F-1 Students

Employment

Basic Guidelines

  1. Maintain proper status
  2. Pursue full course of study (minimum 3.5 units)
  3. Maximum 20 hours/week during classes; 40 hours per week during academic breaks
  4. IMPORTANT: For most types of employment, students must have prior authorization by my office and/or USCIS.
    1. Failure to gain proper authorization will end F-1/J-1 status.
    2. Being declared out-of-status is more than a nuisance; if unauthorized work is the reason, reinstatement will be denied.
    3. The process of applying for an H1B visa includes a review of all authorized and unauthorized employment. If there is a history of unauthorized employment, the visa will be denied.

Social Security

  1. You will need a social security card to perform any kind of employment in the United States
  2. There is a Social Security office in the city of Poughkeepsie. This office will make arrangements to take new students to that office in the fall, and will drive students individually at other times of the year.
  3. What you need to bring to the office:
    1. Complete form SS-5 (PDF)
    2. Obtain an employment letter from student employment
    3. Obtain a status letter from this office.
    4. Your I-94
    5. Your passport
    6. Your student ID
    7. Your I-20

Kinds of Employment

On Campus Employment
  1. Work must be performed directly for Vassar, which includes most campus jobs
  2. Work for firms that directly provide services to students (such as Aramark and AAVC) is also permitted
  3. Work can also be done at some off-campus locations – check with this office to see if an opportunity qualifies in this manner.
  4. Work performed by a graduating senior following graduation does NOT qualify as On-Campus Employment. (this includes Reunion Weekend)
Off Campus Employment
  1. Severe, unforeseen economic necessity.
    1. Must be a sophomore or higher
    2. Can either be on or off campus
    3. A financial hardship "beyond the student’s control" must be demonstrated
  2. Internship with a qualifying International Organization
    1. Must have a written offer of employment
    2. Student applies through this office to USCIS
    3. The office possesses a list of qualifying organizations
  3. Check with this office if you would like to know more about either of these options

Practical Training

Optional Practical Training
  1. "Temporary employment for practical training directly related to the student’s major area of study."
  2. Affectionately referred to as "OPT."
  3. Three possible applications
    1. During the summer (PT or FT)
    2. When school is in session (PT)
    3. After completion of studies (FT only)
Eligibility
  1. Can begin OPT no early than the summer following your freshman year
  2. Employment must be related to your area of study
  3. Can be used in increments, or all at once following graduation
How to Apply
  1. Schedule a meeting with this office at least 4 months prior to your expected employment start date.
  2. Bring to this meeting:
    1. Completed forms I-538 and I-765 (PDF)
    2. A photocopy of current and all prior I-20's
    3. A check for the current fee amount (check here)
    4. Two recent passport-style photos
    5. A copy of your transcript, supplied by the registrar’s office
    6. A photocopy of both sides of your I-94
    7. A photocopy of the ID and visa pages in your passport
    8. NOTE: you can use the copier in our office to do your photocopies!
What happens next?
  1. This office generates a new I-20 reflecting your OPT request
  2. We confirm together that your packet is complete.
  3. You (express) mail your packet to the Vermont Service Center
  4. You get a receipt in about 10 days which allows you to track the progress of your application
  5. You may get the infamous blue letter, requesting new and additional information
  6. You (ultimately) get your EAD card, anywhere from 1 to 4 months after you begin the process.
Travel & OPT
  1. If you leave the country following graduation and before your OPT is scheduled to start, you will ideally present upon re-entry:
    1. A valid I-20
    2. An unexpired EAD card
    3. A letter of employment
  2. If you leave the country following graduation and before your OPT is scheduled to start, and before you receive your EAD card, you will present upon re-entry:
    1. A valid I-20
    2. Your I-765 receipt
    3. A letter of employment
  3. You may also travel after your OPT has begun, provided you return within 5 months and present the documents specified on the preceding slide.
Curricular Practical Training
  1. Curricular Practical Training is defined as "alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school and which must be “an integral part of an established curriculum."
  2. What at Vassar qualifies?
    1. Any course, department, or major that requires you to have an internship will qualify as CPT. Urban Studies is a good example.
    2. Employment for a course specifically designed to award academic credit for an employment experience or employment that will result in the award of at least one course credit for an independent study may qualify as CPT.
  3. Other Eligibility Requirements
    1. Can begin CPT no early than the summer following your freshman year
    2. Employment must be related to your area of study
    3. A letter of employment offer
    4. A letter from your Academic Advisor or Department Head
    5. Can be used in increments, but by definition cannot be used following graduation.
  4. How to Apply
    1. Schedule a meeting with this office early in the spring term

Maintaining Proper Status (F-1)

  1. Attend school listed on your visa/I-20
  2. Retain full-time academic status (3.5+ credits)
  3. Do not leave for more than 5 months
  4. No unauthorized employment
  5. Obey state and federal laws
  6. Inform me of any changes w/in 10 days
  7. When traveling, return in F-1 status
  8. Make normal progress toward the completion of your degree. Apply for program extensions/changes before the Program End Date on your I-20.
SEVIS
  1. SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.
  2. SEVIS “is a web-based system for maintaining information on international students and exchange visitors in the United States."
  3. The mission of SEVIS is “to balance Homeland Security with facilitating foreign student and exchange visitor participation in America's outstanding academic and cultural exchange programs."
  4. The Office of International Services is required to regularly report on the status of international students studying on F-1 and J-1 visas.
Making changes
  1. If your status as a full time student at Vassar or any information on your I-20 is going to or does change, let us know immediately.
Travel
  1. When traveling, always return to the United States in F-1 visa status.
  2. Always check that your visa and passport are valid well before traveling.
  3. You may be in the US legally with an expired visa stamp, but you will have to renew your visa if you leave the country.
Duration of Status/Grace Periods
  1. Duration of Status essentially means F-1 students are permitted to remain in the United States as long as they are pursuing studies as a full-time student and are taking all previously outlined steps to remain in status. Yes - this is a good thing!
  2. F-1 Students are granted three grace periods:
    1. An F-1 student may arrive in the country up to 30 days before the program start date listed on the I-20.
    2. An F-1 student my remain in the country for 60 days following the program end date listed on the I-20, or the completion of study, whichever comes first.
    3. An F-1 student who has been granted an authorized early withdrawal by my office may remain in the country for up to 15 days following the date noted in SEVIS.