F1 Employment

F1 Students Work On-campus

Working On-campus

• F1 students are encouraged to apply to work on-campus to develop professional skills. There are a wide array of opportunities available and we encourage you to try a few different kinds of jobs while you are enrolled to expand your understanding of the different ways people approach work and engagement in higher education.
• While school is in session, students can work up to 20 hours per week.
• When school is not in session (academic breaks) or if you are not taking classes in summer term, students may work up to 40 hours in a work week.
• Student employees must adhere to all Payroll policies regarding breaks and working hours.
• There is no cost to apply for an on-campus job.

NOTE: You are not allowed to work off-campus at any time. If the U.S. government discovers that you are working off-campus, your immigration status would be terminated. 

How to apply

• Use Handshake to search for on-campus jobs.
• Use the filters to search for jobs available at your campus.
• Apply for all the positions that you are interested in.
• If your application requires a reference, you may use our office's contact information.
  • Global Engagement Coordinator: international@oit.edu
  • Primary Designated School Official: Josie Hudspeth, international@oit.edu
• Once you are hired (this usually happens via email so be sure to check your @OIT.EDU email often), you will need to submit your hire letter to the Global Engagement Office.
• Fill out the Letter Request Form to request a letter for the Social Security Office.
  • The Letter Request Form is only for current students. You will need to log into TECHweb to access this form. 
• The Global Engagement Office will create the letter for you and help you prepare all of the documents required for a Social Security application.
• Make an appointment at a local Social Security office (Medford or Portland).
• Once you receive your Social Security card, you will be able to complete all of the required forms for the Oregon Tech Payroll office.

F1 Practical Training:  CPT (Internships/ Externships) and  OPT (post graduation)

Curriculum Practical Training
 

• Student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis at a SEVIS- approved school for one full academic year before being eligible for CPT.
• Available only while student is in F-1 status, before completion of the academic program. Students in English language training programs are ineligible for CPT.
• Students may engage in CPT only for the specific employer, location and period approved.
• May be granted in increments of no more than one year, or until expected date of employment completion, whichever is shorter.
• Can be approved for part-time (20 hours of less) or full time (over 20 hours).
• Must be an integral part of an established curriculum, in the student's course of study.
• Must have an offer of employment from an employer offering work that qualifies as curricular practical training.
• Use of full-time CPT for one year or more eliminates eligibility for Optional Practical Training.
• Use of part-time CPT does not affect eligibility for Optional Practical Training.
• Must continue to maintain a full course of study in F-1 status during the period of employment.
• There is no cost to apply for CPT.
• Students MUST be approved before engaging in any work (paid or unpaid) off-campus.

How to apply

• Verify that your department has internships/ externships/ cooperative training program established within the curriculum. 
• Use Handshake to search for an internship/ externship in your field.
• Apply for all the positions that you are interested in.
• If your application requires a reference, you may use our office's contact information.
  • Global Engagement Coordinator: international@oit.edu
  • Primary Designated School Official: Josie Hudspeth, international@oit.edu
• Once you receive an offer of employment, you will need to submit your hire letter to the Global Engagement Office.
• Fill out the CPT Request Form to request CPT authorization.
  • The CPT Request Form is only for current students. You will need to log into TECHweb to access this form. 
  • If CPT is approved, student will be issued a new I-20.
  • Ensure that you follow the approved employment date range on your I-20. 
  • You may reapply to additional CPT (see above for eligibility and the impact of duration on future training opportunities). 

Optional Practical Training 

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is defined as "temporary employment for practical training directly related to the student's major area of study." It is available before or after completion of the academic program, but different rules apply. Optional Practical Training for F-1 students is intended to provide hands-on practical work experience complementary to the academic program. OPT provides international students with off-campus employment authorization for up to 12 months in their major field of study. Students who begin a new degree program at a higher level gain access to a new period of 12 months of OPT.

How to apply

• You may apply to OPT through the USCIS I-765 form up to 90 days prior to your Program End Date (see I-20). 
  • Ensure that your Program End Date matches your graduation date. 
  • If it does not align with your expected graduation date, please complete the Student Information Update Form or meet with the Global Engagement Office BEFORE the date has passed.
    • The Student Information Update Form is only for current students. You will need to log into TECHweb to access this form. 
• Use Handshake to search for a job in your field.
  • Jobs may be full-time (more than 20 hours per week) or part-time (20 hours or less per week).
• Apply for all the positions that you are interested in.
• If your application requires a reference, you may use our office's contact information.
  • Global Engagement Coordinator: international@oit.edu
  • Primary Designated School Official: Josie Hudspeth, international@oit.edu
• Fill out the OPT Request Form to request a recommendation for OPT on your I-20 for your application to USCIS.
  • The OPT Request Form is only for current students. You will need to log into TECHweb to access this form. 
• Schedule an appointment for OPT with the Global Engagement Office.
• The Global Engagement Office team will guide you through the application process and will issue you a new I-20.
• Each time a student applies for OPT, there is an application fee that is paid to USCIS. This fee is typically set at $410.00 USD. 
• USCIS will review your application and provide an approval/ denial. 
• If you are approved, you will receive an Employment Authorization Document (card) and a new I-20. 
  • Ensure that you follow the approved employment date range on your I-20. 
  • Once you receive an offer of employment, you will need to submit your employment information to the Global Engagement Office.
  • You may be unemployed for up to 90 days during the approved OPT date range. 
  • You may change jobs while you are OPT. 
  • Please report all changes of employment and contact information to the Global Engagement Office within two business days. 

STEM Extension of Optional Practical Training

OPT is defined as "temporary employment for practical training directly related to the student's major area of study." 

• Certain science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree holders may be eligible for an additional 24 months of OPT time in addition to the regular 12-month OPT. For more information, this is referred to as OPT STEM Extension.
• Each time a student applies for OPT, there is an application fee that is paid to USCIS. This fee is typically set at $410.00 USD. The OPT STEM Extension requires a new application and filing fee. 

The Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP) has a helpful website for OPT STEM Extension. Please read this thoroughly. 

STEM OPT HUB

You are eligible to apply for the STEM Extension if you meet the following conditions:

• You are currently in an approved period of post-completion OPT.
  • You may submit your application for OPT STEM Extension 90 days prior to the last day of OPT and no more than 60 days after OPT has ended.
• You earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in a degree program that is included on the SEVP approved list.
• You are employed by an employer who is registered and in good standing with E-Verify.
• You submit a completed I-983 Training Plan to the Global Engagement Office.

How to apply

• You may apply to OPT STEM Extension through the USCIS I-765 form up to 90 days prior to the end of your current OPT period (see I-20). 
• Use Handshake to search for a job in your field.
  • Jobs may be full-time (more than 20 hours per week) or part-time (20 hours or less per week).
• Apply for all the positions that you are interested in.
• If your application requires a reference, you may use our office's contact information.
  • Global Engagement Coordinator: international@oit.edu
  • Primary Designated School Official: Josie Hudspeth, international@oit.edu
• Work with your employer to complete a I-983 Training Plan which will be submitted to the Global Engagement Office.
• Schedule an appointment for OPT with the Global Engagement Office.
• The Global Engagement Office team will guide you through the application process and will issue you a new I-20.
• Each time a student applies for OPT, there is an application fee that is paid to USCIS. This fee is typically set at $410.00 USD. The OPT STEM Extension requires a new application and filing fee. 
• USCIS will review your application and provide an approval/ denial. 
• If you are approved, you will receive an Employment Authorization Document (card) and a new I-20. 
  • Ensure that you follow the approved employment date range on your I-20. 
  • You may be unemployed for up to 60 days during the approved OPT STEM Extension date range. You may also use any remaining unemployment from OPT during this period (up to 150 days total). 
  • You may change jobs while you are OPT STEM Extension. 
  • If you change jobs, you must submit a completed I-983 Training Plan to the Global Engagement Office before you begin your new job. 
  • Please report all changes of employment and contact information to the Global Engagement Office within two business days. 
  • You must confirm your employment with the Global Engagement Office every six months. You will receive a notice via the OPT Portal about this requirement. 
  • You and your employer must complete an annual evaluation on the I-983 Training Plan (page 5) and submit it to the Global Engagement Office every 12 months.

Employer Resources: Hire an F1 Student or Alum

International students are eligible for several employment opportunities through their F-1 visa status.

• While they are enrolled, they are able to work through Curricular Practical Training (CPT) internships which do not require any sponsorship or reporting from the hiring employer. 
• Upon the completion of a degree, students are eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) which allows them to work in the United States for twelve months in a field directly related to their major areas of study while using their student F-1 visas. This means that an employer will not be required to sponsor their stay and the reporting process will be administered through our office. 
• Students in STEM fields also have the opportunity to apply for a 24-month OPT extension to continue working on their current student visa as long as the duties performed are directly related to their academic degree. In this final opportunity, the only requirement of the employer is submitting evaluations of the student’s progress every six months.