International Student Services
St. Mary's University
One Camino Santa Maria
San Antonio, Texas 78228 Jenny Brydon, Director phone: (210) 431-8067 fax: (210) 431-4382 iss@stmarytx.edu
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Employment for F-1 International Students
F-1 International students are allowed to work under very specific circumstances. The paragraphs below explain what is allowed and what is not allowed. Please note that this is only a guide. Always check with the Office of International Student Services before you begin any type of employment or volunteer position to be sure that it is permitted. Remember that your primary purpose for being in the United States is to be a student; any employment you do while you are in F-1 status must be incidental to your stay.
Social Security: If you have paid employment in the U.S., you need to obtain a Social Security Number from the federal government. Application instructions for international students, a downloadable application form, and more information are available on the Social Security website. If you are working on-campus, you will need a letter from International Services verifying your work authorization. Make an appointment with our office to request the letter and to receive further assistance with the application.
On-Campus Employment
There are two types of on-campus employment: Non-College Work-Study and Student Employment. Non-College Work-Study is awarded through the Office of Financial Assistance on a very strict basis. Contact Financial Assistance for more information. Student Employment is granted by individual offices and departments on campus. To find Student Employment positions, contact the Human Resources Office or inquire at offices where you would like to work.
Approval Needed: You don't need authorization from International Student Services or the Department of Homeland Security to work on campus, but you must be careful not to work more than 20 hours a week while school is in session. You should also tell International Student Services that you are working on campus. Employment may begin upon arrival at St. Mary’s University.
Hours per Week: On-campus employment is limited to a TOTAL of 20 hours a week during the Fall and Spring semesters and during summer sessions if you are attending classes. This weekly limitation includes assistantships, working in the LAC, and being a Resident Assistant. You are allowed to work more than 20 hours a week during the breaks between terms if you will be attending St. Mary's in the following semester.
Off-Campus Employment
Students may not work off-campus until they have been in F-1 status for one academic year. The only exception is for graduate students who must begin internships earlier because of the requirements of their department.
The most common types of off-campus employment are Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). Practical training is temporary employment to obtain relevant work experience in a student's field of study or major. The work must be directly related to the student’s degree.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) must be an integral part of an established curriculum. This means that it must be a part of your degree program or you must receive academic credit for your employment.
Preconditions: This is training that is part of an academic program such as an internship. You must enroll in a class, get class credit, and receive a grade for Curricular Practical Training.
Approval Needed: The Office of International Services must approve CPT before you begin work. You will need to show an actual job offer and documentation from your academic advisor that the job is appropriate and required for your degree. While obtaining approval is relatively simple, it is best to allow at least one month for the process to be completed. In order to begin the process, you must first make an appointment with the Director.
Hours Per Week: No more than 20 hours per week while school is in session; more than 20 hours is allowed while school is not in session.
Effect on other work: While there is no limit to the amount of part-time CPT you may have, if you accumulate 12 or more months of full-time CPT you are no longer eligible to receive Optional Practical Training.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Optional Practical Training is employment related to your major that is not a required part of your degree program. All F-1 students who stay in good status are eligible for a total of 12 months of Optional Practical Training for each level of education that they complete. This means that if you get a Bachelor's degree and obtain a year of OPT, then earn a Master's degree, you get an additional year of Optional Practical Training for your Master's degree. However, if you get two Master's degrees you are eligible for only one period of OPT. Most students save their Optional Practical Training until after they graduate so that they can stay in the U. S. an extra year and work full-time.
Some students may be eligible for a 17-month extension of OPT (for a total of 29 months) if their major is listed as a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) degree and if their employer registers with the federal E-Verify system.
Approval Needed: The application for OPT must be endorsed by the Director and then processed by USCIS. Applications may take 2 to 3 months to process, so you should plan ahead and send in your request at least 2 months before you want to begin working. Students who want to do OPT after they graduate may apply for OPT up to 60 days after graduation.
Hours per Week: limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session; no limitation during annual vacation; must be full-time after graduation.
Severe Economic Hardship
If you are in good F-1 status and are having financial problems because of a situation that occurred after you came to St. Mary's, you may be eligible to apply to USCIS for off-campus employment based on severe economic hardship. The Severe Economic Hardship Program is only for students that are having financial difficulty because of unforeseen circumstances that occurred since their arrival in the U.S. This program is intended to help students pay for the basics - tuition, books, and room and board. You will not be approved if you only want work for extra spending money.
If you apply for and receive authorization to work due to economic hardship, you are still eligible for OPT.
Approval Needed: The USCIS authorizes Economic Hardship Employment and requires the recommendation of the Director. Since applications take about 2 to 3 months to process, you should plan ahead and send in your request at least 2 months before you want to begin to work. To begin the process, you must first make an appointment with the Director.
Hours Per Week: limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session; no limitation during school breaks
Non-Paid Internships or Volunteer Positions
International students are allowed to accept non-paid internships and volunteer positions. However, the position must be traditionally non-paid. This means that the company must have an established intern or volunteer position that is regularly non-paid. Employers cannot simply withhold payment for the work you do because it would violate federal labor laws. You may not get compensation of any kind such as a bonus, large gift, or any kind of reimbursement.
Approval Needed: While you do not need any official approval to accept a non-paid internship or volunteer position, it is recommended that you check with the Office of International Student Services before you begin to be sure your position qualifies as unpaid by federal standards.
Hours Per Week: There is no limit to how many hours per week you are allowed to work as a non-paid intern or volunteer. However International Student Services recommends that you work no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session because your primary purpose in the US is to study.
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