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• INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
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• INTERNATIONAL STUDIES PROGRAMS

Employment

1. F-1 visa students are only allowed to work on-campus

• Must get a social security number
• Must file a tax form every year to receive tax refund
• Only work 20 hours a week/40 during holidays

Practical Training is available to F-1 students who have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis in an approved university for at least nine consecutive months. Students in English language training programs are ineligible for practical training.

2. An F-1 visa Student may work off-campus while in Practical Training

Curricular Practical Training

An eligible F-1 student may be authorized, by the DSO (Designated School Official), to participate in a curricular practical training program which is an integral part of an established curriculum. Curricular practical training is defined to be alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.

Students who have received one year or more of full-time curricular practical training are ineligible for post-completion practical training. Exceptions to the nine-month in status requirement are provided for students enrolled in graduate studies that require immediate participation in curricular practical training. CPT may be part-time or full-time. Employment for 20 hours or less per week is considered part-time while employment for more than 20 hours per week is considered full-time.

Optional Practical Training

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is designed to provide you with an opportunity to gain actual employment experience in your chosen profession for a maximum of one year. Its purpose is to complement your academic work. OPT falls into four categories:

1. Full or part-time employment during annual vacation if you are enrolled and intend to register for the next session
2. Part-time employment (20 hours per week or fewer while school is in session)
3. Full or part-time employment after you've completed your course requirements but before you have finished your thesis
4. Full-time employment after you have completed your degree