Procedure for Work Authorization
Permission for On-Campus Employment
In order for an international student to be eligible for on-campus employment, he/she must:
- Fill out an on-campus work authorization in the OIE, turn in a copy of your grades for the past semester.
- Show proof of full-time enrollment for the current term; for a summer permit, students must show proof of full-time enrollment for the fall term.
Work permits will be authorized in one semester increments to those students who have submitted the required documents and who also meet the criteria of maintaining status (carrying a full course load) and maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.0 (graduate students must have 3.0).
Any work permit issued at the beginning of a semester is subject to review and denial at any such time as the student is no longer enrolled in a full-course of study or maintaining a satisfactory GPA.
It is the responsibility of the individual students to renew their work permits at the beginning of each semester.
Permission for Off-Campus Employment
Off-campus work permission is difficult to get. F-1's must make application through the Office of International Education and must prove unforseen, severe economic hardship. J-1's can receive work authorization through the sponsor. An F-1 student needs to have been in "F-1 status 1 full academic year" (2 semesters) .
Procedures
Come to the Office of International Education (OIE) with your passport and Form I-20 student copy. Complete Form I-765. The address on Form I-765 must be your current residence address, not a Post Office Box or the address of OIE. Pay the $175 fee.
You may accept employment only when you have received Employment Authorization Document endorsed by USCIS to show that you have permission to work.
Permission to work allows you to work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week while school is in session and full-time during vacation periods. Your permission to work expires on the date specified on your Employment Authorization Document, when your need to work ends, or when you transfer to a new school, whichever is earlier. F-2 dependents may not work (there are no exceptions).
Under extraordinary circumstances, J-2 dependents may request permission for work authorization from the sponsor. Make an appointment with the Assistant Vice President of OIE. Bring passports and I-94 of yourself and your spouse.
If you have not received a decision from USCIS about your employment authorization within 90 days, see Applying for an Interim EAD at the Kansas City District Office below.
Practical Training for F-1 Students
What is practical training?
A student with F-1 visa status is eligible for a limited period of employment in the United States doing work related to his/her field of study.
In all cases, in order to be eligible a student must have been full-time and in F-1 status for at least 9 consecutive months prior to undertaking practical training.
- Part-time (20 hours per week or less) during academic term (curricular)
- Upon completion of a Bachelor's, Master's or Ph.D. (optional)
- During summer vacation (curricular)
How long can a student work on Practical Training?
Generally a student is eligible for up to 12 months of Practical Training for each consecutive degree at a higher educational level (first 12 months for a bachelor's degree, next 12 months for a master's degree, and another 12 months for a Ph.D.) Any period of part-time optional practical training (20 hours per week or less) will be deducted from the total available optional practical training at one half the full-time rate.
Curricular Practical Training may be either part time or full time. If Curricular Practical Training is full time with no concurrent course work, each month of such training counts as one month toward the maximum 12 months of training.
Practical Training will end either 12 months after the exact date employment began or 14 months after completion of studies, whichever is earlier. If a student does not find employment within the 12 month period, no further Training time is allowed.
What is the Practical Training application procedure?
1. Curricular [8CFR214.2(f)(10)(i)]
Refers to coop programs, internships, and other employment, engaged in prior to graduation. This training must be an integral part of student's curriculum. It must be a part of the academic program required of all students or an activity for which the student is receiving academic credit. The Designated School Official at the OIE will authorize practical training upon verification by an academic department that the training is part of the degree curriculum or that the student is receiving academic credit for the experience.
Curricular practical training is available to F-1 students who have been enrolled in a full-time basis for nine consecutive months. An exception to the nine-month enrollment requirement can be made when a student is in a graduate program that requires immediate participation in curricular practical training. Students in English language programs are not eligible for practical training.
Procedure for Application
- The student should have his/her academic advisor or the instructor for the practicum/internship experience complete and sign the short information form (available in OIE).
- The student takes the following documents to the OIE: endorsed advisor form, I-20, passport, I-94.
- The DSO at the OIE will issue a CPT I-20 noting the authorized period of practical training, whether the practical training is full or part-time, and the name and location of the employer. The I-20 will be used as proof the student is authorized to accept the employment. The employer will need to make a copy of this document, but the student should keep the original.
- The DSO will enter the CPT information into SEVIS.
Caution: A student authorized for one year or more of full-time curricular practical training is ineligible for post-completion practical training.
2. Optional (post-graduation) Practical Training
The director in the OIE will issue an OPT I-20 with the Practical Training employment permission for one year period beginning the day of completion of studies or graduation. The student must apply for optional practical training during the ninety days prior to graduation. A student cannot apply after graduation.
Required documents:
- Form I-765
- Passport and I-94
- I-20
- Two ICE approved photographs
- Letter from academic advisor stating date of completion of studies
- $180 check payable to USCIS
- Transcripts
The OIE will process the paperwork. Income earned from employment during Practical Training is subject to both state and federal income taxes. However, students are not required to pay Social Security (OASDI) taxes.
Students should use an address
within the Nebraska Service Center jurisdiction on the I-765. If the student
moves, the student needs to submit a change of address by mail directly
to the Nebraska Service Center. Clearly mark the letter:
ATTENTION: CHANGE OF ADDRESS.
Send to:
US CIS-NSC
PO BOX 87865
Lincoln, NE 68501
Submit a letter with:
- Name as it appears on the application
- LIN (or Case) Number (on the receipt)
- Old and New Addresses
Applying for an Interim EAD at the Kansas City District Office
Students are eligible to apply for an interim (temporary) EAD from the USCIS District Office in Kansas City if the student has a receipt showing that the application has been pending for more than 90 days.
The KC office will accept applications for interim EADs on Wednesdays only, between 7:30 am and 2:30 pm. The KC Office is located by the MCI (also known as KCI) airport at 9747 N Conant Ave., Kansas City, MO 64153.
An interim EAD cannot be issued if the application has already been adjudicated (decided), even though the EAD may not have yet arrived. As well, an EAD may not be issued if a Request for Further Evidence (RFE) from the NSC has been sent to the student. Check the status of the application online immediately prior to departing for Kansas City at https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/caseStat.jsp.
Students should take:
- Passport
- Original I-94 card
- Original I-20 - if the original was sent with the application; reprint a new one
- Original receipt from the Nebraska Service Center
- Copy of I-765 application
EADs are issued the same day. Students are reminded to be courteous and patient. There may be long lines.
Academic Training for J-1 Visa
A student is authorized to participate
in academic training for the length of time necessary to complete the
goals and objectives of the training, provided that the amount of time
for academics approved by the academic dean or advisor and approved by
the responsible officer.
[22
CFR 62.23(f)].
To obtain authorization to engage in academic training, the exchange visitor must present to the responsible officer a letter of recommendation from the student's academic dean or advisor setting forth:
- The goals and objectives of the specific training program
- A description of the training program, including its location, the name and address of the training supervisor, number of hours per week, and dates of the training
- How the training relates to the student's major field of study
- Why it is an integral or critical part of the academic program of the exchange visitor student.
The student is required to begin post-completion academic training no more than 30 days after completion of studies.
Resources
"How do I find Practical Training?" a student may ask.
While each student is responsible for arranging his/her own Practical Training experiences, the following persons may be of some assistance in planning your Practical Training:
- Your department advisor or Chairperson
- Professional publications in your field that have job listings
- Director of Career Development, Cooperative Education, Placement, and services at ESU
- OIE Staff
- Other international students
- Persons you may know in the Emporia community
Note: Do not hesitate to contact the Office of International Education if you have any additional questions about Practical Training.
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Last Updated July 31, 2007