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If you are a refugee, your resettlement agency can help you look for a job and provide some of these services. Employment centers offer free help to find a job. You can also join online groups and community centers focused on employment in your area. You can speak to your neighbors and other people in your community. Share with them that you are looking for a job, and ask for recommendations. You should also be careful giving out personal information, like your social security number or credit card. First, a DSO should check to see if on-campus employment is available, and only recommend off-campus employment if available on-campus employment is not sufficient to meet the student's financial needs. The F-1 student must be unable to get on-campus employment, or the pay from available on-campus employment must be insufficient to meet financial needs. An F-1 student must have remained enrolled for at least one academic year, in status and in good academic standing before USCIS will authorize off-campus employment. If the student's means of support changes and the student now wants to list on-campus employment, a DSO must update the student's record accordingly. However, the F-1 student’s total work hours for all jobs cannot exceed 20 hours during the school term.
What is the process for requesting off-campus employment in SEVIS?
- Find information to help you begin your orientation process.
- Networking events bring different people together who work in related jobs to talk and learn from each other.
- If an F-1 student has been working off-campus but has an expired current work authorization, may that student continue working while the new Form I-765 is pending?
- If you do not find any jobs, please complete your profile fully to ensure we calculate all your eligible visas.
- The type of visa they sponsored, the willful violator flag, and the visa denial rate are considered.
- In addition to applying to open jobs, I recommend sending spontaneous applications to companies that used to hire and sponsor people like you every year.
How can we improve this information? (Choose all that apply)
DSOs should keep a copy of their letters to the Social Security Administration certifying that the student may work on-campus. DSOs should terminate the student's SEVIS record for unauthorized employment if the student engages in any unauthorized employment or works hours in excess of those allowed. Per 8 CFR 214.2(f)(18), the only employment in which an F-1 border commuter student may engage is CPT and post-completion OPT. The F-1 student cannot work at the prior school after that date. An F-1 student may consider applying for post-completion OPT to continue working after graduation. The F-1 student should keep a DSO informed of any changes in employer and hours, however. DSOs should stay in touch with F-1 students and emphasize the need to carefully follow the guidelines for off-campus employment. F-1 students authorized for on-campus employment may exceed 20 hours of work per week during breaks and annual vacation as well. If denying an application for employment authorization for off-campus employment, USCIS will send the F-1 student a denial letter giving the reason(s) for the denial. Networking is about meeting people you do know who can both vouch for your past performance and will recommend you to others. This is almost as ineffective as applying directly to a job posting that doesn’t fit you. Each time we go through the exercise, some get great opportunities with this strategy. Remember that 80% of open jobs in the USA are never posted on job boards. When an F-1 student transfers to a new school, on-campus employment is available to the student only at that school after the record release date. An F-1 student who is enrolled in school, maintains status and follows the guidelines for on-campus employment may continue to work. Employment on-campus has to be for the school or for a company that contracts with the school to serve students directly. Find internship and volunteer opportunities with the National Park Service for high school, college, and graduate school students.Look for opportunities in your neighborhood
An F-1 student must show an ability to afford the costs of school and living expenses before entering the United States and should not plan to work off-campus. An F-1 student needs to talk to their DSO before changing jobs. The F-1 student may work full-time during those periods when school is not in session or during the student’s annual break. An F-1 student may only work on-campus after the program end date if continuing the education at the next program level at the same school. The job must be physically located on the school’s campus or off-campus at the site of an educationally affiliated organization. The definition for on-campus employment is in 8 CFR 214.2(9)(i).- Twenty percent of jobs are posted online, and 75 percent of candidates apply online.
- The F-1 student must file a Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization," and pay a fee to USCIS.
- According to 8 CFR 214.2(f)(18), a border commuter student may only engage in practical training, specifically CPT and post-completion OPT.
- The guidelines for off-campus employment based on emergent circumstances are in the authorizing Federal Register notice.
- Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
- The definition for on-campus employment is in 8 CFR 214.2(9)(i).