The US is one of the most attractive prospects for international students from across the globe and a recent study suggests that the total number of foreign students in the US is 1, 095, 299 in 2019. Also, in 2018, the international students in the US amounted to 22 percent of the total international student community. The vast sea of development opportunities combined with world-class education and mentoring facilities makes the US a modern melting pot of culture with students from across the globe pursuing higher education in the country. This has transformed the US into a modern-day educational hub which makes the US even for appealing in the eyes of an aspiring international student.

While the comparatively high tuition fees and cost of living may push you to take up jobs to ease the financial burden, one thing that international students with a student visa in the US must understand is, you can’t go out and get any job that you want. There are some regulations that foreign students should follow while opting for a job owing to the fact that illegal working will land you in hot water. Now let’s take a look at what to do if as an international student, you want to work legally in the US. The first and most important step is to contact the Designated School Official or DSO of your institution. This person is responsible for assisting international students and the DSO will guide you through the steps to apply for a Social Security Number which is mandatory for all the students working in the US. After that, when we look at the different employment opportunities for international students, the Department of Homeland Security of the US has outlined four legal ways in which a student with an F1 visa can opt for jobs. Those four ways are given as follows.

1. On-Campus Employment

2. Off-Campus Employment

3. Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

4. Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Now lets’ take a deeper dive into what all these four means and how international students can use these methods to work legally in the US.

1. On-Campus Employment: As the name suggests, this method refers to the jobs that an international student can take up at the campus itself or at off-campus locations which are educationally affiliated. This is also one of the most freely available job opportunities for students with an F1 visa. This means that a student can find a job at the campus library, cafeteria, bookstore, dorm and also in places like a research lab which is affiliated to the campus. The working hours in the On-Campus Employment method are limited to 20 hours per week when the classes are in session but students can work full time during vacation periods and holidays. Another thing to consider is that, if you are taking up multiple jobs, then the combined total working hours during a week should not exceed 20 hours.

2. Off-Campus Employment: This type of employment is only available for international students who have completed at least one full academic year or those who have an emergent circumstance or a qualifying economic hardship. To apply for Off-Campus Employment, your DSO must approve the reason why you are applying for Off-Campus Employment and it is better to apply early because you are not allowed to start working until the entire application process is completed. The working hours are still 20 hours per week even for Off-Campus Employment.

3. Curricular Practical Training (CPT): CPT or Curricular Practical Training should be a part of your educational curriculum. This helps you to get real-world experience of the subjects and concepts that you are learning about. The Department of Homeland Security describes this as internships or workshops with any other partnering employer. The main advantage of CPT is that unlike the two abovementioned methods there is no weekly work hour limit and international students can also apply for multiple CPT authorizations simultaneously. One thing to consider is that if you complete one year or more of fulltime CPT, then you will be ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT). International students should also keep in mind that you must need to complete one academic year or you should qualify yourself as a student who is in immediate need of CPT to be eligible to apply for it.

4. Optional Practical Training (OPT): OPT is a temporary employment opportunity which is related to your educational program. There are two types of OPT named as Pre-Completion OPT which can be availed by international students who have completed one complete academic year. Under this program, students can work up to 20 hours a week. The second type of OPT is Post-Completion OPT which is available for students who have completed their studies. Students who are authorized for this can work parttime or fulltime. Aspiring candidates should ask for the help of the DSO to endorse your application while applying for OPT. Also, students can only work for combined 12 months under OPT.

The expense for higher education is only increasing on a yearly basis and the situation is even worse for international higher education in the US where the course fee and living expenses in constantly on the rise. So, by availing one of the above four methods, international students can ease their financial burden significantly and get valuable work experience which is a win-win situation.