International Students

• Overview
• Housing
• Department of Homeland Security Regulations
• Health and Accident Insurance
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• MDC Policies, Regulations and Rules
• Maintaining Status
• Employment

Employment

Definition of Employment

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) defines employment as:

• Rendering of services on either a full-time or part-time basis for compensation, financial or otherwise, including self-employment.

Types of Employment

• On-Campus Employment
• Off-Campus Employment *
  • Severe Economic Hardship
  • Curricular Practical Training
  • Optional Practical Training

(*) The F-1 regulations are very clear on who qualifies for off-campus employment authorization and who does not. Students in exchange programs and students in English for Academic Purposes (EAP), do not qualify for any type of off-campus paid employment before or after since they do not meet the eligibility requirements for these Immigration benefits.

On-Campus Employment Eligibility

• Valid F-1 status.
• Work no more than 20 hours during Fall and Spring semesters.
• 40 hours allowed during summer and semester breaks.
• Must apply for authorization from your ISS Office.
• Employment eligibility ends whenever a student fails to maintain status.

On-Campus Employment Warning

• Initial entry students cannot begin work more than 30 days before classes start.
• A student may not engage in on-campus employment during the 60-day grace period following the completion of a course of study or thereafter, except in the following situations:
  • The student has employment authorized for post-completion OPT and will work at MDC. Although the services in fact are performed "on-campus," the source of the student's work authorization in this case is OPT.
  • The student wishes to work on-campus between academic levels at the same school.
  • When transferring schools, the student may engage in employment at the school having jurisdiction over the SEVIS record. Students temporarily attending two institutions concurrently may work only on the campus of the institution that issued their Form I-20.

Severe Economic Hardship

Eligibility

• Valid F-1 status for one academic year and good academic standing.
• Hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control. For example, if a student's funding is coming from his father and the father loses his business, the student would qualify for this type of work authorization.
• On-campus employment opportunities unavailable or insufficient.
• No job offer needed to apply. Application forms can be obtained at the ISS office.
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) takes several months to process the application. You may not begin employment until you receive your EAD (Employment Authorization Document).
• Please note that the decision whether your application will be approved rests entirely with the USCIS.
• In case your application is denied, USCIS does not provide you with the opportunity to appeal the decision.

Duration of Work Authorization

• Granted in one-year intervals up to expected date of graduation.
• May be renewed if severe economic hardship continues.
• Part-time work is allowed during Spring and Fall semesters. Full-time work is allowed during holidays or school vacations.

Warning

• You may NOT begin employment before you have authorization.
• To begin early or continue past the ending date constitutes illegal employment.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT is:

• Employment (internship, practicum, or cooperative education) directly related to your major field of study.
• Requirement for your degree or based on enrollment in at least one academic credit in internship, practicum, or cooperative education course. (Enrollment in research credits, directed readings, special problems, special projects, etc. is not acceptable for CPT purposes)

CPT Eligibility:

• Must be in lawful F-1 status at time of application.
• Must have been enrolled in valid, lawful status as a full-time student for one full academic year directly preceding the application.
• Job offer needed to apply.
• Job must be directly related to your major field of study.
• Job must be appropriate for someone with your level of education.
• Written permission from your academic department.
• Changing employers is permitted but requires new CPT authorization for each respective employer.
• Enrollment in at least one academic credit in an internship, practicum, or cooperative education course in your department if CPT is not required for the degree.
• YOU MAY ONLY ENGAGE IN CPT WHILE PURSUING YOUR DEGREE.
• DO NOT WORK PRIOR TO RECEIVING AUTHORIZATIN FROM ISS AND EMPLOYMENT START DATE AUTHORIZED BY ISS.

Warning

• You may NOT begin employment before you have authorization.
• To begin early or continue past the ending date constitutes illegal employment.
• English Language Students: Students enrolled in English language training programs are not eligible for CPT nor can time spent in F-1 status while in English language training programs be counted towards the one full academic year required for CPT eligibility.

Other Requirements

• Dates of training limited to dates of the semester.
• Enrollment for internship, practicum, or cooperative education course EACH semester you engage in CPT must be in your academic department
• Part-time work only permissible during Fall and Spring semesters (20 hours per week) unless your degree requires you to complete a full-time internship during fall and/or spring semesters.
• Full-time during the summer (over 20 hours per week).
• Authorization granted by ISS (7 business days to process).

Warning

• If you accumulate a total of 12 months of full-time CPT, this will cancel your Optional Practical Training (OPT) eligibility.
• Consult with your ISS advisor before applying for this work authorization to confirm your eligibility.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

OPT is:

• Training in your major field of study before and/or after completing course requirements.
• Extension of your F-1 status. You are still held responsible for maintaining your F-1 status during your OPT.
• Authorization given by USCIS for 12 months (full-time) total.
• You may become eligible for another 12 months of practical training when you change to a higher educational level.

OPT Eligibility:

• Must be in lawful F-1 status at time of application.
• Must have been enrolled in valid, lawful status as a full-time student for one full academic year directly preceding the application.
• International students are not required to enroll for the summer sessions with the exception of students graduating at the end of Summer Session A or B. Summer graduates must be enrolled the summer session in which they are scheduled to graduate.
• No job offer needed to apply.
• Job must be directly related to your major field of study.
• Letter from your department required for post-completion OPT.
• Application forms are available at ISS.
• You should apply before completion of your course requirements, since USCIS may take several months to process OPT applications.
• You may, however, apply within the 60-day grace period after graduation, but no later than 15 days prior to the end of the grace period.
• DO NOT WORK PRIOR TO RECEIVING EAD AND EMPLOYMENT START DATE ON EAD (Employment Authorization Document).
• STARTING A NEW PROGRAM OF STUDY OR TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER INSTITUTION WILL CANCEL YOUR OPT.

Employment that qualifies as OPT:

1. Working for one or multiple employers (short or long term).
2. Working on a contractual basis.
3. Working as a self-employed business owner on a full-time basis (with evidence of the proper business license).
4. Working through an agency.
5. Volunteering or holding an unpaid internship (as long as the position does not violate U.S. Labor laws)

More

• You may submit an OPT application up to 90 days prior to being enrolled for one full academic year, provided employment will not begin until the completion of the full academic year.
• It is estimated that it will take several months for USCIS to process the application.
• Please note that the decision whether your application will be approved rests entirely with the USCIS.
• You may NOT begin employment until you receive your EAD.
• OPT starts from the date USCIS assigns.
• To begin early or continue past the ending date constitutes illegal employment.
• You cannot cancel, void or postpone OPT.
• Optional Practical Training must be completed within a 14-month period after completion of the course of study.
• Remember to maintain health insurance coverage in the U.S. while on OPT.

IMPORTANT! We strongly suggest you request Optional Practical Training (OPT) prior to the completion of all course requirements for the degree or prior to the completion of the course of study. The deadline to submit your post completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) application is no less than 15 business days prior to the end of the 60-day grace period after completion of your studies.