F-1 Student Employment

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The following is an overview of the various types of employment authorization available to students under F-1 status. Please note that students wishing to obtain lawful employment off-campus must first obtain written authorization from the International Services or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

On-campus Employment

F-1 Students wishing to pursue on-campus employment at UMDNJ must meet the following criteria:

• You must be a full-time student at UMDNJ
• You must have a valid active SEVIS I-20 form
• You must have a valid passport
• You must have an I-94 card marked “F-1 and D/S”

You do not qualify for on-campus employment if:

• You have violated the terms and conditions of your F-1 status
• You are not registered and pursuing full-time studies at UMDNJ
• You have an expired or inactive SEVIS I-20 form
• You have completed your studies and are not pursuing optional practical training
• You are on medical leave of absence and are unable to enroll for courses at UMDNJ

Conditions of on-campus employment:

• Employment is limited to part-time positions during the school year; full-time positions are permitted during official vacation periods. For hourly positions, part-time employment is a maximum of 20 hours per week; full-time employment is over 20 hours per week

• Your employment may take place at any UMDNJ office or department, or a commercial firm located at UMDNJ that provides direct services to students. On-campus employment also includes graduate or teaching assistantships.
  
• In certain circumstances on-campus employment may include off-campus (non-UMDNJ) sites under "extended" on-campus employment. This applies if you are working at a non-UMDNJ site but you are being paid through a research grant or contractual agreement between your academic advisor and an outside firm or organization. The research project must be directly related to your studies and appropriate to your degree level, and your work must be supervised by your academic advisor. This option is available only to PhD students.

Procedures:

Students wishing to obtain letter of on-campus authorization may submit a request directly to the OIS.

CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING

Curricular Practical Training is employment authorization granted to an individual who has been in lawful full-time student status for at least one academic year. It is “alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school”. Such employment must be in the student’s field of study, and it must be an integral part of the curriculum or degree.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) may fall under one of two categories:

1. Internship: the work component is a required part of a course that you are taking for degree credit. The course may be an elective course; however any credits must be absorbed into the curriculum towards a degree.

2. Practicum: this is a non-credit employment or fieldwork experience that is required by your department of all degree candidates in your program.

CPT is available only if one of these categories is included in the curriculum of your degree program. Because every program has different academic requirements, not every student at UMDNJ will be able to take advantage of CPT.

Eligibility requirements

Students wishing to pursue CPT must meet the following criteria:

• You must have been in the U.S. enrolled in full-time studies for at least one academic year
• You must have a current/valid SEVIS I-20
• You must have a job offer prior to obtaining work authorization

Limitations:

• CPT is typically done on a part-time (up to 20 hours per week) basis during the school year and on a full-time basis during vacation periods. Exceptions may apply for graduate students depending on the structure of the individual student's curriculum

• The employment is employer specific. Once CPT has been authorized, the student must obtain authorization prior to changing employers

• You may not begin CPT without prior authorization from the OIS. Retroactive authorization is not possible

Application Process:

1. If you are applying for credit-bearing CPT, you must submit the following:

• A letter from your school’s registrar stating that you have registered for an internship course; the number of credits earned for the course; the course number; beginning and ending dates of employment; number of hours per week of work; employer’s name; indication that such employment is an integral part of your degree program; the anticipated completion date of your studies. Detail how the internship is evaluated and how it fulfills the goals of the class. Verification that the course credit will count toward fulfilling your degree requirements.

• Proof of full-time enrollment at UMDNJ

• Letter from your employer (on company letterhead) indicating the job title, dates of employment, number of hours per week, and brief description of the work you will be performing

2. If you are applying for a practicum, you must submit the following:

• A letter from your school’s registrar stating that the practicum is an integral part of the degree program and is required for the degree (this must be indicated as such in the school bulletin) and that the employment is required of all students in your program. The letter must also indicate the name and address of the employer; beginning and ending dates of employment; number of hours/week of work; employer’s name; Also include the anticipated completion date of your studies.

3. Once you have obtained this documentation, you must make an appointment  

    with a Designated School Official at the OIS. You must present the following

    documentation at the time of your appointment:

• Current SEVIS I-20
• Letter from school’s registrar/mentor
• Letter from your employer (on its letterhead) indicating the job title, dates of employment, number of hours/week, and brief description of the work.

REMEMBER: YOU MAY NOT BEGIN WORK UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED AUTHORIZATION FROM THE OIS. PLEASE DO NOT ENGAGE IN UNAUTHORIZED EMPLOYMENT.

OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING

Optional practical training is off-campus employment authorization granted to F-1 students for the purpose of gaining practical experience in their field of studies. F-1 students can make use of their OPT eligibility either prior to completion of their studies or after completion of their studies. Individuals wishing to engage in OPT must first obtain a recommendation from a Designated School Official in the Office of International Services and then submit a formal application for the work authorization to the U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Services.

Eligibility requirements for employment authorization prior to completion of studies:

• Student must be maintaining lawful F-1 status
• Student must be making normal progress towards completion of his/her degree
• Student must have an unexpired SEVIS I-20 form
• Student must have been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year. Time spent as a full-time student while under a different immigration status, except for B1/B2 and F-2 status, can be used towards this requirement.

Limitations:

• You may only engage in work that is directly related to your field of studies as stated on the form I-20.
• OPT prior to completion of studies can only be authorized for 20 hours per week while school is in session. Students are eligible for full-time OPT during their regular school vacation.
• You may not begin employment until you have received the Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
• F-1 students are limited to 12 months of OPT. Time used on OPT prior to completion of studies will be deducted from time that can be used on OPT after completion of studies.
• You DO NOT need a job offer in order to apply for OPT. However, due to the fact that once the OPT request has been approved by the USCIS it cannot be withdrawn, we recommend that students wait until an offer has been made prior to submitting the application and obtaining the recommendation.
• You can apply at any point in your studies as long as you have fulfilled the one year full-time enrollment in lawful status and have not otherwise violated the terms of your immigration status.

Eligibility Requirements for Employment Authorization after Completion of Studies:

• You must have valid F-1 status
• You must have been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year. Time spent as a full-time student while under a different immigration status, except for B1/B2 and F-2 status, can be used towards this requirement
• You must apply for the OPT prior to completion of your studies

Limitations:

• OPT after completion of studies can only be authorized for full-time employment
• You do not need a job offer in order to apply
• Once the OPT has been approved by the USCIS, the request cannot be rescinded
• The OPT will be automatically cancelled if the student transfers to another institution of higher education or enrolls in a new degree level
• You can apply no more that 120 days prior to the day you wish the employment authorization to begin
• The employment authorization must begin within 60 days of completion of studies
• Student becomes eligible for another 12 months of OPT after completion of a higher degree level

Application Procedures

Students wishing to apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training must submit the following documentation to the OIS:

• A copy of your unofficial transcript (from your School's Registrar's office) - for verification of a full-time course load / maintenance of F-1 status;
• A completed Form I-765. On form I-765, do NOT complete numbers 2, 3 and 16.
• 2 Photographs - passport style. On the back of the photos print your name and I-94 number in pencil.
• A copy of your current form I-20 (front and back) and any other form I-20s you have held in the past.
• Copies of your passport - Biodata page to include passport expiration date, visa and I-94 (front and back).
• A letter of recommendation for OPT from your school's Registrar, Program Director or Academic Advisor addressed to Ms. Yocasta Brens-Watson. The letter should also state your expected program completion date.
• A check for $340 made to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
• You will need a new SEVIS Form I-20 from our office, a copy of which will accompany your OPT packet to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Service).

Once you have completed all the appropriate forms, you must make an appointment with a Designated School Official at the OIS and submit the documentation.

Special Notes

• USCIS' normal processing time is 4-6 weeks from the date your application is receipted.
• Under no circumstances should you begin employment prior to receiving authorization from the USCIS
• Send the supporting documents by certified mail with a return receipt to:

          Vermont Service Center

          75 Lower Welden St .

          St. Albans, VT 05479

F-1 ECONOMIC HARDSHIP WORK AUTHORIZATION

Economic Hardship work authorization is employment available to F-1 students who due to unforeseen circumstances are unable to meet all of their financial obligations.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to qualify for Economic Hardship work authorization you must meet the following criteria:

• You must be able to maintain full-time enrollment at UMDNJ while authorized for economic hardship employment
• You must have been enrolled full-time at UMDNJ for at least one academic year
• You must have a valid SEVIS I-20 form and your record must be valid in SEVIS
• You must demonstrate that the economic hardship is due to circumstances entirely beyond your control. Unforeseen circumstances include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in your home country's currency; unexpected loss of employment by your sponsor; unforeseen expenses incurred by yourself or your sponsor
• The employment authorization is not limited to your program of studies

Limitations:

• Economic Hardship employment is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session. Full-time employment is permissible during official breaks
• You must have received the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) prior to commencing employment
• The employment authorization is not limited to your field of studies
• The employment must cease on the expiration date indicated on the EAD

Procedures

Students wishing to apply for Economic Hardship work permission must submit the following documentation to the OIS:

• Letter from the student explaining the circumstances that make it necessary to apply for employment authorization
  Supporting documentation demonstrating the need for employment authorization
• Form I-765
• Photocopy of current I-20 form
• Photocopy of all previously issued I-20 forms
• Photocopy of biodata page in passport, I-94 card and visa
•  Two citizenship style photographs.
• Check or money order in the amount of $340.00 payable to the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)

Once you have completed all the appropriate forms, you must make an appointment with a Designated School Official at the OIS and submit the documentation.

Special Notes

• USCIS' normal processing time is 4 - 6 weeks from the date your application is receipted
• It is your responsibility to demonstrate that your financial difficulties were unforeseen and beyond your control
• Under no circumstance should you begin employment prior to receiving authorization from the USCIS

EMPLOYMENT WITH AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION

The Code of Federal Regulations 8 C.F.R. 214.2 (f) (9) (iii), states that F-1 students are allowed to work for recognized international organizations within the meaning of the International Organization Immunities Act [59 Stat. 669].

Eligibility for employment with an international organization:

• Student must hold valid F-1 status; no one-year academic requirement
• Student must maintain full course of study
• Employment must be with a qualified international organization

Conditions:

• Employment valid for up to one year
• Student can be approved for full-time employment
• Employment does not have to be related to course of study

Procedures:

• Student must submit a written offer letter from a qualifying international organization
• Student must apply for employment authorization from USCIS, and receive EAD before employment begins
• Student must submit a completed I-765, with item 16 marked (c) (3) (ii)
• Submit fee of $340 payable to USCIS
• Submit 2 ‘passport-style' photos
• Submit photocopy of I-94 card (front and back)

The list of international organizations which the U.S. is a member, and have been designated by Executive Order pursuant to various treaties or under the International Organizations Immunities Act of December 29, 1945 can be found in the U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual Volume 9.