Welcome to New Jersey! A new school year means new opportunities for international students arriving from all over the globe. Many of you are coming to study at universities and colleges across our state, from Princeton to Rutgers in New Brunswick, or NJIT in Newark, and you might be wondering about your ability to work while here. It’s a question we get often at our office, and it is a very important one. The rules for working on an F-1 or M-1 student visa are strict, and navigating them can be complex. Understanding the specific regulations that apply to you is essential to keeping your student status.
If you hold an F-1 or M-1 student visa, your primary reason for being in the U.S. is to study. Employment is generally restricted and requires specific authorization. We want to help you understand the different ways you can gain work authorization, what the eligibility requirements are, and why getting this right is so critical.
F-1 Student Visas: Your Employment Options
F-1 visas are for students pursuing academic studies at colleges, universities, or other academic institutions. While your visa is not a direct work permit, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does allow for certain types of employment under specific conditions. You will typically need to work with your school’s Designated School Official (DSO) to get the required permissions.
There are three main categories of employment for F-1 students:
- On-Campus Employment
- Off-Campus Employment
- Practical Training (CPT and OPT)
On-Campus Employment
On-campus employment is often the simplest and most accessible form of work for F-1 students. You can work for your school on the campus grounds, which includes working in the library, dining hall, or a research lab. On-campus employment is seen as “incident to your status,” which means you usually don’t need a separate work permit from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Off-Campus Employment
Working off-campus is much more restricted. Generally, F-1 students cannot work off-campus unless they meet specific, and often strict, criteria. The most common exception is for students facing severe economic hardship due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control, which could be a loss of financial support, a substantial currency fluctuation in their home country, or unexpected medical expenses.
Practical Training: CPT and OPT
Practical training allows you to gain work experience directly related to your major, which is the most common way F-1 students work off-campus. There are two types: Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
CPT is an integral part of an established curriculum and is intended for training that is required for your degree program or for which you receive course credit. Think of a mandatory internship for your major or a co-op program at a New Jersey company.
Important CPT Requirements:
- You must have been enrolled full-time for at least one academic year before you can apply.
- The work must be directly related to your major.
- You must have an offer of employment before your DSO can authorize CPT.
- Your DSO will authorize CPT by endorsing your Form I-20. You can only start working after this is done.
A word of caution: Using 12 months or more of full-time CPT will make you ineligible for Optional Practical Training. Part-time CPT, which is 20 hours or less per week, does not affect your OPT eligibility.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
OPT is a temporary work authorization that allows you to get real-world experience related to your field of study. You can do OPT during your program of study, but it is far more common for students to use it after they have completed their degree (post-completion OPT).
Post-completion OPT is a popular option. It gives you 12 months of work authorization, which is a crucial time for many international students to gain valuable U.S. work experience.
M-1 Student Visas: Strict Rules for Vocational Students
M-1 visas are for students in nonacademic or vocational programs, such as cosmetology, technical, or culinary arts programs. The rules for M-1 students are very different from the F-1 rules.
M-1 visa holders are generally not allowed to work while they are in school. The only exception is for a specific, limited period of practical training after you complete your program.
M-1 Practical Training:
- M-1 practical training is the only work authorization available to M-1 students.
- You can get one month of practical training for every four months of full-time study you complete.
- The maximum amount of practical training you can get is six months.
- The work must be directly related to your vocational field.
- Like F-1 OPT, you must have a DSO recommend the training and get an EAD from USCIS before you begin.
Why Getting It Right Matters
Unauthorized work is a serious violation of your student visa status. It can lead to severe consequences, including the termination of your visa and an order to leave the United States. A violation of your student status can also affect your ability to get other visas or green cards in the future.
We Are Here to Help
At Parikh Law Group, we have years of experience assisting international students and other clients with their immigration matters. We can provide you with the personalized guidance you need to navigate these complex rules. Our team is ready to help you understand your options, prepare your applications, and ensure you are taking all the right steps.
If you are an international student in or near New Jersey with questions about your work eligibility, we can help. Call us at 973-577-5159 to schedule a confidential consultation.
