Understanding and communicating work authorization to your potential employer can be hard to navigate as an F1 international student. Use the resources on this webpage to help prepare for and answer some common questions you may get from employers. Here you can also find a helpful handout about CPT and OPT you can share with potential employers. This information was provided by the Center for Global Engagement.
- During their academic program F1 students are eligible for internships with CPT (Curricular Practical Training). The employer does not need to pay any fees or do any paperwork for this work approval. RMU will assist the student with the steps for approval. If hired, all the employer needs to provide the student is an offer letter listing dates of employment, hours per week they will work, and a job description. Once CPT is approved, the student can get a Social Security Number and work with your organization the same as any other employee.
- Upon completion of their academic program, F1 students are eligible to apply for OPT (Optional Practical Training). For this option the student works with RMU and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process their application and receive work authorization. Again, the employer does not pay any fees nor do any paperwork for this work approval. The student will provide you with an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card. This will show their work authorization dates. Once OPT is approved, the student can get a Social Security Number and work with your organization the same as any other employee.
- CPT:
- Provide student with an offer of employment listing dates of employment, hours per week they will work, and a job description
- Request a copy of I-20 showing CPT approval from the student
- OPT:
- Provide student with an offer of employment listing position title, start date, hours per week
- Provide student with Name/Address/EIN of Employer and Name/Phone/Email of Supervisor
- Request a copy of the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from student
- STEM OPT:
- Offer the student a paid position
- Complete the I983 training plan with the student
- Complete the 12 month and 24 month review on the I983 training plan with student
- Be e-verified
- No, there is no financial obligation from the company towards the student while they are on approved CPT or OPT.
- All CPT/OPT applications and fees are the responsibility of the student.
- Students are not eligible for CPT (internships) until one year of study has been completed.
- Work must be related to their degree program of study.
- During semester class sessions, students may only work a maximum of 20 hours per week.
- During school breaks or on post completion OPT, students can be approved to work more than 20 hours per week.
- Employment can be paid or unpaid, unless the student is on STEM OPT. STEM OPT must be paid.
- While on CPT, the student can begin working as soon as the CPT authorization is listed on their I20 and the start date has arrived. It may take a couple of weeks for a SSN to be approved and mailed to the student. It is up to the employer if the student will need to wait to begin working without the SSN.
- CPT applications go through an internal review at RMU, so it can take up to a few weeks to process once the student provides the offer letter to the relevant campus offices.
- While on OPT, the student can begin working as soon as their OPT is approved and the start date on their EAD has arrived.
- USCIS processes OPT applications and most typically take around three months to be reviewed and approved.
- Students can pay an additional fee for premium processing to shorten that time to one month.
- Choosing a EAD start date:
- Students choose this at the time of application. It cannot be changed once they apply.
- For post completion OPT, they can choose any date after their program ends up to the last day of their 60 day grace period (the time all F-1 students have to leave the US after their degree program ends).
- The start date will be changed to the date of USCIS approval if the processing time (typically 3 months) goes beyond the requested start date.
- No sponsorship is required during the authorization period of CPT or OPT.
- Upon the end of their CPT or OPT authorization period, an F1 student would need employer sponsorship for another authorization such as an H1b to continue with employment.
- For students, answering this question on job applications can be difficult. Often it is asked as “Do you need sponsorship?” While on CPT or OPT the answer to this question is no. However, employers often really mean to ask “will you eventually need sponsorship?” The answer to that question would be yes.
- We do advise that students answer yes to this question as not to create a situation where the employer feels surprised by your immigration status.
- If asked during an interview or conversation with the employer, this is an opportunity to explain your CPT/OPT approval and the duration you would be able to work for them without any sponsorship requirements on the employer’s part.
- CPT (internships) is approved on a semester basis (typically 3 months maximum). Students can do multiple semesters of CPT but are required to get approval every semester. Upon completion of their program, they can typically work on OPT as well.
- With OPT all students can work for at least one full year. Additionally students who are in the Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) fields (per the government’s list of majors) working in a paid position for an e-verified employer can work for an additional two years, if their OPT STEM extension application is approved.
- Upon completion of their OPT time period, F1 students would need sponsorship by the employer for another visa type to continue working.
- Contact the RMU Center for Global Engagement at internationaloffice@rmu.edu.
Adapted from: NYU Website