Employment Essentials for International Students

1. All employment MUST be authorized by the Office of International Students and Scholars
2. International students are immediately eligible for on-campus work with Non-Work Study (NWS) funding.
3. International students MUST be in legal F-1 status for one full academic year before eligible for off-campus work authorization
4. Employment cannot exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session
5. Curricular Practical Training (CPT)– Paid internship in F-1 student’s field of study
6. Students engaged in CPT MUST be enrolled in an internship course
7. CPT is employer specific and MUST be authorized on a student’s I-20 BEFORE they start working
8. CPT does not affect Optional Practical Training (OPT) unless fulltime for 12 months
9. ALL F-1 students are eligible for OPT – MUST be authorized by Department of Homeland Security (Usually takes 90+ days)
10. Once approved, student must be employed within 90 days of the OPT start date