A Guide to Working Off-Campus for UR International Students
Alternate work/study, internship, cooperation education, or a required internship or practicum offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school
F-1
student in good standing
F-1
status for at least 1 academic year EXCEPT for graduate students whose programs require a work experience in the 1st semester
Must
be a continuing F-1 student; CPT cannot be used after completion of studies
Work
must relate to your major(s)
Must receive UR academic credit during employment period unless work experience is a program requirement Must be enrolled full-time during employment period except for summer and official school breaks Paid or unpaid off-campus work anywhere in the U.S. Must have employment offer
No
maximum
Can
be authorized in 1 year increments before completion of studies
Can
be authorized for part-time (20 hours or less) or full-time (over 20 hours)
Eligible
for CPT at each higher degree level (Master’s, Ph.D.)
20
hour per week maximum including other jobs when school is in session
40
hours per week or full-time equivalent during school breaks for continuing students
Ineligible for OPT at same degree level if you use 1 year or more of full-time CPT; part-time CPT does not count CPT is employer-specific; can work for multiple employers at the same time as long as separate CPT applications are made for each one Transfer to another school – CPT ends on transfer date; must apply for CPT with ISA at new institution Cancellations can be made prior to employment start date
Applications
must be made BEFORE employment start date.
Student
Statement
Employer
Statement
Departmental
Students
Recommendation
approved for CPT will receive new I-20 with authorization.
December May CPT
1st in fall semester
1st in spring semester
can be authorized during the summer at least 5 working days in advance of employment start date
Work experience directly related to an F-1 student’s major to provide practical training during or upon completion of a degree program
F-1 student in good standing
F-1 status for at least 1 academic year
Work must relate to your major(s)
Off-campus work anywhere in the U.S.
On-campus work after graduation if work relates to your major A job offer is NOT necessary except for students applying for the 17-month extension (includes STEM majors, psychology, and other fields that are mostly scientific)
12
month maximum at each higher educational level (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral)
Cannot
combine OPT periods – must use after each degree level
29
months for 17-month extension
Paid, unpaid Multiple Work
or volunteer positions
employers
for hire as contractor or consultant
Self-employed Agency
business owner
or consulting firm
Employer
must be enrolled in E-Verify
Volunteering
allowed but does not count toward work hours requirement
Pre-completion: 20 hour per week maximum including other jobs when school is in session
40 hours per week or full-time equivalent during school breaks for continuing students
Post-completion: At least 20 hours per week
An average of at least 20 hours per week in a 1month period for variable work schedules
Pre-completion: 90 days before completing 1st full academic year 90
days before employment start date if you have completed 1st full academic year
Post-completion: 90 days before completion of studies Students must apply separately for preand post-completion OPT.
120
days before OPT end date
December May
1st in fall semester
1st in spring semester
Application
must be received at USCIS Service Center within 30 days of International Student Advisor (ISA) recommendation
Start date no more than 60 days after completion of studies
End date no more than 12 months from start date if you have not used pre-completion OPT
Employment can begin or end any time during authorized period
Cannot work until start date on Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
Must be in physical possession of EAD
90
calendar days for post-completion
120
calendar days for 17-month extension
Employment
travel and periods of authorized leave do not count as unemployment
Department
of Homeland Security (DHS), not ISA, is responsible for calculating unemployment time and taking action in SEVIS
Denial DHS
of future immigration benefits
could terminate SEVIS record
Employer’s name & address as written on contract if you have a job
Departmental Recommendation
Student Statement
I-765 form from USCIS website http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
I-765 fee (personal check or money order) OR I-912 to request fee waiver from USCIS website
2 passport photos
Copies of all I-20s or F-1status letter if you have no I-20s from the institution, I-94 arrival/departure card or print-out of I-94 information from www.cbp.gov/I94, passport information page, F-1 visa stamp
Copy of I-20 from ISA with OPT recommendation on 3rd page
Copy of degree for 17-month extension only
2-3
weeks after mailing application for USCIS receipt notice (I-797C)
90
calendar days from I-797C receipt date for approval
2
weeks from approval date for USCIS to mail your EAD
Email/text notification of application receipt by completing Form G-1145 from USCIS website
Cancelled bank check with receipt number on the back for pending applications
If your check has been cashed but you have not received the I-797C receipt notice, email
[email protected]
USCIS website http://www.uscis.gov to check case status online
If your receipt number does not show up online, email
[email protected]
Call National Customer Service Center (1-800-375-5283) or make appointment (http://infopass.uscis.gov) if application has not been processed within 90 days Once you receive approval notice, call National Customer Service Center for EAD tracking number and check status on Postal Service website at www.usps.com
You
are allowed to remain in the U.S. while your OPT application is pending
During
this time, you cannot study or
work You
will still have F-1 status while on OPT
Possible
without a job
Carry
endorsed I-20, I-797C, passport, F-1 visa stamp, I-94 arrival/departure card if you arrived in the U.S. before April/May 2013
Obtain
I-20 travel signature from ISA every 6
months Explain
you are looking for employment
Not possible without a job Carry endorsed I-20, I-94 if you arrived in U.S. before April/May 2013, passport, F-1 visa stamp, EAD, and contract letter
Obtain I-20 travel signature from ISA every 6 months
Cannot enter the U.S. until EAD start date
Unemployed time abroad cannot be regained
Not permitted during cap-gap period
Not permitted if 17-month extension pending and EAD expired
Ineligible
to apply for post-completion
OPT May
not be allowed to enter U.S.
Must
be renewed at U.S. consulate in home country
Present
signed I-20, EAD, passport, proof of employment
Especially
risky if you have a pending or approved H-1B petition
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) –ineligible for OPT if you use 1 year or more of full-time CPT
Cancellation – possible if done before start date on EAD
Changes to OPT start and end dates – possible while application is still pending
Working on campus – not possible after you graduate without using OPT
Failure to complete program – if application is pending it must be withdrawn; if application has been approved can work part-time while completing program and full-time upon program completion
Transfer to another school – OPT ends on transfer date
Departure from U.S. – 60-day grace period after EAD end date
Within 10 Days: Initial job (employer name, start date, mailing address)
Subsequent jobs (employer name, start date, mailing address, end date of former employment)
More than 10 days of unemployment
Address change
Name change
Early departure date from U.S.
Within 10 days: Name change Address change Employer change (employer name & address) Loss of employment Every 6 months: Legal name SEVIS ID number Current mailing & residential address Current employer name & address Current employment start date
Email
Krittika Onsanit (ISA) at
[email protected]
Walk-in
hours (2-4 pm, Monday-Thursday each week, 103G International Center)
Email
for appointment at other times
