F-1 Employment Options
Employment is considered to be the rendering of services for compensation. This includes financial as well as other types of compensation that includes but is not limited to meals, housing, books or any type of reimbursement for transportation, lodging, etc. Employment is a benefit of the F-1 student status but one to which numerous rules and restrictions apply. Students may violate these rules and lose their immigration status by working off campus without prior, written authorization, working on campus for more hours than permitted, engaging in self-employment or other types of prohibited employment. Working or accepting employment in the United States without proper authorization is considered a serious violation of immigration status which may result in deportation. F-1 students considering any type of employment in the United States should consult with the Immigration Services Office prior to beginning work.
IMPORTANT: Information about all types of employment
● F-1 students may not engage in any type of employment off-campus until student receives written employment authorization or EAD as indicated and start date has passed.
● F-1 students may not engage in self-employment of any kind.
● F-2 dependents are not permitted to work or accept employment of any kind in the United States.
On-Campus Employment
On-campus employment includes teaching, research, and graduate assistantships as well as employment conducted in other offices at Notre Dame where a stipend or paycheck will be issued by the University. However, outside companies that issue their own paychecks and do not have a contractual agreement with the University are not considered on-campus employment and F-1 students are not permitted to work for such employers. No prior written approval from the ISO is required for an F-1 student to engage in on-campus employment if the student is still working toward the educational objective indicated on the student’s I-20 and has otherwise maintained status.
Conditions and limitations for F-1 Student On-campus employment:
● F-1 students making an initial entry into the U.S. may begin on-campus employment no more than 30 days prior to the start date listed in item 5 on form I-20.
● F-1 students are restricted to no more than 20 hours per week total while school is in session during the fall and spring semesters.
● F-1 students may work more than 20 hours per week only during vacation periods, such as summer.
● F-1 students are not permitted to continue on-campus employment after completion of the degree program or academic objective indicated on form I-20. NOTE: Written authorization, such as an Employment Authorization Document for OPT, is required to continue employment on-campus after completion of the academic program.
● F-1 students may not work off-campus under any circumstances without prior, written authorization from USCIS or the DSO on form I-20.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a type of employment authorization available to F-1 students during or after completion of the program of study. Students obtain authorization for OPT by filing an application, including the required filing fee, with USCIS. Pre-completion OPT is authorized for either full-time or part-time employment before the end of the academic program. Post-completion OPT is authorized for full-time employment after the end of the academic program.
OPT Eligibility Requirements and Application:
● Student must have been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year.
● Student must currently be maintaining lawful F-1 status.
● Student is eligible for up to twelve (12) months at each progressively higher educational level.
-May include any combination of pre-completion and post-completion authorization periods.
-Part-time OPT is authorization for 20 hours per week or less and is deducted from the total 12 months at 50%
● Job offer is not required to apply for OPT.
● Employment must be directly related to the major field of study.
● ISO requires students to attend mandatory OPT Information Session before they may apply for OPT.
● Current application fee charged by USCIS is $340.00 USD.
● Current USCIS processing time is approximately 2-3 months.
Curricular Practical Training
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of employment authorization available to F-1 students that comprises an integral part if the student’s course of study and may not be used after completion of the academic program. Students obtain authorization for CPT by requesting authorization from the DSO in the Immigration Services Office. CPT may be authorized for either full-time or part-time employment, depending on the academic situation of the student.
CPT Eligibility Requirements and Application:
● Student must have been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year unless CPT is required by academic program prior to completion of first academic year.
● Student must be maintaining lawful F-1 status.
● Student must maintain a full course of study during CPT.
● CPT must not delay completion of academic program.
● Student eligibility for CPT is not limited by regulations but CPT authorization may affect eligibility for OPT:
-Part-time CPT does not affect eligibility for OPT.
-Authorization for 12 months or more full-time CPT makes student ineligible for OPT at the same academic level.
● CPT is employer-specific; student must have written offer of employment prior to application.
● Employment must be an “integral part” of the course of study.
● ISO requires students to attend mandatory CPT Information Session before they may apply for CPT.
● There is no application fee for CPT.
● Current ISO processing time is 2-5 work days.
Severe Economic Hardship
Employment authorization to avoid Severe Economic Hardship (SEH) may be granted by USCIS if a student’s means of financial support decreases substantially during the student’s academic program.
SEH Eligibility Requirements and Application:
● Student must have been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year. And must be maintaining F-1 status
● Student must provide documentation of economic hardship, evidence that hardship is both unforeseen and beyond the student’s control as well as explanation that insufficient employment opportunities exist on campus to meet need.
● Employment authorization is granted for 20 hours per week during regular fall and spring semesters and full-time during scheduled school breaks and must not interfere with enrollment in a full course of study.
● Employment authorization is granted in 12-month intervals and is renewable for duration of hardship during program.
● Does not affect eligibility for OPT.
● Employment is not required to be related to student’s major field of study.
● Authorized on Employment Authorization Document (EAD) produced and sent to the student by USCIS.
● Current application fee charged by USCIS is $340.00 USD.
● Current USCIS processing time is approximately 2-3 months.
Employment/Internship with an International Organization
Employment with a recognized international organization may be granted by USCIS to any qualified F-1 student during the student’s academic program.
Eligibility Requirements and Application:
● Student may apply at any time during program.
● May be authorized for employment or internships with recognized international organizations such as the UN, WHO, etc. *A complete list of qualifying organizations is available from the ISO.
● Employment authorization may be full-time or part-time.
● Student must maintain a full course of study during employment period.
● Employment authorization is granted in 12-month intervals and is renewable for duration of hardship during program.
● Authorization is employer-specific; student must have written offer of employment prior to application.
● Does not affect eligibility for OPT.
● Employment is not required to be related to student’s major field of study.
● Authorized on Employment Authorization Document (EAD) produced and sent to the student by USCIS.
● Current application fee charged by USCIS is $340.00 USD.
● Current USCIS processing time is approximately 2-3 months.