Off Campus Employment

An F-1 student may wish to engage in temporary employment to gain practical experience in his or her field of study. To obtain permission for this kind of employment, an F-1 student may be eligible to seek authorization for two types of practical training:

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
• Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Employment workshops are regularly offered to assist F-1 students better understand the immigration options for off-campus employment. Please read the F-1 weekly email listserve for the current off-campus employment workshop schedule or email an international student advisor to request the current schedule.

F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Curricular practical training, (CPT), is off-campus employment that is an integral part of an established curriculum. CPT is only available to F-1 students who have maintained lawful F-1 status for at least 1 academic year. A student may be eligible for CPT if enrolled in an internship course, which is required by the department for completion of the degree OR they are approved for a Co-op through the Cooperative Education Office. The student must receive academic credit in the form of an “internship course”. Independent study, directed study, or research courses are not appropriate to obtain CPT authorization. For more information on CPT click links below:

CPT FAQ
CPT request

F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary work permission granted to F-1 students to work in their major area of study. OPT work authorization can be granted after completing one academic year of full-time classes in the degree listed on their I-20. OPT is NOT an immigration status. While authorized for OPT, students must continue to follow F-1 immigration laws to ensure that the OPT work authorization remains valid. Transfer to a new school or a new degree program at the same school, change to a new immigration status, or violation of F-1 status will invalidate the OPT authorization. After submitting a complete OPT application to the ISSO, the student advisor must make a request in SEVIS, issue a new I-20 and prepare the application. Then the application is mailed and processed by the USCIS service center. Immigration processing can range from 30-90+ days from the date USCIS receives the OPT application. A temporary work permit is issued by immigration with the dates of authorization and the appropriate OPT notation. There are two types of OPT; pre-completion and post-completion OPT. For more information on OPT click links below:

OPT Cap Gap Extension FAQ
OPT STEM Extension FAQ
OPT Reporting Requirements FAQ

What is different when I am “on OPT”? An F-1 student who has been authorized OPT permission is still required to notify the international student advisor of changes in any information tracked in SEVIS. This includes updating the International Student Advisor of:

• employment status, employer’s name and address using the SEVIS Update form

• intent to begin a new degree program

• intent to bring dependents to the U.S. in an F-2 status

• change of status from F-1 to another visa classification

• change in local living address or permanent foreign address

• request to obtain a travel authorization