Employment is defined as any type of work performed or services provided in exchange for money, tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, food, or any other compensation. Students must not assume that they are automatically eligible to work in the United States. Work authorization is needed for an international student to work in the U.S. USCIS considers unauthorized employment to be a serious violation of F-1/J-1 status. 

It is important that you understand the type of employment international students are eligible for and how to apply, because unauthorized employment (even for one day) will violate your legal visa status in the U.S. and you could be deported if discovered. It can also jeopardize your eligibility for future benefits, like change of status to a professional working visa like an H-1B, for example. To avoid problems with USCIS, consult the UIS and be authorized before beginning to work. 

TYPES OF EMPLOYMENT

The F-1 visa limits employment for international students to three possible options, and students on the J-1 visa to two possible options.

1. On-Campus Employment 

F-1 and J-1 students are eligible for on-campus employment opportunities within the dates listed on their I-20/DS-2019. On-campus employment cannot exceed 20 hours per week when classes are in session. It may be more than 20 hours per week during breaks. On-campus employment includes non-Federal-Work-Study positions, graduate assistantships, and working for contracted services operating on campus, like Sodexo. 

The available on-campus positions are quite limited and it is a competitive process. Open positions are posted on ChargerLink on the Career Development Center pages in myCharger. 

Scroll down to more information about on-campus employment.

2. Curricular Practical Training (CPT) 

CPT is a type of employment authorization available to F-1 students who are engaged in an off-campus internship or practical training employment that is an integral part of the curriculum or academic program and directly related to the student’s major. Students must be enrolled in the corresponding internship course within their major and approved by their academic advisor. CPT cannot be used for off-campus employment unrelated to course work, nor simply for the purpose of working to support oneself. Find more about the requirements for CPT and how to request it by returning to the blue button menu.

3. Optional Practical Training (OPT) 

Post-completion OPT is a 12-month employment authorization available to F-1 students who have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for at least one academic year.  F-1 Students with degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics may be eligible for a 2-year STEM extension of OPT, depending on the support of their employers. Review the list of academic programs and CIP codes here to determine if you are eligible for the STEM extension. Learn more about OPT and the STEM Extension in the OPT Handbook, accessible in the Navigation Panel. 

4. Academic Training – J-1 students may also participate in internships within the parameters of their program. They should contact the UIS if interested.

5. J-1 Scholars may be paid for employment incident to their approved program. Not all J-1 programs at the University of New Haven are compensated.

ON-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT

F-1 students are eligible for on-campus employment opportunities within the dates listed on their I-20/DS-2019. On-campus employment includes non-Federal-Work-Study positions, graduate assistantships, and working for contracted services operating on campus, like Sodexo. On-campus positions are limited, so on-campus employment is not guaranteed. Most departments will require you to submit an application online, including your resume and cover letter. Some positions may also include an interview. Open positions are posted on ChargerLink on the Career Development Center pages in myCharger. 

Please consult the University Immigration Services Office if help is needed in deciding whether the offered employment qualifies as an on-campus job.  

On-Campus Employment Regulations for International Students

• Employment is limited to 20 hours per week during the Fall and Spring semesters when classes are in session. 
• Employment may exceed 20 hours per week during the summer and official school breaks.
• On-campus employment authorization may only occur between the program start date and end date on a Form I-20 or DS-2019.
• A Social Security Number (SSN) is required for on-campus work. You can apply for the SSN after you have been hired.
• On-campus employment does not need to be listed on the I-20 or DS-2019.

Process to seek on campus employment

1. Look for a job on-campus – To view the available positions:

Go to MyCharger then Student Resources. Click the toolbox icon for the Career Development Center. Then click the Login to Charger Link on the right side of the page. You will be prompted to create an account. You may also upload your resume/CV. Once you have created your profile, you can select the “Position Type” drop-down menu and select “On-Campus Employment” You can view the various open position and apply within Charger Link. 

2. Complete the necessary hiring paperwork with SEO.

F-1/J-1 students hired for an on-campus position must complete the necessary hiring paperwork with the University of New Haven’s Student Employment Office (SEO) prior to beginning work. If the international student does not yet have a Social Security Number (SSN), the SEO will assist the hired student with acquiring a Social Security Number. For instructions on how to apply for SSN on your own, please review the information on the UIS MyCharger page or contact uis@newhaven.edu. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Do I need a Social Security Number?

Yes, a Social Security Number is needed to get paid. The SEO will assist with the application for the SSN.

• Is work authorization needed to work on campus?  

No special authorization is needed on the I-20 for on-campus employment.

• Can I work on campus in my final semester when I have a reduced course load?

Yes. However, you must submit the Authorization for Less Than Full Time Enrollment form to UIS. 

• Can I work on campus after my program end date?

No. After you have passed the program end date on your I-20, you are no longer able to work on campus.

• Can I hold more than one job at a time?

Yes. You may work more than one on-campus job as long as the hours don’t exceed 20 hours per week in aggregate total.

• What documents show that I am eligible to work?

The SSN card does not grant eligibility to work, which is why it has the note about needing DHS authorization as well. When filling out an I-9 at the start of employment, the following documents are helpful: Passport, visa, I-94, and I-20. For a campus job, these are enough. For CPT the I-20 includes work authorization on the second page. For OPT/STEM you have an actual EAD card, which is your Employment Authorization Document.

SPECIAL FEDERAL BENEFITS FOR SELECT STUDENTS

UIS can provide information about the following federal benefits, but the student should seek assistance from an immigration attorney or legal services organization.

1.  EAD work permit for Unexpected Severe Economic Need – The student must be in valid F-1 status for at least one full academic year and must meet unique qualifications due to unexpected need. This work permit involves submitting an I-765 petition to USCIS for adjudication, which takes 3 to 6 months. This is not an immediate solution, and it requires extensive evidence to support the student’s case that something unexpected happened since they submitted the financial certification documents at the time of admissions and visa acquisition. Nonetheless, it may still be worth filing this petition.

This will not work if the student because of a Bursar’s Hold was unable to register for courses in a subsequent semester and consequently fell out of status for failure to enroll. However, this can be helpful if the student does not wait too long to start the process.

2. Special Student Relief – Some special provisions to the F-1 visa are made available to students from certain federally designated countries due to war, natural disasters, or economic collapse. The official list can be found at Special Student Relief | Study in the States (dhs.gov)

If a student is authorized for employment, they can also be authorized for a reduced course load under SSR. The reduced course load authorization does not stand alone, however.

On-Campus employment – If the student is already employed on-campus they can be permitted to work more than 20 hours per week if such an option is otherwise available to them. If they are employed on-campus they can also be authorized for a reduced course load.

Off-campus employment – The student may file an I-765 for Unexpected Severe Economic Need and request expedited processing based on SSR eligibility. When they receive the EAD, they can also be then authorized for a reduced course load. If they already have an EAD for TPS, they can get the SSR reduced course load benefit immediately.

3.  Temporary Protected Status – This special immigration status is offered to persons from federally designated countries. It is not specific to F-1/J-1 students. For a student who is unable to maintain their visa status due to an economic crisis, TPS can be a solution if they are from a designated country. The official list of designated countries is found at Temporary Protected Status | USCIS

The student can file a change of status to TPS, and concurrently file the I-765 for employment authorization. A student may hold TPS concurrent to the F-1 or change back to F-1 when TPS expires.

TPS does not grant a reduced course load, so the student would have to maintain FT enrollment if wishing to retain concurrent F-1 status. However, if the student is also eligible for SSR, a reduced course load can be authorized.

A person may change status from TPS to another status that may come available, such as an H1-B.

Find an immigration attorney at www.ailalawyer.com

Find a list of legal services organizations at www.immigrationadvocates.org/legaldirectory

Disclaimer:  UIS does not have legal authority to help students file for any of these federal benefits. UIS can provide an I-20 or FT status letter to support but cannot assist in the filing. Students may file petitions on their own or seek assistance from an immigration attorney or a legal services organization.

UIS Curricular Practical Training I-20 Request Form

OPT Handbook

Post-completion OPT I-20 Request Form

Career Development Center Charger Link

Student Employment Office

If after reviewing this information, you still have questions, submit your inquiry to UIS via the General Inquiry Form. UIS will answer inquiries in the order they are received.