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Employment for F-1 Students
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Employment for F-1 Students

On-campus Employment

  1. An international student with an F-1 visa who is in status may work up to 20 hours per week on campus while registered as a full-time student (12 credits for undergraduates and 9 credits for graduate students).
  2. There is no exception to the 20 hour-per-week limit even if the employment is a teaching or graduate assistantship.
  3. On-campus employment may be full time during vacation periods (for example, summer or semester breaks) for students who have maintained a full time course of study before the vacation and have registered for the next semester. 

Off-campus Employment

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT is defined as alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, service learning, or any other type of a required internships that sponsoring employers offer through cooperative agreements with Castleton. You will need authorization from the International Student Office for this type of practical training. If you are authorized for one year or more of full-time CPT, you will not be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT). Part-time CPT, under 20 hours per week, will not affect OPT. Please contact the ISO for more CPT application information.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

This program allows you to take a job in your field of study, part or full-time. The duration that you can work under OPT is 12 months per higher educational level. OPT may be done during specific times before you graduate, or after you graduate. Castleton’s student employment positions do not qualify as jobs for OPT. You should apply for OPT during the semester you will complete your degree requirements. You will need a recommendation from the International Student Office (ISO) and authorization from the S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for OPT. Please contact the ISO for detailed OPT application information.

Off-campus work due to serious economic hardship

The USCIS can authorize this kind of work permission when a student has fully documented severe economic hardship arising after being in status with a F-1 visa for one full academic year. This option requires the ISO to verify that adequate employment on campus is not available. 

What does USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) consider as “employment”?

If you receive any form of compensation, even “in-kind” compensation such as meals, housing, insurance, or other items, for work completed by you, the USCIS considers this to be employment. 

The information contained on this page is intended for informational purpose only and is not to be taken as legal advice. Please speak to someone in the International Student Office about your specific situation so that we can properly advise you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about F-1 Status

Non-Immigrant (F-1) Status

  • What does it mean to be "in status"?
  • When does the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) consider me to be "out of status"?
  • What are the consequences of my being “out of status”?
  • How do I get back in status?
  • When does my F-1 status end?
  • How long can I stay in the U.S.?

What does it mean to be "in status"?

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) considers you to be in status if you fulfill all of the conditions of your F-1 visa. These conditions are:

  • Attend the school whose I-20 you used to enter the U.S.
  • Maintain good academic standing
  • Maintain sufficient financial resources to avoid becoming a “public charge”
  • Enrolled each semester as a full-time student (12 credits for undergraduate students, 9 credits for graduate students.)
  • Work no more than 20 hours a week on campus while classes are in session
  • Work off-campus only with specific authorization from the International Student Office (ISO) and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
  • Complete the F-1 transfer procedure to change schools within the U.S.
  • Extend your stay in your degree program before the completion date on your I-20
  • Complete the change of level procedure when changing from one educational degree level to another (within 15 days of the change)

When does the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) consider me to be "out of status"?

DHS considers you to be “out of status” if you do not meet any one of the conditions of your F-1 visa as listed above.

What are the consequences of my being “out of status”?

If you are out of status, you lose the following privileges and benefits:

  • Eligibility for employment both on-and off-campus
  • Automatic visa revalidation for trips to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands (except Cuba, which is not accessible to citizens of some countries)
  • Extension of degree program
  • Transfer to or from another university in the U.S.
  • Change from one educational level to another
  • Practical training
  • Visa stamp may be considered cancelled

How do I get back in status?

To get back in status, you must do one of the two things: apply to the USCIS for reinstatement within the U.S. or leave the U.S. and be readmitted with a new I-20. For more details, please see an international student advisor.

When does my F-1 status end?

Your F-1 status ends either on the date listed in #5 on your I-20 or when you complete the last requirement for your program of study, whichever comes first.

How long can I stay in the U.S.?

You may stay in the U.S. for 60 days after completion of your program. You may not work those 60 days. If you do not complete your program, you may only stay for 15 days if approved by an international student advisor before resigning from school.

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