On Campus Employment
Students on F-1/J-1 visas are allowed to work on-campus for 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semester. During the summer, F/J students are allowed to work full-time on-campus. The definition of on-campus is any office where you are working for Winthrop University and receiving a pay check from Winthrop University. In order to receive pay for your work, you must have a social security card. For information on the application process for a social security card please refer to the Social Security Card information page we have provided for you.
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Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Information and Application
USCIS defines “curricular practical training” as an employment option available to F-1 students where the practical training employment is considered to be an integral part of the curriculum or academic program. CPT requires prior approval by the International Center.
Requirements for CPT
To be eligible for CPT, you must have been a student enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year, your employment must be an integral part of your degree program or requirement for a course, and your job offer related to your major or field of study.
The training employment is required of all degree candidates in the program and is necessary for the awarding of the degree. The employment must be required for the course and must be taken for academic credit. You must be registered for the course during the period that you are working under CPT authorization. Graduate students in their first year of study may be eligible for CPT when required. Undergraduates are not eligible in their first year of study.
Student must have a written offer of employment from an employer offering work that qualifies as CPT. This must be submitted to the International Student Advisor on company letterhead for consideration with the completed CPT application.
Depending on a student's eligibility and academic needs, employment can be either part-time or full-time. Employment authorization is granted by the International Student Advisor, in consultation with the student's academic advisor. Employment must be endorsed on page 3 of the students I-20 prior to beginning employment.
Students may engage in CPT only for the specific employer, location and period of time approved by the International Center and noted on page 3 of your I-20.
Student must be enrolled in a full load of courses to participate in CPT during the semester. Over the summer break, the student must have been enrolled full time during the spring term and enrolled full time during the upcoming fall term.
Application and Approval Process
Students must submit to the International Student Advisor an employment offer on company letterhead from the company offering the CPT and the Recommendation Form from your academic advisor that the requested employment meets your course of study requirements.
If your CPT request is approved you will receive a Form I-20 endorsed on page 3 for CPT listing the dates of employment and the name and address of your employer. You must be careful to work only from the beginning to the end date of the employment authorization. You may not continue employment beyond the date authorized on your Form I-20 unless you apply for and are granted an extension of your permission to work.
Undergraduate students:
Letter from the employer indicating name of employer, address where you will be working, job duties, and beginning and ending dates of employment.
Graduate students:
An approved Program of Study form from The Graduate School.
Letter from the employer indicating name of employer, address where you will be working, job duties, and beginning and ending dates of employment.
CPT vs. OPT
If a student's program of study does not require an internship for credit and CPT is not an option, there is the possibility of pre-completion OPT. A student can use OPT prior to the completion of their program. Refer to the OPT section below for more information on pre-completion OPT.
Also note, if a student completes one year (12 months) of full-time CPT then their Optional Practical Training (OPT) benefit is no longer available.
More complete information on CPT is available in the information packet. In order to apply for CPT please make an appointment to meet with the International Student Advisor.
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Optional Practical Training (OPT) Information and Application
Optional Practical Training, or OPT is an employment benefit awarded to F-1 students by USCIS. Optional Practical Training, or OPT, is used for extending your legal F-1 status to enable authorization of work that is directly related to your field of study. USCIS determines eligibility for OPT and reserves the right not to award OPT if a student has violated and failed to maintain their legal status while studying in the United States.
Students are eligible for two periods of OPT. There is a 12-month benefit allowed after receiving an undergraduate degree and another 12-month benefit allowed after receiving a graduate degree. OPT must be completed within 14 months of completion of your studies.
Types of OPT and When to Apply for OPT-
Pre-Completion OPT
You can work full-time or part-time during your annual vacation (summer) if you intend to register for the next term;
You can work while school is in session provided that the OPT does not exceed 20 hours per week.
You can apply any time provided that you have been a student for 9 consecutive months.
Post-Completion OPT
You can apply for OPT after the completion of your course of study.
You are eligible for 12 months of OPT after your undergraduate degree and another 12 months after your graduate degree. You cannot receive two periods of consecutive OPT meaning 24 months after completion of a graduate degree.
You can apply during the semester of your graduation, not more than 90 days before your program end date.
Remember, it can take USCIS time to process and approve your application depending on the number of applications that they receive. It typically takes about 3 months to approve OPT.
Procedures for Applying for OPT
Submit a check for $340.00 made payable to The Department of Homeland Security. This payment can be made by personal check or money order. USCIS does not accept cash, counter checks or credit cards.
Provide two passport photos
Once you have completed steps 1-5, make an appointment to meet with the International Center. Bring all of the forms listed above along with the following items to your appointment –
The International Center cannot assist you in completing your application if you do not provide all of the documents requested above.
Once approved for Optional Practical Training you are required to –
- "Maintain your valid F-1 visa status” while using your OPT.
- Work only in the field of study for which you received your degree.
- Notify the International Center within 10 days of establishing employment or gaining a new US address so that your SEVIS record can be updated.
- Only work the dates that are specified on your OPT authorization card. You cannot begin working before the start date or after the expiration date listed on your card.
- While on OPT, remember your F-1 status is dependent upon employment. If unemployed for an aggregate of more than 90 days the OPT benefit is terminated.
OPT Extensions
As of April, 2008, if an employee is the beneficiary of a timely-filed H1B petition, there is an “cap-gap” extension that allows an employee to continue working for that employer until September 30, as October 1 is the annual start date of the H1B visa. For example, a person’s OPT expires on May 15 but the H1B visa does not begin until October 1, this “cap-gap” extension allows for continued employment between May 15 and September 30.
As of April 2008, an OPT extension of 17 months beyond the typical 12 months exists for students who graduate with a STEM degree (29 months of OPT). STEM degrees are defined as science, technology, engineering and mathematics. To be eligible for the extension, the student's must have a job with an employer that is registered in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system that provides an automated link to Federal databases to help employers determine employment eligibility. Applications for the 17-month STEM extension must be filed before the original 12 months of OPT expires.
What if I cannot find a job while on OPT?
If you are granted post-completion OPT, remember your F-1 status is dependent upon employment. During any initial 12-month period of post-completion OPT no student may be unemployed for an aggregate of more than 90 days.
If a STEM student receives a 17-month extension, the limit on unemployment is raised to an aggregate of no more than 120 days, applied to the entire 29-month period on which the student is on post-completion OPT.
Options available after OPT
Once your OPT is complete you have 60 days to depart the US and return home.
Another option is that an employer can decide to sponsor an employee for the H1B visa. This is an employment based visa that allows you to remain in the US and work for the sponsoring employer. The employer will be able to offer counsel on the H1B visa.
More complete information on OPT is available in the OPT Informational Packet. If you have questions about OPT or if you plan to apply for OPT, please make an appointment to meet with the International Student Advisor.
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Academic training is available only to students holding J-1 visas. Academic Training is a type of employment (paid or unpaid) that is directly related to your major area of study and authorized by your J-1 program sponsor, Winthrop University. Academic Training is designed for students to apply knowledge and skills learned at Winthrop University.
All J-1 students may apply for academic training if they meet the eligibility requirements below. Academic Training must be approved before the expiration date of a students DS-2019. Students may work part-time while school is in session and full-time during the summer and winter breaks.
Eligibility
To qualify for academic training, you must obtain written approval on your DS-2019 for your employment prior to beginning your employment. This work authorization is decided by your academic advisor and by your International Student Advisor.
You must be in good academic standing Winthrop University.
The proposed employment must be directly related to your major field of study.
Throughout your “academic training” you must maintain permission to stay in the United States, in J-1 student status, and apply for extensions as necessary.
Length of Work Authorization
Your employment may be authorized for the length of time necessary to complete the goals and objectives of the training, provided that the amount of time is approved by both your academic advisor and the International Center. It may not exceed the amount of time it took for you to complete your program, or 18 months, whichever is shorter.
Part-time employment for academic training counts against the 18 month limit the same as full-time employment.
You have only one opportunity for academic training regardless of how many degrees you receive.
Academic training before completion of studies will be deducted from the total amount of academic training that you are eligible for.
How to Apply
You must apply for and have approval for academic training before the ending date of your DS-2019.
A job offer letter from your prospective employer on company letterhead that includes: job title, a brief description of the “goals and objectives” of your “training program” (your employment), the dates and location of the employment, the number of hours per week, salary, and the name and address of your “training supervisor.” Make sure your employer’s letter includes all of these details.
Bring the job offer letter and the
academic advisor’s recommendation form to the International Center where your application will be reviewed. If approved you will receive a letter authorizing the academic training. The International Center will also issue you a new DS-2019 form extended for your academic training, for no more than the time you were a student at Winthrop under your current DS-2019.
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If you have questions about employment authorization at Winthrop University contact the International Center.
