It is important for F-1 international students to understand their options for legal employment and to not engage in unauthorized employment while in the United States. Unauthorized employment can result in immediate termination of F-1 status. <\/p>\n
Contact the International Student Office<\/a> for help with any of the following employment.<\/p>\n Review the F-1 Employment Presentation (on-campus, CPT, OPT, SEH)<\/a><\/p>\n F-1 students in valid F-1 status are eligible to work on-campus at ACC without further DSO authorization. Review the on-campus employment criteria: <\/p>\n Check with the campus supervisor each of the following areas:<\/p>\n If a position is not available currently, F-1 students are encouraged to continue checking for on-campus employment opportunities at the beginning and end of semesters when students graduate and schedules change. (F-1 students are not eligible for work-study positions.)<\/p>\n ACC\u2019s Career Services lists information about available jobs and internships. View job postings<\/a>.<\/p>\n After being offered an on-campus position, F-1 students will need to apply for a Social Security number (SSN) in order to begin working. Students who already have a Social Security number do not need to reapply for a new SSN.<\/p>\n To apply for a Social Security number, use the Social Security Employment Verification Letter<\/a> for your hiring manager to complete the top portion. Return the form to ISO for a DSO signature.<\/p>\n Next, visit the local Social Security Administration Office<\/a> with the following documents:<\/p>\n after receiving the Social Security number, present the card to your supervisor and to the International Student Office<\/a> to have the number put into your student record to allow for payment. A Social Security number is NOT a work permit and cannot be used to obtain alternate employment off-campus.<\/p>\n There are two types of practical training opportunities for F-1 students to gain job experience in their field of study. You must be enrolled for one full academic year and maintain your F-1 status<\/a> in order to apply. <\/p>\n You are not<\/strong> allowed to work off campus without prior approval from International Student Office and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services<\/a> (USCIS).<\/p>\n With Curricular Practical Training (CPT) you can legally work at an off-campus internship while receiving credits that count toward completion of your program of study. Speak with your academic program department about internship opportunities that earn college credit.<\/p>\n Once you arrange an internship, submit an application for CPT to the International Student Office<\/a>. Upon approval, you will receive an updated I-20 with a CPT endorsement. Do not engage in any CPT employment without first receiving the updated I-20.<\/p>\n IMPORTANT: If you engage in full-time CPT for 12 or more months before graduation, you are not eligible for post-completion optional practical training.<\/p>\n With Optional Practical Training (OPT), you can engage in temporary employment to gain practical experience in your field of study. If approved, you will receive authorization to work in the U.S. for up to 12 months.<\/p>\n Plan ahead<\/strong>: Contact the International Student Office<\/a> at least 90 days before the program end date in the graduating semester because OPT applications can several months for USCIS approval. Check USCIS processing times<\/a> for the Form I-765<\/a>.<\/p>\n OPT Workshops<\/strong>: Meet with a DSO to learn about the benefits of OPT, USCIS processing expectations, and answer questions about OPT. Workshop registration Link<\/a>. Review the OPT Workshop Presentation<\/a>. <\/p>\n Location: Highland Campus (HLC)<\/a> – Building 2000, Room 1550 (Lecture Hall) <\/p>\n Dates: <\/p>\n Eligibility requirements: <\/strong><\/p>\n When to apply: <\/strong>F-1 students can apply for post-completion between 90 days before the graduation date and up to 60 days after the graduation date.<\/p>\n How to apply: <\/strong>Submit OPT documents to ISO using the OPT I-20 Application Request<\/a>. Upload the following documents:<\/p>\n A DSO will review the OPT application for eligibility. If eligible, the DSO will create a new OPT Requested I-20 in SEVIS. The student will use the new OPT I-20 to apply for an EAD card with USCIS using Form I-765. <\/p>\n Other Reminders:<\/strong> <\/p>\n After OPT is approved<\/strong>, F-1 students are responsible for working in a field that is directly related to their major area of study<\/span>. F-1 students are required to maintain their information in the SEVP Portal<\/a>. All updates must be reported within 10 days of the change.<\/p>\n For more information on the SEVP Portal visit Study in the States<\/a>. <\/p>\n Under special circumstances, USCIS<\/a> may grant F-1 students who are experiencing severe economic hardship with temporary employment authorization in one year increments or until the program I-20 end date. Employment is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session. Review the eligibility criteria below and contact ISO to speak with a DSO:<\/p>\n F-1 students must be enrolled in an academic program for at least nine months or longer and must demonstrate documented <\/strong>severe and unexpected financial hardship.<\/p>\n For more information on about Severe Economic Hardship visit Study <\/a>in the States<\/a>. <\/p>\n The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)<\/a> <\/strong>defines an employee<\/strong> as a person hired to perform a job or provides services or labor for an employer for wagers, salary, payment, or other remuneration. Remuneration can include something of value such as no-cost or reduced-cost meals, lodging or other benefits in exchange for labor or services performed by the employee. For more information on volunteering see Study in the States<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Department of Labor<\/strong> states the following, \u201cIndividuals who volunteer or donate their services, usually on a part-time basis, for public service, religious or humanitarian objectives, not as employees and without contemplation of pay, are not considered employees of the religious, charitable or similar non-profit organizations that receive their service.” See more information about volunteering from the Department of Labor<\/a>.<\/p>\n The US Department of Labor<\/strong> uses Section 203(e)(4) and Section 203(e)(5) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)<\/a> to define the term \u201cemployee\u201d.<\/p>\n U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division The Test for Unpaid Interns and Students<\/a><\/p>\n Courts have used the \u201cprimary beneficiary test\u201d to determine whether an intern or student is, in fact, an employee under the FLSA. In short, this test allows courts to examine the \u201ceconomic reality\u201d of the intern-employer relationship to determine which party is the \u201cprimary beneficiary\u201d of the relationship. Courts have identified the following seven factors as part of the test:<\/p>\n In many cases, the nature of religious, charitable and similar nonprofit organizations and schools allows individuals to volunteer their services in some capacity, usually on a part-time basis, but not as employees or with the expectation of pay for services rendered. For example:<\/p>\n The activities outline above, performed under such circumstances, do not create an employee – employer relationship. However, for immigration purposes, US immigration authorities may consider any position, if normally occupied by a paid employee or worker, as “employment”, even if uncompensated and thus no longer considered volunteering. (Matter of Hall, 18 1& N Dec. 203(BIA 1982))<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It is important for F-1 international students to understand their options for legal employment and to not engage in unauthorized employment while in the United States. Unauthorized employment can result in immediate termination of F-1 … Continue reading On-Campus Employment<\/h2>\n
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Find a Job on Campus<\/h3>\n
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Apply for a Social Security Number<\/h3>\n
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Add Social Security Card Information to Student Record<\/h3>\n
\nOff-Campus Employment<\/h2>\n
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)<\/h3>\n
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Optional Practical Training (OPT)<\/h3>\n
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Severe Economic Hardship (SEH)<\/h3>\n
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\nVolunteer Versus Employment<\/h2>\n
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Examples of Volunteer Work<\/h3>\n
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