Employment Information for International Students

Work Authorization and Employment Options

As an F-1 student, it is best to know your plans prior to your last semester in school. Upon completion of your studies, you are eligible for a 60-day grace period. You may consider the following options during your grace period:

1. Transfer to another institution.
2. Utilize your 60-day grace period for leisure or preparation to your home country. You may not depart and re-enter the U.S. during your grace period.
3. Apply for post-completion OPT

If you are considering entering the competitive US job market to gain practical experience, you also have specific regulations that you must follow to remain in compliance with USCIS. Here is a guide to consider while you are searching and applying for jobs.

Plan ahead.

• OPT and CPT have specific application deadlines that you must adhere to.
  • F-1 students are generally eligible to apply for off campus employment after completing two consecutive semesters as full-time students.
    • Note: See exception(s) under CPT
• Post-Completion OPT- apply the I-765 to USCIS 90 days before the I-20 program end date or within 60 days of the I-20 program end date.
  • You cannot work unless you have received your approval notice, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), and you have reached the start date listed on your EAD.
  • Your 90 days of unemployment begins at the start date listed on your EAD. If you believe that you cannot secure employment prior to reaching the 90-day limit, you should depart the US prior to reaching the 90-day limit.
  • OPT I-20 requests from the International Center requires 10 business days for processing. Send your application materials 10 business days before your anticipated I-765 submission to USCIS.
  • Student employment, including CPT and on-campus employment, including TA/RA employment, must end on or before your program end date (this is the program end date listed on page 1 of your I-20).
    • You may not lawfully begin or resume employment until after you receive your OPT EAD card AND the OPT start date listed on your EAD has been reached. CPT and on campus work must end prior to applying for OPT by the I-20 program end date.
    • Your I-20 program end date will be adjusted accordingly, if you end up completing your program prior to the program end date listed on your current I-20.
• CPT- CPT occurs during your program of study. Submit your application to the International Center at least 10 business days prior to your anticipated start date.
  • Review the application thoroughly and ensure all necessary signatures—CPT must be an integral part of your academic program.
  • If you participate in 12 months or more of full time CPT in one education level, you will be ineligible for OPT at the same education level. Part time CPT does not affect OPT eligibility.
    • Employment of more than 20 hours per week is considered full time CPT.
  • CPT may not begin until you have received the hard copy of the I-20 with CPT authorization.
  • Exception(s): This requirement is waived for graduate students who must start CPT immediately due to their program requirements.
    • Graduate students must verify CPT does not conflict with assistantship contract terms, prior to participation.
• STEM-OPT
  • If you have a STEM eligible program of study, you can apply for the 24-month extension.
    • Apply 90 days before the expiration of the current OPT.
    • I-765 must be submitted before the OPT end date and within 60 days of issuing the I-20 for the STEM extension.
  • STEM OPT must be a paid opportunity and students must work at least 20 hours.
    • Employers must be e-verified.
    • Employers must also complete the I-983 with the student. The I-983 must be completed for each employer.
  • STEM OPT requires mandatory data validation reporting that must be submitted to the DSO every 6 months and evaluations from the I-983 must also be submitted at month 12 and 24 during the extension period.
    • Evaluation on Student Progress is due upon completion of 12 months of the extension period.
    • Final Evaluation on Student Progress is due upon completion of 24 months of the extension period OR when you change your employer during your extension period.
  • You are allowed a maximum of 90 days of unemployment during your post-completion OPT authorization period and 60 days of unemployment during your STEM OPT authorization period. Any unused unemployment days from your post-completion OPT authorization period will be carried over to your STEM OPT authorization period.

Short-Term & Long-Term Goals

• Short term
  • Can you use current or previous CPT experience to transition into an OPT opportunity?
    • This may depend on the rapport that you have established with your employer and how soon you speak with your employer about the opportunity to do OPT. If your employer is uncertain or has questions about their obligations as it relates to OPT, please share our information here.
  • How long do you plan to work and study in the US?
    • If you have a STEM eligible program of study, you can apply for the 24-month extension, which will require some non-financial action from the employer (See 3.a.1 link).
• Long Term
  • How to answer the Sponsorship Question(s)
  • Consider asking the employer directly, prior to submitting your job application, for clarification about what the question is asking and how this might affect the outcome of your application in the pool. The answer may help you decide if you should continue with an employer or if you should explore other opportunities. The sponsorship question typically appears in two different ways:
  • If the question asks, “Do you need a sponsorship to work in the U.S.?”
    • If you are applying for a position based on OPT or CPT authorization, the answer will be no, as there is no immediate need for sponsorship for OPT or CPT. You should still prepare to explain yourself if necessary or share resource information (See 3.a.1 link).
    • If you are applying for a full-time position after the program of study and are either not eligible or not interested in OPT, the answer will be “yes”. 
    • You can explain your intentions in the cover letter, or any text box in the application that may allow you to write an explanation. You may also need to clarify your intentions during your interview if selected as a candidate.
  • If the question asks, “Do you need a sponsorship to work in the U.S. in future,” the answer should be yes for most, if not all, F-1 students.
    • You may need sponsorship at the end of your OPT or STEM-OPT authorization if you are hoping to continue your employment at the company.
    • If you are already an active post-completion OPT student or an active STEM student, and you have discussed the possibility of H1-B with your employer, you may consider:
      • Negotiating the cost of the H1-B with your employer, by leveraging payments from your salary, or offering to pay a percentage of the filing fee.

Practice & Resources

• Off Campus Employment for ​F-1 Students (Powerpoint presentation)

The Career Services and Student Employment office, as well as the Engineering  & Co-op office can help you prepare for your employment journey. Pay attention to dates for career fairs, mock interviews, resume and cover letter workshops and other opportunities.

It is important to prepare for the internship, co-op, or job you are interested in:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Professional interview attire
• Practice with a mock interview
• Meet with your Career Advisor for your program
• Prepare for graduate school and receive assistance with your personal statement
• Update your LinkedIn and Handshake profiles and prepare to network with employers