A Guide to Working Off-Campus for UR International Students

 Alternate work/study, internship, cooperation education, or a required internship or practicum offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school

 F-1 student in good standing  F-1 status for at least 1 academic year EXCEPT for graduate students whose programs require a work experience in the 1 st semester  Must be a continuing F-1 student; CPT cannot be used after completion of studies  Work must relate to your major(s)

 Must receive UR academic credit during employment period unless work experience is a program requirement  Must be enrolled full-time during employment period except for summer and official school breaks  Paid or unpaid off-campus work anywhere in the U.S.  Must have employment offer

 No maximum  Can be authorized in 1 year increments before completion of studies  Can be authorized for part-time (20 hours or less) or full-time (over 20 hours)  Eligible for CPT at each higher degree level (Master’s, Ph.D.)

 20 hour per week maximum including other jobs when school is in session  40 hours per week or full-time equivalent during school breaks for continuing students

 Ineligible for OPT at same degree level if you use 1 year or more of full-time CPT; part-time CPT does not count  CPT is employer-specific; can work for multiple employers at the same time as long as separate CPT applications are made for each one  Transfer to another school – CPT ends on transfer date; must apply for CPT with ISA at new institution  Cancellations can be made prior to employment start date

 Applications must be made BEFORE employment start date.  Student Statement  Employer Statement  Departmental Recommendation  Students approved for CPT will receive new I-20 with authorization.

 December 1 st in fall semester  May 1 st in spring semester  CPT can be authorized during the summer at least 5 working days in advance of employment start date

 Work experience directly related to an F-1 student’s major to provide practical training during or upon completion of a degree program

 F-1 student in good standing  F-1 status for at least 1 academic year  Work must relate to your major(s)  Off-campus work anywhere in the U.S.  On-campus work after graduation if work relates to your major

 12 month maximum at each higher educational level (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral)  Cannot combine OPT periods – must use after each degree level  29 months for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) extension

 Work must relate to major

 Paid, unpaid or volunteer positions  Multiple employers  Work for hire as contractor or consultant  Self-employed business owner  Agency or consulting firm

 Employer must be enrolled in E-Verify  Volunteering allowed but does not count toward work hours requirement

Pre-completion:  20 hour per week maximum including other jobs when school is in session  40 hours per week or full-time equivalent during school breaks for continuing students Post-completion:  At least 20 hours per week  An average of at least 20 hours per week in a 1- month period for variable work schedules

Pre-completion:  90 days before completing 1 st full academic year  90 days before employment start date if you have completed 1 st full academic year Post-completion:  90 days before completion of studies Students must apply separately for pre- and post-completion OPT.

 120 days before OPT end date

 December 1 st in fall semester  May 1 st in spring semester  Application must be received at USCIS Service Center within 30 days of International Student Advisor (ISA) recommendation

 Start date no more than 60 days after completion of studies  End date no more than 12 months from start date if you have not used pre-completion OPT  Employment can begin or end any time during authorized period  Cannot work until start date on Employment Authorization Document (EAD)  Must be in physical possession of EAD

 90 calendar days for post-completion  120 calendar days for STEM extension  Employment travel and periods of authorized leave do not count as unemployment

 Department of Homeland Security (DHS), not ISA, is responsible for calculating unemployment time and taking action in SEVIS  Denial of future immigration benefits  DHS could terminate SEVIS record

 A job is NOT required except for STEM extension  Employer’s name & address as written on contract if you have a job  Departmental Recommendation  Student Statement  I-765 form from USCIS website  I-765 fee (personal check or money order)  I-912 to request fee waiver from USCIS website  2 passport photos  Copies of all I-20s or F-1status letter if you have no I-20s from the institution, I-94 card, passport information page, F-1 visa stamp  Copy of I-20 from ISA with OPT recommendation on 3 rd page  Copy of degree for STEM extension only

 2-3 weeks after mailing application for USCIS receipt notice (I-797C)  90 calendar days from I-797C receipt date for approval  2 weeks from approval date for USCIS to mail your EAD

 /text notification of application receipt by completing Form G-1145 from USCIS website  Cancelled bank check with receipt number on the back for pending applications  If your check has been cashed but you have not received the I-797C receipt notice,  USCIS website to check case status online  If your receipt number does not show up online,  Call National Customer Service Center ( ) or make appointment ( if application has not been processed within 90 days  Once you receive approval notice, call National Customer Service Center for EAD tracking number and check status on Postal Service website at

 Possible without a job  Carry endorsed I-20, I-797C, I-94, passport, F-1 visa stamp  Obtain I-20 travel signature from ISA every 6 months  Explain you are looking for employment

 Not possible without a job  Carry endorsed I-20, I-94, passport, F-1 visa stamp, EAD, and contract letter  Obtain I-20 travel signature from ISA every 6 months  Cannot enter the U.S. until EAD start date  Unemployed time abroad cannot be regained  Not permitted during cap-gap period  Not permitted if STEM extension pending and EAD expired

 Ineligible to apply for post-completion OPT  May not be allowed to enter U.S.

 Must be renewed at U.S. consulate in home country  Present signed I-20, EAD, passport, proof of employment  Especially risky if you have a pending or approved H-1B petition

 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) –ineligible for OPT if you use 1 year or more of full-time CPT  Cancellation – possible if done before start date on EAD  Working on campus – not possible after you graduate without using OPT  Failure to complete program – if application is pending it must be withdrawn; if application has been approved can work part- time while completing program and full-time upon program completion  Transfer to another school – OPT ends on transfer date  Departure from U.S. – 60-day grace period after EAD end date

Within 10 Days:  Initial job (employer name, start date, mailing address)  Subsequent jobs (employer name, start date, mailing address, end date of former employment)  More than 10 days of unemployment  Address change  Name change  Early departure date from U.S.

Within 10 days:  Name change  Address change  Employer change (employer name & address)  Loss of employment Every 6 months:  Legal name  SEVIS ID number  Current mailing & residential address  Current employer name & address  Current employment start date

 Krittika Onsanit (ISA) at  Walk-in hours (2-4 pm, Monday-Thursday each week, 103G International Center)  for appointment at other times