Can I work on an F1 visa? When and how?

If you are coming to the United States as an international student you are probably wondering if you will be able to give yourself some extra income by working while you are here. Once you hold a valid F1 visa you will be able to work but the types of work you can do are limited and you will need to be careful with any jobs you take to make sure you are not in breach of your visa. In this article we will tell you everything you need to know about working on an F1 visa.

Curricular Practical Training Curricular Practical Training, CPT, is work experience that is directly related to your field of study. This will be carried out during your semesters and will also carry academic credits that will go towards your overall marks. The company you work with on your CPT must be approved by the school and you will need to get clearance from both the International Students Office and the USCIS, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, before you start work.

Optional Practical Training Every international student in the United States is entitled to work twelve months of Optional Practical Training, OPT, once they have completed the first academic year of their course. Like CPT, OPT work must be directly related to your field of study, however, it is not part of your course work and will not count towards your overall grades. You will need to have clearance from both your school’s international Student office and USCIS and you will also need to apply for an Employment Authorization Document, EAD, before you start your OPT. A lot of students wait until after graduation to start their OPT because this gives them an opportunity to showcase their skills and work ethic to any would be employers. This also gives them time to find a possible sponsor for an H1B visa application. Any CPT work carried out will be deducted from the amount of OPT you have available. If you are a STEM, Science Technology Engineering Mathematics, student you may be entitled to a twenty four month OPT extension, meaning that you can work for a total of three years on your F1 visa.

On campus work On campus employment is probably the most straightforward work you can get while on an F1 visa. You do not need clearance from the USCIS for on campus employment but you might need to get permission from the International Students Office. You are allowed to work part time during your semesters and full time during holidays and breaks.

Work for an international organization As an international student you can work for an international organization once you have completed one academic year. These organizations must appear on the State Department list to qualify for this type of employment, the Red Cross is a good example of an organization you could work for. Like OPT and CPT, this work must be directly related to your field of study and you will need to get an EAD before you start. Working for an international organization will directly affect your OPT, which should be taken into account before committing to any job.

Severe economic hardship The USCIS will allow international students to work off campus if the are experiencing severe economic hardship. To qualify this you must be able to prove that you are suffering as the result of unforeseen circumstances and you are unable to provide for yourself. Things like medical bills, loss of financial aid or funding, unforeseen fees or even fluctuations on exchange rates could qualify as severe economic hardship. You will need to have completed one academic year and be able to prove that on campus employment was not available for you. You will also need an EAD before you start any employment. You will be able to work part time during your semesters and full time during holidays and breaks.

Have you had any experience working on an F1 visa? Do you have any advice about working for international students? Tell us your thoughts in our comments section.

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Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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