Employment

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authorizes on-campus employment for F-1 students. The student may only work on the campus of the school that issued the I-20 and the work may not exceed 20 hours a week when school is in session and full time when school is not in session (during spring break, summer session, etc.).

OFF-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT

§  Practical Training - Practical Training is available to F-1 students who have been enrolled full time for at least one academic year. The employment for Practical Training must be in the student's field of study. There are two types of Practical Training:

·        Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

  CPT is an alternate workstudy, an internship, cooperative education or any type of required internship or practicum, which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school. Employment must be an integral part of an established curriculum.  F-1 students who engage in an aggregate of 12 months or moth of full-time CPT become ineligible for OPT.

·        Optional Practical Training (OPT)

  OPT is a temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student's major area of study and commensurate with the students educational level.  A student becomes eligible for another 12 months of practical training when he or she changes to a higher educational level.