F1 Visa Working Requirements

Working Requirements for F1 Visa are made up of criteria and permits from authorized U.S. bodies in charge of international student programs. F1 Visa Working Requirements must be satisfied before an international student engages in U.S. employment to avoid violating their F1 status. The F-1 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa for foreign students who wish to study academic programs in the US.

Employment opportunities for F1 students are available on campus and off campus. F1 students are authorized for on-campus employment without the need for a US Work Permit. You must first secure a US Work Permit before engaging in off-campus employment as an international student. Off-campus employment includes Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) OPT. Curricular Practical Training is off-campus employment that is done while you are completing your degree. Optional Practical Training is off-campus work that can be done during or after completing your F1 program. STEM OPT is an extension of your optional practical training employment if you’re an F1 Visa holder studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees. 

Keep reading our guide if you’re an F1 student or an aspiring international student seeking to learn more about your working rights and opportunities in the USA.

What are the F1 Visa Working Requirements?

The F1 Visa Working Requirements are the needed authorizations from certain regulatory bodies in the United States. These regulatory bodies are in charge of issuing the appropriate US Work Permit for international students. 

F1 students who will work on-campus have automatic US Work Authorization unless they are border commuter students from Canada or Mexico. International students must first verify with a Designated School Official (DSO) if the job is a qualified on-campus employment. The F-1 student then needs certification letters from the on-campus employer and Designated School Official (DSO) to get a Social Security Number (SSN). The Social Security Number (SSN) is obtained from the local Social Security Administration office.

F1 students engaging in off-campus employment must secure a US Work Permit. A DSO must recommend an F1 Visa USA student for off-campus work and register this into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The DSO will then advise the F-1 student to file Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) together with their Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will issue Form I-766 (Employment Authorization Document) to the F-1 Visa student with an approved US Work Authorization application.

The F1 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa for international students who will engage in academic studies in the United States. F1 Visa USA students must be enrolled in Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP) institutions such as universities, colleges, seminaries, or conservatories. Dependents of international academic students are able to enter the U.S. with an F2 Visa. Spouses of F1 Visa holders are not allowed to work in the US but their children are able to enroll in schools in the US.

What are the Employment Opportunities for F1 Visa?

F1 Visa work opportunities for international students are available on-campus, off-campus, and through international organizations. Off-campus employment is further divided into different practical training classifications. In this section, we will discuss the F1 Visa Employment Opportunities for international students. 

On-Campus Employment

F1 on-campus employment opportunities are jobs that do not require a Work Permit in USA. F1 students are able to work up to 20 hours per week while the school is in session. Working on campus full-time is allowed during vacations or when the school is not in session. On-campus employment for F-1 Visa students should not displace U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

There are 2 types of allowed work on campus for F-1 Visa students.

• Employment within the school premises. Working within the F1 student’s school qualifies as on-campus employment. Employment within school premises must involve services that cater to students such as working in a bookstore or cafeteria. 
• Employment in an educationally-affiliated off-campus location. The employer must be contractually affiliated with the F-1 student’s school such as a research laboratory.  

Off-Campus Employment

Getting F1 Jobs off-campus is only allowed after the first academic year is finished. Off-campus employment is permitted in cases of severe economic hardship or special student relief. Extreme financial hardship includes increases in tuition fees, devaluation of the currency of the student’s home country, or loss of financial support through no fault of the student. Off-campus F1 jobs for students experiencing severe economic hardship are allowed under the following conditions.

• The international student has maintained a valid F-1 status for a minimum of 1 academic year (9 months).
• The F-1 student maintains a good academic standing.
• The F-1 international student is able to justify the lack of sufficient on-campus jobs.
• The F1 Visa student was able to prove their extreme financial difficulty brought on by circumstances that were out of their control.
• The F1 student has sought to obtain on-campus work prior to applying for off-campus employment eligibility.

F1 Visa students applying for off-campus work eligibility must enlist the help of a DSO for a recommendation. The DSO enters the recommendation into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and prints your Form I-20. F-1 students submit Form I-20 together with their Form I-765 to apply for a Work Permit for International Students. The filing fee for Form I-765 is $410. USCIS issues Form I-766 to international students who are allowed to obtain off-campus jobs on F1 Visa. The SEVIS system then reflects the student’s approval for off-campus employment. An approved I-766 US Work Authorization is valid for 1 year. 

Off-campus employment is allowed for 20 hours while school is in session. Full-time work off-campus is permitted when school is not in session and during annual breaks. Work off-campus is further classified into Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT is a type of off-campus employment done during the F-1 Visa student’s period of study.  A CPT Job must be required and related to the F1 student’s academic study. Students must secure a USA Work Permit before engaging in CPT Work.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

OPT is a type of off-campus employment that can be done during or after the F-1 student’s program completion. OPT jobs must be related to the F1 student’s field of study. F1 students must have been enrolled in their program for at least 9 months before engaging in OPT work. The International Student Office and USCIS must issue a USA Work Permit for the OPT F1 student. 

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) OPT

STEM OPT is an additional employment period for international F1 students in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics programs. STEM OPT extends the F-1 student’s employment in the U.S. for 24 months.  

F1 International Internship

F1 Visa students are allowed to be employed by a “recognized international organization” that must be approved by the U.S. State Department. Recognized international organizations include the Red Cross, World Health Organization, and World Trade Organization. F1 students must have sponsorship and a job offer to obtain an international internship under F-1 Visa. A USA Work Permit is required for an international internship. F-1 students must satisfy the following requirements to be employed by an accredited international organization.

• Have a job offer that is within the scope of the international organization’s sponsorship and within the F-1 student’s field of study.
• Have a valid F-1 status for a minimum of 1 academic year.
• Have a good academic standing.

What is Curricular Practical Training?

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an off-campus employment that F-1 students take while they complete their academic studies. A CPT Job is an alternative employment, study, internship, or cooperative education that is required for the F-1 student’s degree. Students are only able to work for one employer during the dates authorized. The CPT Work Authorization indicates whether the F1 student is allowed to work part-time or full-time. International students who engage in full-time CPT for 12 months or more will no longer be eligible for OPT. 

Here are the F1 CPT requirements for F-1 Visa students.

• A job offer that is relevant to the student’s field of study.
• A job offer letter obtained prior to requesting a CPT Work Authorization.
• Full-time enrollment for at least 1 academic year on a valid F1 Visa.
• A CPT Job that is an integral component of the F-1 student’s program. 

What is Optional Practical Training?

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is off-campus employment that can be taken during or after the F-1 student’s program completion. OPT for International Students is a total of 12 months before (pre-completion) or after (post-completion) finishing their academic education. All pre-completion OPT periods will be deducted from the possible post-completion OPT term. 

Students must be enrolled full-time to qualify for pre-completion OPT. Only part-time (maximum of 20 hours per week) OPT is allowed while school is in session. Full-time pre-completion OPT is allowed during school breaks. Post-completion OPT is full-time (40 hours per week) and must be completed within 14 months after the degree completion. OPT Work Authorization must be applied for with USCIS before the F-1 student finishes their program. 

Here are the requirements for F1 Visa OPT for International Students. 

• Lawful F1 status.
• OPT job that is directly related to the F-1 student’s program.
• Full-time enrollment for at least 1 academic year in their program. 

What is STEM OPT?

STEM OPT is a 24-month extension of post-completion OPT for STEM degree students. STEM OPT Work Authorization must be obtained by filing Form I-765 with USCIS along with your Form I-20 and a copy of your STEM degree. 

Below are the eligibility requirements for STEM OPT F1 students.

• Have a completed degree from a school accredited by the U.S. Department of Education and SEVP. 
  • Post-completion OPT students with a non-STEM degree who have completed a prior STEM degree are able to use their STEM OPT if both their degrees are obtained from SEVP-approved institutions. The STEM OPT must not have been used for their prior STEM degree.
  • OPT F1 students who finished another STEM degree are eligible for 1 additional 24-month STEP OPT period. 
• Have an approved OPT application and be in a valid post-completion OPT period.
• Have an employer that meets all the criteria of the STEM OPT Employer Responsibilities. 
• Have Form I-765 filed up to 90 days before your OPT Work Authorization expires and within 60 days of the date indicated by your DSO in your SEVIS record. 

Do I Pay Tax if I Work in the US with an F1 Visa?

You are covered by the F1 Visa Tax Exemption if you have been present in the United States for less than 5 calendar years. You are exempted from Social Security and Medicare Taxes on wages paid to you while working in the US. F1 Visa Tax Exemption covers employment you do on-campus, off-campus as long as the work is authorized by USCIS, and your practical training employment on or off campus.

What are the Maximum Work Hours for F1 Visa Students?

Work on an F1 Visa USA is allowed for up to 20 hours per week while school is in session. Full-time work (40 hours per week) is permitted when school is not in session and during vacation. 

What are the Possible Employments for F1 Visa Students On and Off Campus?

On-campus employment opportunities are jobs that are within the premises of the F-1 student’s school. On-campus employment must involve services that are meant to cater to students. Employment in educationally-affiliated off-campus locations is considered on-campus work. Off-campus work includes CPT, OPT, and STEM OPT. F1 students must secure a USA Work Permit to be eligible for off-campus employment. 

Can I Work Without a Student Working Permit?

Yes, on-campus work does not require F-1 students to obtain a Work Permit in USA. International students who seek off-campus work need a Work Permit in USA. Working off-campus without an F1 Work Authorization is a violation of your nonimmigrant status. The DSO is obliged to report you to SEVIS which will lead to your removal from the US.

Can I Work Off-Campus Without DHS Approval?

No, you need to have a USA Work Permit to be employed off-campus as an F-1 Visa student. A USA Work Permit is issued by the USCIS which is governed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Your DSO will recommend your off-campus employment application to SEVIS before you are able to file for a USA Work Permit with USCIS. Working off-campus without authorization violates your F1 status and makes your presence unlawful in the US. Unlawful residence in the US affects your ability to reenter the US as well as your immigration records.  

FAQs about F1 Visa Working Requirements