Employment authorization is only available to F-1 students who have been offered a position with a recognized international organization within the International Organization Immunities Act. A complete list of eligible organizations and additional information can be found on ice.gov. Students should confirm that the position with the international organization qualifies for employment authorization and individual eligibility to obtain authorization. The student initiates his or her application by scheduling an appointment with ISSA to confirm eligibility and review required documents. The student completes the process by mailing their application to USCIS.
International Organization Eligibility Requirements and Application:
- The student must have a written offer of employment or certification from the qualifying international organization.
- The employment authorization may only be granted during the student’s academic program.
- The student must maintain full-time enrollment as required during the employment.
- The employment does not have to be directly related to the student’s major field of study.
- Work authorization is granted by USCIS in increments of no more than one year (renewable) or until the expected date of employment completion, whichever is shorter.
- The current application fee charged by USCIS is $410.00 USD and processing time is approximately 3-5 months.
Important Notes
Employment off campus may not begin until a student receives their EAD card and the start date on card has been reached.