Employment
"Employment" refers to any work for which you are
compensated. Compensation includes
money, tips, lodging, gifts, having your tuition paid, goods, gift certificates or
any other type of payment. For example, if
you live with a family and they give you free room and board for taking care of
children in the home, you are employed, which is a violation of your F-1 visa
status.
F-1 students are allowed to work part-time on the campus of the school they are
attending. According to immigration regulations, you may work up to 20 hours per week while
attending full-time classes. You should also check to see if the school
has a policy regarding the amount of hours you may work. Immigration
regulations also state that international students may work full-time during summer vacations and
between quarters, provided you continue at the school the following quarter.
On-campus employment is not permitted after you complete your studies. If you
are transferring schools, you may only work on-campus at the school that has
jurisdiction over your SEVIS record.
NOTE: You must be in valid, legal status to work on-campus. If you are in the process of a
reinstatement, you must wait until it has been approved before you can start
working.
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It is illegal to work off campus without authorization. - If you work illegally
and it is discovered, you will not be reinstated and you will lose all benefits
of the F-1 student visa, including Optional Practical Training.
There are two ways to get permission to work off-campus:
practical training and
severe economic hardship. Both of these must be authorized by your
International Student
Advisor. Please see the International Programs Office for more information.
Practical training allows you to get job experience in your field of study. There are two kinds of
practical training, Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical
Training (OPT). For both of these you must maintain F-1 status for at least one
academic year before you apply.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is formal training in your field of study. It
allows you to receive college credit for work in your field of study and is generally done
on a part-time basis while you are enrolled in full-time classes. CPT usually
consists of internships or cooperative education programs, and are identified and
described in the course catalogue. You may request authorization for CPT
anytime; authorization does not take long once you have a job offer. To qualify,
CPT programs must either be awarded academic credit or
must be a requirement of your degree program.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is usually full-time work, done after completion of studies.
OPT can be authorized for a maximum of 12 months at the full-time rate. You must
apply for OPT BEFORE you complete your degree. We recommend that you apply as
early as 4 months in advance, because it takes at least 3 months to
receive the authorization from CIS. Students participating in OPT may not begin
working until CIS sends them an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The EAD
is a photo-identification card, which indicates the beginning and ending dates of
authorized employment.
Off-campus employment authorization can be awarded to students experiencing
unforeseen, severe economic hardship. However, authorization from CIS takes
several months. The student must have been in F-1 status
for at least one academic year, be in good standing, and be able to document
that on-campus opportunities are not available or are insufficient to meet their
needs.
The student must also prove there has been a change in his or her
economic situation which results in a need for off-campus employment in addition
to, or instead of, on-campus employment. CIS expects to see valid,
substantial proof and documentation of the student's need for severe economic
hardship; this request is taken very seriously. Examples of unforeseen circumstances include loss of financial aid,
substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rate, inordinate
increases in tuition and/or living costs, unexpected changes in the financial
condition of a student’s source of support, or other substantial unexpected
expenses.
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An F-1 student seeking employment with an international organization, as defined
by the International Organization Act, may apply to CIS for an Employment
Authorization Document (EAD). Contact the International Programs Office for more
information.
IMPORTANT: Talk to your International Student Advisor about questions you
have regarding employment opportunities!
Students with F-1 status who are paid by U.S. sources must apply for a social
security number. The primary purpose of the social security number is to track
earnings over a worker's lifetime. A social security number is not required to
obtain a driver's license, bank account, cell phone, credit card, insurance, or for any other
"non-work" reason.
Before issuing your number, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will require
evidence that you are eligible to work in the United States, that you are a
full-time student and that you have received a formal offer of employment. The
Social Security Administration must also verify your immigration documents and
status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
To obtain a social security number if you are an F-1 student seeking on-campus
employment or have been granted CPT:
- Get a Social Security Request form from the International Programs Office
(IPO). Complete the form with the hiring official, and then return the form to
the International Student Advisor, who will verify your full-time student status and eligibility
for employment and then sign and return the form to you along with a letter
verifying your status.
- Complete an
SS-5 form.
- Not earlier than 10 business days after arriving in the U.S., apply in person
at a local Social Security Administration office. We recommend the one located
in downtown Seattle at
901 Lenora Street, Suite 100.
Bring with you:
- The completed and signed Social Security Request form (from #1 above).
- Your I-20
- Your Passport
- Your I-94 card
- Application for a Social Security Card (SS-5 form)
(#2 above)
- A letter from the International Student Advisor
- EAD card (if applicable)
Note: Students who are not employed, but receive scholarships, tuition
waivers, or need an identification number for taxes may need to apply for an
Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN).
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Last updated on: 6/20/2006
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