recruit ²¨É«µ¥Ë« students annually. With 40,000+ alumni, you will have great networking connections. For more information, please contact careerservices@lewisu.edu or go to the Career Services website.
WORK AUTHORIZATION
F-1 students may ONLY work on-campus. Any off-campus jobs MUST be authorized by a Designated School Official and be listed on your I-20 (CPT, OPT). Do not accept employment in any job that is off campus and is NOT listed on your I-20. Working without employment authorization is a serious violation of F-1 visa status and can have severe consequences.
Potential consequences of accepting a paid or unpaid practical training opportunity without proper authorization may include:
- and loss of your F-1 benefits, including on-campus employment and OPT.
- Potential accrual of
- Ineligibility for future visas that allow for work authorization, such as H-1B, O-1, TN, or permanent residency.
- Denial of your USCIS application for OPT.
You should meet with an ISGSS advisor as soon as you become aware that you have violated your F-1 status.
TYPES OF EMPLOYMENT
CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING (CPT)
- CPT is alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, clerkship, or optional/required internship or practicum, available only while the student is in F-1 status before completion of the educational objective.
PRE-COMPLETION OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (PRE-OPT)
- Pre-completion OPT: Occurs before a student's program end date. This option is not common and requires consultation with International Student and Global Scholar Services before the application process.
POST-COMPLETION OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (POST-OPT)
- Pre-completion OPT: Occurs before a student's program end date.
OPT STEM EXTENSION
- The STEM OPT extension is a 24-month period of temporary training that directly relates to an F-1 student's program of study in an approved STEM field.
EMPLOYMENT BASED ON ECONOMIC HARDSHIP
- USCIS makes case-by-case decisions for off-campus employment for students who can show that new, unexpected circumstances beyond their control have created severe economic hardship.
SPECIAL STUDENT RELIEF (SSR) APPLICATION
- SSR may be authorized for students whose home countries are impacted by natural disasters, wars and military conflicts, and national and international financial crises. SSR becomes possible when DHS issues a Federal Register Notice.
QUESTIONS? Email isgss@lewisu.edu.
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