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Employment

On-campus Employment

If you are maintaining your full-time student status, you may take a part-time job on campus for 20 hours or less per week while school is in session (fall and spring semesters) as long as it does not interfere with maintaining full-time enrollment. International students may work full-time on campus while school is not in session (summer vacation). Please contact the International Student Services (ISS) office for assistance and permission.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is permission to accept employment in your academic field that is an integral part of an established curriculum. CPT is also defined as an alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school. You qualify for CPT as long as it is an integral part of an established curriculum. CPT can be either part-time employment (20 hours or less per week) while school is in session (spring and fall) or full-time employment (maximum 40 hours per week) while school is not in session (winter or summer breaks).

CPT Downloads [PDF]

Eligibility

  1. You must hold F-1 non-immigrant status.
  2. You must have been a full-time student in the U.S. for one academic year (i.e., 2 semesters) or you must be a graduate student who is required to begin practical training immediately.
  3. You must currently be enrolled full-time in a degree program and be maintaining legal status.

What You Need to Do

  • Register for a full course load (12 credits for undergraduate students and 9 credits for graduate students)
  • Obtain a CPT package from the International Student Services (ISS) office
  • Obtain a job offer letter from your prospective employer that states the start and end dates of your employment, tasks on the job, number of hours to be worked, and the address of the employer on company letterhead
  • Meet with your academic advisor to review your internship and have him/her approve it by signing the appropriate form in the CPT package
  • Bring a copy of the job offer letter from your prospective employer, your current SEVIS I-20, and your academic approval to ISS

ISS will evaluate the documents, authorize CPT in the SEVIS system and issue a new I-20 to reflect the CPT approval.

ISS will authorize the CPT in SEVIS indicating:

  • Whether the CPT is full-time or part-time
  • The name of the employer
  • The dates for the period of CPT
  • Give you an updated I-20 with the CPT authorization printed on it

Important Tips

  • Make sure you know if the position is full-time or part-time and whether that will change during the time of your employment. If it does change, you will need to reapply for CPT approval from ISS.
  • Make sure you obtain authorization from an International Student Advisor to engage in CPT each time you change employers and each time you extend the dates of your employment. You must receive authorization before beginning the new job or working longer at the same job.
  • Make sure you know how long your CPT will last.
  • If you use 365 days or more of full-time CPT, you will be ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT).
  • Show your SEVIS I-20 with the CPT authorization to your employer as proof that you have permission to work in the United States. Do not begin working until you have authorization from the International Student Services office.

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Optional Practical Training (OPT)

OPT is one year of eligibility to work in the United Stated in a job that is directly related to your major area of study. OPT can be used while you are still pursuing your course of study and/or after you have finished your degree. The total amount of time you may spend engaging in OPT is 12 months maximum, (i.e., a student may use OPT for 6 months before graduation and 6 months after graduation) but the big majority of international students apply for OPT to be used all 12 months after graduation.

New regulations allow for an additional 12 months of OPT if you move to a higher level of education (i.e., you get 12 months of OPT after a Bachelor's degree, and another 12 months for the Master's degree).

OPT Downloads [PDF]

Pre- and Post-graduation Optional Practical Training

You may be authorized for pre-graduation Optional Practical Training under the following circumstances:

  1. You have enrolled as a full-time student for a minimum of one (1) academic year (fall and spring semesters), and intend to register for the next semester.
  2. While school is in session, OPT does not exceed 20 hours a week.
  3. After completion of course requirements and before graduation (during thesis/dissertation), OPT can be full time.

You may be authorized for post-graduation Optional Practical Training under the following circumstances:

  1. You have enrolled as a full-time student for a minimum of one academic year (fall and spring semesters).
  2. You have applied for for OPT three (3) months before graduation (required).
  3. USCIS recommends you to receive your application before your graduation date.

Eligibility

  • You must have been enrolled full time in an academic program for at least one (1) academic year.
  • To request permission to engage in OPT after graduation, you must apply during your last semester before completing your degree.
  • You must submit your application while you are still in the United States. You are not eligible to apply for OPT if you have already graduated and have left the United States.

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First Step

  • Collect the OPT package from the ISS office
  • Complete Form I-765 [PDF] [for #16, write in: (c)(3)(B)]
    Please click on the first field and complete the form. When you are finished, please print out the form and bring it to ISS.
  • Have two (2) photographs taken for immigration purposes and lightly print your name on the back of each photograph with a pencil. You can get these done at Wal-Mart, Walgreens, or any local photo shop. (View photo specifications and guidelines [PDF].)
  • Make sure your passport is valid
  • Write a check or money order made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security for $340.

Second Step

Bring in your completed Form I-765 [PDF], SEVIS I-20, passport, I-94, check or money order, photographs, and your academic advisor approval to an international student advisor.

The international student advisor will:

  • Recommend you for full-time or part-time work authorization in SEVIS system and issue you a new I-20 to reflect the recommendation
  • Review your application, make the necessary copies, submit the required documents and provide you with the envelope and mailing address to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Third Step

Submit the application assembled in the order below to:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
USCIS Service Center
P.O. Box 87765
Lincoln, NE 68501-7765

  1. A check or money order for $340.
  2. Form I-765 [PDF].
  3. A photocopy of your new SEVIS I-20 (the advisor will photocopy the new I-20 once the information has been entered into SEVIS).
  4. A copy of Form I-94 Departure Record (front and back). ISS will make the copies.
  5. Photocopies of the important pages of your passport. ISS will make the copies.
  6. Two photos (See examples [PDF])
  7. Copies of previous EAD (if any).
  8. Copies of all previous I-20 forms that were issued to you by IPFW or another school/university.

Can I extend my OPT?

As of April 2008, F-1 students who are currently authorized for a 12-month of OPT, who have earned a bachelor's, master's, or Ph.D. degree in a field that is listed on the DHS-STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) Designated Degree Program list from a U.S. college or university, and have a job-offer or employed by an employer registered with the E-Verify federal employment verification system, may apply for a 17-month extension to their OPT [PDF].

Very Important: New OPT Reporting Requirements

As of spring 2008, students on post-completion OPT may not accrue an aggregate of more than 90 days of unemployment under the initial 12-month period of OPT. Students granted a 17-month OPT extension may not accrue an aggregate of more than 120 days of unemployment during the total 29-month OPT period. IPFW international students must report employment by providing ISS with the name and address of the employer upon start of employment. Therefore, all IPFW international students on OPT must report the following information to ISS:

  • Any change in your name or address
  • Any change of employment and/or the name and address of the employer
  • Any interruption of such employment (unemployed, termination)
  • Students with an approved 17 month extension must also make a validation report every six months starting on the date the extension begins and ending when the OPT ends. The validation is a confirmation that the student's name and address, employer name and address, and/or loss of employment is current and accurate.

Important:

  1. Do not plan to travel outside of the U.S. while a decision is pending on your OPT application. Your absence from the U.S. may be viewed by USCIS as abandoning your OPT application and the review process of your OPT application may be terminated.
  2. Employment through OPT will automatically be terminated if you transfer to another school in the U.S.
  3. If you will be doing your OPT after completing your course of study or degree outside the state of Indiana, you may file at the USCIS office having jurisdiction over your place of residence. Processing times for EADs vary from one USCIS district to another. Be sure to allow enough time for this procedure. EAD processing may take up to 120 days at some locations.
  4. If you have received 365 days or more of full-time CPT, you are ineligible for OPT.
  5. If you are applying for optional practical training after completing your degree, you must have the following in your possession if you are traveling outside the U.S. and want to reenter the U.S. to start or resume your practical training:
    • A current Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued to you by the USCIS;
    • A SEVIS I-20 signed for reentry by a foreign student advisor within the last six (6) months.
    • A valid F-1 visa.
    • A copy of a letter from your employer verifying your employment. If you do not have these, you may not be allowed to enter the U.S. in F-1 status, and you may not start or continue practical training. Please make your travel plans carefully and consult with an international student advisor well in advance of your departure from the U.S.

Note: You must have an EAD in your possession before beginning to work.

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Employment Due to Severe Economic Hardship

If other employment opportunities are not available or are insufficient, a student in F-1 status may request off-campus work authorization based upon severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control.

Eligibility:

  1. You have been enrolled as a full-time student for one full academic year (fall and spring semesters).
  2. You must be in good standing in your classes and be taking a full course load (12 credit hours for undergraduate students; 9 credit hours for graduate students).
  3. You must demonstrate that acceptance of employment will not interfere with carrying a full course load.
  4. You must demonstrate that on-campus employment is insufficient.

First Step

  • Produce documentation demonstrating unexpected changes in your financial condition. This may be a loss of financial support through no fault of your own, 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 your source of support, medical bills, or other substantial and unexpected expenses
  • Complete an I-765 [PDF]. [for question #16, enter: (c)(3)(iii)]
  • Have two (2) photographs taken (See examples [PDF])
  • Copy of passport (Check the validity of your passport)
  • Make a list of your assets, income, and expenses
  • Write a one page letter to explain the unforeseen circumstances that caused your sponsor to be unable to fully sponsor your education expenses
  • Collect official documents to support the reason(s) of the unforeseen circumstances

Second Step

Bring all the documents that prove the unexpected financial changes, I-20, completed I-765 [PDF], passport, and I-94 to an international student advisor. The international student advisor will:

  • Review your application
  • Issue new SEVIS I-20 recommending you for full-time or part-time work authorization

Third Step

Submit the application assembled in the following order to:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
USCIS Service Center
P.O. Box 87765
Lincoln, NE 68501-7765

  • A check or money order made payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for $340
  • Form I-765 [PDF]
  • A photocopy of your new SEVIS I-20
  • A list of your assets, income, and expenses
  • A copy of form I-94 Departure Record (front and back)
  • A photocopy of the biographic and visa important pages in your passport
  • Two (2) photographs (See examples [PDF])

Important Information:

  1. The employment authorization may be granted in one (1) year intervals up to the expected date of completion of your current course of study. The authorization may be renewed by the USCIS only if you are maintaining status and good academic standing and continue to document severe economic hardship.
  2. Permission to work will be granted for a maximum of 20 hours per week while school is in session. You may be employed full-time during holidays and vacation periods provided that you intend to register for the next term. You must have an EAD in your possession before beginning to work.

Notice: Employment authorization based on Severe Economic Hardship is not a sufficient reason to drop below full-time enrollment status. In other words, you must maintain full-time status while approved for the employment.

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