F-1 International Student Employment

In general, as an F-1 student, you may work on campus as long as you are maintaining your F-1 status and do not work more than 20 hours per week while school is in session.

• • You may be employed full time during holidays and vacation periods, provided you intend to register for the next school term.
  • If selected for an on-campus position, you will need to apply for a Social Security number.
    • More information about applying as an F-1 student can be found on the International Students and Social Security Numbers document.

Check the college's student job board to view available on-campus positions.

View Student Job Board

 

Please note that you might be asked to provide a status letter for employment. A status letter confirms that an F-1 student is compliant with all Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations. This letter is typically used for requesting a state or federal ID, such as a Social Security number, or to apply for employment, such as Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT). Visit the F-1 Student Requests page to request a status letter.

 

The International Student Office has a window of three to five business days for processing all requests.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an employment option available to F-1 international students when the practical training employment is considered to be an integral part of the curriculum or academic program. At Collin College, the use of CPT is only available when the employment (usually a clinical, co-op, externship, or internship) is a degree requirement of all students in the program.

 

F-1 students may work up to 20 hours a week while school is in session, per federal immigration regulations.

 

Eligibility Criteria for CPT

To be eligible for CPT, you must:

• Be in lawful F-1 status for at least one academic year.
• Have an offer of employment that qualifies for CPT by establishing that the proposed employment is a degree requirement for all students in your program and approved by the department’s program coach.

 

To request a CPT-approved I-20, download the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Form and fill it out. When you have completed the form, visit the International Student Dashboard in Workday to submit an F-1 Student: Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) request. View the Student Help Guide: F-1 Student Request for further instructions.

Download CPT Form   Submit a CPT-approved I-20 request

 

Please note that you might be asked to provide a status letter for employment. A status letter confirms that an F-1 student is compliant with all SEVIS and USCIS regulations. This letter is typically used for requesting a state or federal ID, such as a Social Security number, or to apply for employment, such as CPT or OPT. Visit the F-1 Student Requests page to request a status letter.

 

The International Student Office has a window of three to five business days for processing all requests.

F-1 international students who plan to work in the U.S. can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), a temporary employment authorization that provides an opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to a practical work experience off campus.

• • • OPT is a benefit of your F-1 visa status and not a separate work visa or visa category.
    • You continue to be in F-1 visa status while you are participating in OPT and must abide by all F-1 regulations during your OPT period.
    • Collin College remains your visa sponsor. Your employer does not need to sponsor you for OPT.
    • You are eligible for 12 months of OPT per degree level.
    • OPT can only be used once per higher degree level even if you have multiple degrees per level.
    • OPT must be used directly after graduation; it cannot be saved for later.
    • You cannot start work until you have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card and reached the start date on the card.

 

Eligibility Criteria for OPT

To be eligible for OPT, you must:

• • • Maintain valid F-1 student status at the time of application.
    • Be enrolled full time for at least one full academic year in the U.S.
    • Be physically present in the U.S. when you submit your application.
    • Intend to work or volunteer in a professional development opportunity directly related to your major field of study.

 

Additional Considerations

• • • You do not need to have a job to apply for OPT.
    • You may only start working once you physically have your EAD and reached the start date listed on the card.
    • You may not accrue more than a total of 90 days of unemployment within the dates on your EAD.
    • All work must directly relate to your field of study.
    • Students with degrees in a STEM field may be eligible for a 24-month extension of their 12-month post-completion OPT.
    • Your employment does not need to be paid.
    • You can work multiple concurrent jobs and change jobs while on OPT.

 

Engaging in unauthorized/illegal employment is a deportable offense under U.S. immigration law.

• • • F-1 international students must request an OPT-pending I-20 before submitting the application via the USCIS portal. Submitting an application to USCIS without a new I-20 recommending you for OPT will result in denial of your application and possible forfeit of OPT.
    • To request a pending OPT I-20, visit the International Student Dashboard in Workday to submit an F-1 Student: Optional Practical Training (OPT) request. View the Student Help Guide: F-1 Student Request for further instructions.

Submit a pending OPT I-20 request

 

Please note that you might be asked to provide a status letter for employment. A status letter confirms that an F-1 student is compliant with all SEVIS and USCIS regulations. This letter is typically used for requesting a state or federal ID, such as a Social Security number, or to apply for employment, such as CPT or OPT. Visit the F-1 Student Requests page to request a status letter.

 

The International Student Office has a window of three to five business days for processing all requests.

The STEM OPT extension allows eligible F-1 international students who have completed a degree in a qualifying STEM field to apply for up to 24 months of additional work authorization beyond standard post-completion OPT.

 

Eligibility Criteria for the STEM OPT Extension

• You must be in the final 90 days of post-completion OPT.
• The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code found on page one of your I-20 must appear on the STEM Designated Degree Program List.
• Your STEM degree must be awarded by an accredited U.S. college or university.
• To have qualifying employment:
  • You must be employed by an E-Verify employer.
  • Your employment must be compensated.
  • Your employment must be directly related to your STEM degree.
  • Your employment must be full time (more than 20 hours per week).
  • You and your employer must have a “bona fide” employer-employee relationship.
  • You and your employer must prepare and sign a Form I-983 Training Plan.

  Request a STEM OPT

 

After receiving your updated OPT I-20, you will prepare documents for your application to USCIS. You will file your application online or mail your application packet to USCIS. USCIS must receive your packet no later than your post-completion OPT end date.

 

Additional Considerations

• You must receive your updated OPT I-20 before filing your I-765 with USCIS. If you submit the I-765 before your OPT I-20 is issued, your application will be denied, and your filing fee will be forfeited.
• When you compile your application, make a copy for your personal file, and submit the application to USCIS.
• USCIS must receive your application within 60 days of the date you were recommended for STEM OPT in SEVIS and no later than the end date listed on your OPT EAD card. If the recommendation is more than 60 days old at the time of receipting, your application will be denied.
• If you filed your STEM OPT application on time, you can continue working for 180 days past your post-completion OPT EAD end date while you wait for a response from USCIS. During that time you must meet the job requirements for STEM OPT, such as working for an E-Verify employer.
• USCIS will provide a receipt notice after your submission. Check it for errors!
• If approved, an EAD for STEM OPT will be sent to the mailing address listed on your I-765.

 

STEM OPT Reporting Requirements

• Collin College should remain your visa sponsor, and your F-1 record should remain active in the government database SEVIS.
  • All change of contact information rules still apply.
• Periodic confirmation (every six months) that you continue to maintain your STEM OPT activity will be conducted even if nothing has changed.
• You and your employer are responsible to report information related to your STEM OPT extension. Collin College will continue to support you during this period and will remain responsible for maintaining your record and updating your information in SEVIS.

 

The International Student Office has a window of three to five business days for processing all requests.

F-1 international students who experience an unexpected financial crisis beyond their control may be eligible to apply for off-campus employment authorization due to severe economic hardship with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

 

Severe Economic Hardship status is intended for students whose financial situation has changed significantly after arriving in the U.S. because of unforeseen circumstances that could not have been planned for or prevented.

 

Examples of unforeseen circumstances include:

• Loss of financial support from a sponsor
• Loss of financial aid or an on-campus job through no fault of the student
• Significant changes in currency exchange rates
• Unexpected increases in tuition or living expenses
• Large medical bills or other unexpected emergency expenses
   

Employment authorization for economic hardship is a benefit of your F-1 student status and is not a separate work visa or visa category. You must continue to maintain your F-1 status while working under this authorization and follow all F-1 immigration regulations.

 

Eligibility Criteria for Severe Economic Hardship Status

To be eligible, you must:

• Have maintained valid F-1 status at Collin College for at least one academic year.
• Be enrolled in a full course of study and be in good academic standing.
• Prove on-campus employment is unavailable or is not sufficient to meet the unforeseen circumstances.
• Provide documentation of unforeseen severe economic hardship requiring employment.

 

Additional Considerations

• Approval is not automatic. USCIS reviews each application on a case-by-case basis.
• Employment authorization is generally granted in increments of up to one year and may be renewed if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
• Authorization cannot extend beyond your current program end date on your Form I-20.
• Your employment does not have to be related to your major field of study.
• During the fall and spring semesters, employment is generally limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session. You may work full time during official school breaks if otherwise authorized.
• Your employment authorization ends if you transfer your SEVIS record to another school or if you no longer have a severe economic hardship.