Can You Work While Studying in the U.S.? F-1 Visa Employment Guide

With the high costs required to study in the U.S., finding ways to stay afloat financially is often just as important for international students as their actual studies. Though it’s tempting to want to find a part-time job to earn some cash on the side, there are numerous restrictions for F-1 visa holders which keep students from working during their program dates.

Though these restrictions hurt, there are numerous ways to make income as an international student – all while staying in accordance with F-1 visa employment restrictions. In this article, we walk you through the key restrictions to be aware of and provide tips on how you can get around these while making money.

Can International Students Work in the U.S.?

Yes – but there are key restrictions you should be aware of:

• You must maintain full-time enrollment and remain in good academic standing while working
• Students cannot work off-campus unless there is prior authorization – on-campus jobs are allowed
• You cannot exceed work more than 20 hours/week while classes are in session
• Any job must be approved by your school (DSO) and/or USCIS before starting

If it is discovered you are breaking any of the restrictions above, your SEVIS record will immediately be terminated, and your visa status will be revoked – meaning you will need to leave the U.S. within 30 days.

If you ever have any questions about employment, you should always run it by your school’s DSO.

Getting an On-Campus Job as an International Student

If you need to make income while studying in the U.S., the best option is to find on campus employment. This can refer to part-time positions at your school at places such as:

• Libraries/book stores
• Dining halls
• Recreation centers
• Residence halls, etc.

Though this may seem limited, you’d be surprised at how many open positions there will be around campus. You can often check your school’s website for open postings or ask academic advisors for recommendations. You can also check out our article on how to find on-campus jobs.

You can work an on-campus job up to 20 hours during the semester, and can work full-time while classes are not in session. To earn income, you’ll need to apply for a social security number (SSN) for tax reporting purposes.

To be clear, off-campus jobs not related to your field of studyare strictly prohibited. You should avoid taking part-time jobs at local businesses or through online servies (such as Doordahs or Uber) that are not associated with your university.

Can International Students Work Internships?

Another option to earn income is through finding an internship. To work an internship during your studies, you must apply for either Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) – even if your position is unpaid.

F1-CPT (Curricular Practical Training)

F1-CPT is a specific status under the F1 visa that allows students to work in situations where their degree program either requires or allows work experience to be used for degree credits.

To get approved for F1-CPT, your position must be related to your field of study and you need to get prior approval from your DSO to move forward. Since this is technically a change of status, your I-20 will be amended. You cannot start work until changes to your I-20 have been processed.

You can earn income from your position while on F1 CPT but it all must be reported to your DSO and you must have a social security number (SSN) to stay within tax standing.

Pre-Completion OPT (Optional Practical Training)

Pre-Completion OPT is very similar to F1-CPT as it allows you to work an internship during your studies. The main difference is that the internship does not need to be related to your coursework or used towards degree credits.

Pre-completion OPT requires USCIS approval and you must apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to be eligible to work.

Pre-completion OPT should not be confused with post-completion OPT, which is used after graduation. One key thing to note is any time spent on pre-completion OPT will be deducted from the available 12 months you can spend on post-completion OPT. For example – if you spend 3 month on pre-completion OPT, you can only stay on post-completion OPT for 9 months.

This is especially key to note if you are planning to stay in the U.S. long-term after graduation on the STEM OPT extension. You must be on post-completion OPT to apply for this, so you need to ensure you don’t use up the full 12 months while on pre-completion OPT.

When deciding between CPT and pre-completion OPT, you need to have a good sense of your future plans so you can make sure you don’t limit your options long term. If you can get degree credits, it is strongly recommended to apply for F1-CPT.

Comparison of CPT and Pre-Completion OPT for F-1 Students

Feature	CPT	Pre-Completion OPT
Authorization	DSO approval (must be reflected on your I-20)	DSO approval plus USCIS approval and an EAD card required
Relation to coursework	Must be integrated into classes or required by the program	Must relate to your major but is not required to be part of coursework
Work hours allowed	Part-time (≤ 20 hours/week) during the semester; full-time during breaks	Part-time (≤ 20 hours/week) during the semester; full-time during breaks
Effect on Post-Completion OPT	None	Reduces available OPT time (any Pre-Completion OPT counts toward the 12-month limit) and can affect STEM OPT eligibility

Can International Students Apply For Severe Economic Hardship?

If you are unable to find an on-campus job or CPT/OPT aren’t an option for you, there is one more option – which is to apply for an special employment authorization.

This is specifically offered in situations of severe economic hardship such as losing sponsorship or if there is a notable change in currency value, so you typically need to provide documentation showing proof of why you need to apply for this. This would go through your DSO and require USCIS approval.

This exemption will typically allow you to work off campus – though of the same restrictions will apply.

Whether you’re working on campus, interning through CPT, or starting your OPT career, the right health insurance is essential. ISO Student Health Insurance offers affordable plans designed specifically for international students regardless of your status. Find plans insurance plans for your school at the