The United States has very strict rules regarding the ability of foreign nationals to work in the United States. International students in valid F-1 status may work on-campus at the school which they are authorized to attend for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year, and full-time during vacation and holiday breaks. Students in valid F-1 status cannot be employed off-campus without meeting eligibility requirements and obtaining prior written authorization.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You are required to have a Social Security number to engage in ANY employment (see the section "Social Security Number" for more information).

Employment for F-1 students is divided into two main categories: On-campus and Practical Training (off-campus). Any F-1 student can participate in on-campus employment.

The following categories of employment are available to international students:

On Campus Employment

Definition: Employment on the school premises with any firm that provides direct services to students or with any "educationally affiliated" location. Employment does not have to be directly related to the student's program of study. While engaged in on-campus employment, a student may not work more than twenty (20) hours per week while school is in session. When school is out of session, a student may work in excess of twenty (20) hours per week. United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) authorization is NOT required for on-campus employment.

For a complete listing of employment opportunities on campus that are available to F-1 Visa Holders, click here

Practical Training

One of the benefits that USCIS provides to qualified F-1 students is practical training.

Practical training is employment that is directly related to the student's program of study, the purpose of which is to provide the student with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills (learned in their program of study), as well as provide them with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills through "hands on" experiences.

Practical Training is divided into three categories: curricular practical training, optional practical training before completion of studies, and optional practical training post completion of degree. These three categories are described below. It is important that you understand the distinction between the three categories. If after reading this section you are unclear about the distinctions, please see the Director of International Programs.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT is practical training that is directly related to and an integral part of the curriculum of your school. This employment is required for degree completion, An internship must be part of a required course in the regular curriculum (listed as a course offering in the SUNY Cobleskill catalog).

To be eligible for CPT, you must be a matriculated student who has been in lawful status as a full-time student for at least one full academic year.

To apply for CPT you must submit the following documentation to the Office of Admissions as early as 90 days but no less than 10 days before you wish to begin employment:

Completed application for CPT (available from the Office of Admissions)

Your current and all previously issued I-20s

Your passport, visa , and I-94 card

A statement from your faculty advisor indicating that the specific internship or practicum is required for degree completion and is approved by the academic department. The statement should be in the application for CPT.

After receiving the above listed materials, Director of International Programs will review your application for eligibility and if you are eligible, issue you a new I-20 with CPT endorsement.

Points To Consider

You are still required to register full-time if you are authorized CPT during the academic year.

While participating in practical training, make certain that you inform the Registrar's Office of any legal changes to your name or any changes to your physical address.

You may begin CPT only after you have received a SEVIS Form I-20 endorsed by the DSO for CPT.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) Before Completion of Degree

OPT before completion of degree is employment directly related to your major before completion of an academic degree that provides the student with practical training in their field of study.

To be eligible you must meet the following criteria:

You must have been enrolled on a full time basis for at least one academic year.

You must currently be in F-1 status.

You may not have used 12 months or more of full-time curricular practical training or optional practical training.

Students in English language training programs are ineligible for practical training.

You may apply to the USCIS for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) up to 90 days prior to the date that you will have been in valid F-1 status for one full academic year. You may not begin employment until you have received the EAD card. Requests for employment authorization may require three months (or longer) for a decision. This means that if you want to begin your OPT in June, you should submit your completed application to the USCIS by March (at the latest). Please note that the Director of International Programs cannot authorize OPT. Only the USCIS can do so by issuing you an EAD.

Important Notes

You may not begin employment until the date that you will have been in valid F-1 status for one full academic year.

You are required to have an EAD card in your possession before you begin your OPT.

To apply for "before completion OPT", you must complete the following steps:

Step 1. Make an appointment with the Director of International Programs to discuss practical training. Please bring with you your passport, I-94 card and current and all previously issued I-20s. After reviewing your application, if the Director of International Programs determines that you are eligible for OPT, he will recommend that practical training in your major field of study be authorized by the USCIS. The college will then notify the USCIS of the recommendation, and issue a new Form I-20, which will be signed to recommend employment authorization. This endorsement will include the beginning and ending dates of your employment.

Step 2. You then need to apply for employment authorization from the USCIS. There are two options for applying for employment authorization to choose from.

The USCIS will first send a Notice of Action (a receipt which informs you that the application has been received and is being processed) and then send the EAD card to the address indicated on the I-765 form. If you are moving to a different location during the summer, you should provide an address where you will be sure to receive your mail.

Processing time - Currently, the entire process for receiving employment authorization is taking more than six weeks.

Points to Consider

The USCIS defines employment as "compensation for services." If you are receiving no pay or other compensation for your work, as in an unpaid internship, you do not need authorization to work

Authorization to engage in OPT employment is automatically terminated when the student transfers to another school or begins study at another educational level.

You are not allowed to work until you have received the EAD Card from the USCIS.

If the USCIS authorizes you to work for some period of time under the provisions of OPT and for whatever reason you do not use some or all of the time you have been authorized to work, you will lose the "unused" time you have been authorized to work.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) Post Completion of Studies

OPT post completion of studies is employment that is directly related to your major after completion of your degree.

To be eligible you must have been enrolled on a full time basis for at least one academic year, be currently in F-1 status have not used 12 months or more of full-time curricular practical training or optional practical training.

Application Procedure

You must apply to the USCIS for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) during the period from 90 days before but no later than the day before your completion of studies. For the beginning date of employment, you may choose any date between your date of completion of studies and up to 60 days after.

Requests for Employment Authorization must be mailed to the USCIS Regional Service Center in Vermont and may require four to eight weeks for a decision. The Director of International Programs cannot authorize OPT following completion of your studies; only the USCIS can do so by issuing you an Employment Authorization Document. Your first step in obtaining an EAD is to receive a recommendation from the Director of International Programs.

To apply for post completion OPT, you must complete the following steps:

Step 1. Make an appointment with the Director of International Programs to discuss your eligibility for practical training. The USCIS Service Center in Vermont must receive your application no later than 60 days after the completion of your degree. Since a recommendation from the Director of International Programs is required, you should make an appointment well in advance of the deadline. Please bring with you the following documentation:

Your passport, visa, and I-94 card
Your current I-20 and all previously issued I-20s

After reviewing your application, the Director of International Programs will determine if you are eligible for "OPT after completion of your program" and recommend that practical training in your major field of study be authorized by the USCIS. The Director of International Programs will then notify the USCIS of the recommendation. A new or initial Form I-20 will be generated, which will be signed to recommend employment authorization. This endorsement will include the beginning and ending dates of your employment. This new Form I-20 will then be returned to you.

Step 2. You then need to apply for employment authorization from the USCIS. There are two options for applying for employment authorization to choose from.

Points to Consider

Processing time - Currently, the entire process for receiving employment authorization is taking more than six weeks

You must apply to the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) during the period from 90 days before but no later than the day before your completion of studies.

You are required to have an Employment Authorization Card in your possession before you begin your Optional Practical Training!

If you are transferring out of the current school that recommended OPT, you must be able to begin classes (at the institution that you are transferring to) within five months of transferring out of the school that recommended you for post-completion OPT, or by the date that the OPT authorization ends, whichever comes first.

If the need or desire arises, you are allowed to change employers during the period of authorized practical training. However, your new employment must continue to be directly related to your major/field of study and be appropriate to your educational level.

You are not allowed to work until you receive the EAD from the USCIS.

You are considered to be maintaining your F-1 status for 60 days following the expiration date of your practical training. This time is allowed you to either depart from the United States or change to another status. Employment is not permitted during this 60-day period.

If you leave the US during your authorized period of practical training, you may return for the remainder of the authorized period with the following documents: Form I-20 signed for re-entry within the last six months, a valid F-1 entry visa plus a valid passport, a letter from your employer (indicating where you work, your job title and your beginning and ending dates of employment) and your EAD Card.

Authorization to participate in OPT employment is automatically terminated when the student transfers to another school or begins study at another educational level.

If after completing your degree you leave the United States before you receive the EAD card from the USCIS Service Center, you will give up your application for employment authorization and will therefore be unable to return to the United States with F-1 student status.

If the USCIS authorizes you to work under the provisions of Optional Practical Training, and for whatever reason you do not use some or all of the time you have been authorized to work, you will lose the "unused" time you have been authorized to work.

Special Categories of Employment

There are two additional categories of employment for international students: Severe Economic Hardship and Special Relief. Simply stated, eligibility for both types of employment require the student to encounter financial situations that are completely beyond the control of the student and could not possibly have been predicted or foreseen by the student.

Since the discussion of both categories is quite lengthy and detailed, please see the Director of International Programs if you feel you require more information.