An Overview of Employment Opportunities for F-1 Students

On-campus employment refers to work performed on school premises or at an affiliated off-site

location. On-campus employment may include working in the school library, cafeteria, student store, or
work that is part of a student's scholarship, fellowship or assistantship.

F-1 Students may be employed on campus as long as they work no longer than 20 hours per week while
school is in session. Students are also eligible to work full-time during vacation and school breaks as long
as they intend to and are eligible to register for the next term.

CPT
Cooperative training programs or externships also known as Curricular Practical Training refer to work-
study programs required as part of a student's work toward a degree. To be eligible for curricular
practical training, a student must have completed nine months of study or be enrolled in graduate
studies that require immediate participation in curricular practical training.

The maximum amount of curricular or post-completion optional practical (OPT) training is 12 months.
STEM field graduates receive an additional 24 months. Thus, if the curricular training is 12 months in
length (full-time basis), the student will not be eligible for post-completion practical training.

Pre-completion practical training must be in a field related to studies is permitted for F-1 students as
long as they do not no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session. This category allows full-
time employment during vacations and on school breaks as long as the student intends to register for
the next term. Time spent in pre-completion practical training will count towards the 12 months full-
time employment available for post completion practical training. In cases where an F-1 student is faced
with severe and often unforeseen economic hardship, the student may obtain permission to work off-
campus in any field for 20 hours per week and full-time while school is not in session. Employment
based on financial hardship is not counted towards post-completion optional practical training (OPT),
but the student must have completed at least one academic year in F-1 status, and be in good academic
standing in order to be eligible for employment based on economic hardship.

OPT

Post completion OPT authorizes F-1 students who are completing a bachelor’s or gradate degree in the
US. The purpose of post completion OPT is to provide an opportunity for employment experience in the
student’s field of study. An F-1 student is entitled to one year of post-completion OPT. However,
students who have received one year or more of full-time curricular practical training (CPT) are not
ineligible for OPT. Part-time CPT authorization, or fewer than 12 months of full-time CPT authorization,
does not affect OPT eligibility.

F-1 students may apply to participate in post-completion OPT after completing their studies. Students
who are authorized for post-completion OPT, may work part time (20 hours or less per week) or full-
time.
 Students who have earned a degree in certain science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields,
may apply for a 24-month extension of post-completion OPT employment authorization if they:

• Are an F-1 student who received a STEM degree included on the STEM Designated Degree Program
List (PDF),
• Are employed by an employer who is enrolled in and is using E-Verify, and
• Received an initial grant of post-completion OPT employment authorization based on their STEM
degree.

For more information please contact the Law Offices of Fariba Faiz.