Employment for International Students

On-Campus Employment

On-campus employment is allowed for F-1 visa holders with permission through the Center for Global Education and does not require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approval. On-campus employment is limited to 20 hours per week during the academic session and 40 hours per week during the vacation periods.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Description
Optional Practical Training (OPT) gives F-1 students an opportunity for work experience in the U.S. before and/or after completion of their degree. It is limited to a total of 12 months in a field directly related to their course of study. Students apply for OPT at the end of March during the Senior year.

Students must obtain a Social Security card before starting an on-campus job. The International Student Advisor will arrange a trip to the Social Security Office with those needing a card.

Eligibility

F-1 students are eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) if they have maintained full-time student status for at least nine months.

Students can apply for OPT:

during vacation period
after completion of all course requirements
part-time during the academic year and
full-time after completion of the program of study.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) can be split between educational programs (e.g. 3 months after completion of a bachelor's degree and 9 months after completion of a master's degree).

Part-time OPT allows employment for no more than 20 hours per week.
Full-time OPT allows employment in excess of 20 hours per week.
Part-time OPT is calculated at one half of the full-time rate. Thus, six months of part-time OPT is seen as 3 months of full-time OPT.

Stipulations

Students must have submitted their application prior to graduation. It must be received by USCIS by this date or it will be denied.
Students must complete their Practical Training within 14 months after graduation.
Students do not have to have a job offer to apply for Optional Practical Training.
Students who have engaged in one year or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) are ineligible for Optional Practical Training.

Application Procedures

Checklist of documents to be mailed to USCIS:

Check for $180 made payable to "US Department of Homeland Security"
2 photos (please put your name and I-94 number in pencil on the back of the photos)
I-765 (original)
Copy of SEVIS I-20 form with endorsement and signature (ISA will provide) - remember to sign it before copying!
Copies of any previous I-20 forms, front and back
Copy of any previous Employment Authorization Documents (EAD cards)
Copy of F-1 Visa and I-94 card (front and back)
Copy of identity pages in passport

Mail documents to:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
US Citizenship and Immigration Services
Vermont Service Center
75 Lower Welden St.
Saint Albans, VT 05479

Frequent Questions about Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Q. When can I apply for OPT?
A. If you are graduating, you MUST apply within the 90 days preceding graduation. The SEVIS system will not accept applications for OPT after graduation. Applications must be received at the Service Center by the date of graduation.

Q. Do I need a job offer to apply for OPT?
A. No. A job offer is not a requirement for applying for OPT.

Q. I did 12 months of OPT for a previous degree. Can I get another 12 months based on my current degree?

A. Yes, an F-1 visa holder is eligible for another 12 months of optional practical training when he or she changes to a higher educational level.

If you plan to travel while on OPT (after you have graduated from Wheaton College) please note the following:

Visa: If your F-1 visa stamp in your passport has expired, DO NOT make any travel plans without consulting the International Student Advisor at the CGE.
I-20: Get a travel signature on the back of the I-20 from OIE.
Passport: Make sure it is valid at least six months into the future.
Employment Authorization Document(EAD): Take the card with you to show to the DHS upon your return to the U.S. If you have not yet received this card but have sumbitted an application for OPT, we do not advise you to travel outside the US as you may not be allowed to re-enter.
Letter from Employer: It is recommended that you carry a letter from your employer stating your dates of employment, your job responsibilities, and the fact that you will return to the position.
You should not travel outside the United States from the time you have submitted your application until the time your EAD is received.

Q. I am scheduled to start work very soon, but have not yet received my Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Can I start work and get paid for that work at a later date?

A. No. Working without a work permit is a severe violation of your legal status.

Q. Once I start working, will taxes be taken out of my paycheck?

A. There are three kinds of tax in the U.S.: federal, state, and Social Security/Medicare. You will have federal and state tax taken out of your paycheck. Social Security/Medicare taxes should not be withheld while you are on OPT unless you are considered a resident alien for tax purposes. For further information, please see IRS Publication 519, Page 42, Chapter 8. IRS Publication 519 is available at:

IRS Publication 519

Q. What is the maximum amount of time that I may remain in the U.S. based on my post-completion practical training EAD?

A. You may remain in the U.S. sixty days after the expiration of your EAD. This is a time for you to travel within the U.S., pack your things, relax, etc. You should not be working or studying during the sixty-day grace period.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for F-1 Students

Description

For an international student to be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), the work in which the student will engage must be an integral part of the degree program and required for graduation.

Eligibility

Available only to F-1 visa holders
Must have been enrolled full-time for at least nine months
Internship must be a graduation requirement for program of study

Application Procedures

Once you have secured an internship, have your academic coordinator/advisor write a letter that includes: dates of employment, name and address of employer, whether it is full or part-time work, and a description of the employment. The letter should also confirm that the employment in question is required for graduation.
Visit the Center for Global Education with the internship letter, your unofficial transcripts, a completed I-538 form (available at the Center), and your I-20 ID to receive work authorization.

Frequent Questions about CPT

Q. What is the difference between Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT)?

CPT is authorized for off-campus work performed before completion of your academic program. OPT can be authorized for off-campus work before or after completion of your academic program.
F-1 visa holders have a maximum of 12 months of OPT available to them during any uninterrupted stay in F-1 status. The amount of CPT is not limited by the immigration regulations.
CPT must fall into one of the three categories of eligibility listed above. You can work anywhere within your academic field on OPT.
CPT is authorized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Students who have received one year or more of full-time CPT are NOT eligible for OPT. Part-time curricular practical training (20 hours or less a week) is not counted toward the one-year threshold at which the student loses eligibility for Optional Practical Training.

Q. When can I start working on CPT?

A. You are allowed to work during the time authorized by the Center for Global Education on the back of your I-20 ID. You do not need to receive direct authorization from DHS.