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Employment: Off Campus
Employment is considered off-campus if it is not located on the campus of the school/university that issued your I-20.
There are three types of off-campus employment: Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), and Economic Hardship Employment.
Eligibility
F-1 students are not eligible for any type of off-campus employment until they have been in the U.S. for nine consecutive months in lawful F-1 status.
In order to apply for authorization to be able to participate in any type of practical training, you are required to attend a workshop before meeting with the international student advisor.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) enables you to obtain authorization to be employed off campus before you graduate only in a job that is directly related to your official Foothill major. You can participate in CPT while you are enrolled in classes or during the summer vacation period. You cannot begin work until the international student advisor enters the name of your employer and the period of authorized employment on page three of your I-20.
In order to obtain authorization for CPT, you must comply with the CPT application procedures presented during the Practical Training Workshop. Attendance is mandatory.
When your CPT is approved, you are permitted to work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week during fall, winter and spring quarters. You can work more than 20 hours per week during the summer.
See a detailed description of procedures for participation in the CPT/Cooperative Education Handout. Download Form I-538 for CPT application.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT) offers students in F-1 status the opportunity to work anywhere in the U.S. full-time for a period of 12 months immediately after earning an associate’s degree at Foothill. Your job must be directly related to your major.
OPT requires a separate application to and approval by USCIS. OPT applications must be received by the USCIS no later than 60 days after the last day of the quarter in which you are completing your academic program at Foothill. It may take up to 90 days for the USCIS to approve your application, therefore, we recommend that you apply 90 days prior to the last day of your last quarter. You cannot begin work until you receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) from the USCIS.
In order to apply for OPT, you must comply with the OPT application procedures presented during the Practical Training Workshop. Attendance is mandatory.
For a detailed description of OPT eligibility requirements, application deadlines and procedures, please see the OPT Instructions Handout.
You can also download all the required OPT application documents, such as Practical Training Document List, Form I-765, Form I-538 and Photo Instructions.
Economic Hardship Employment
Economic Hardship is an immigration term that refers to a specific definition for the need to work off-campus. In order to be eligible you must demonstrate that your economic hardship is severe, and that the circumstances causing it could not be foreseen and were beyond your control.
In order to obtain authorization for Economic Hardship Employment, you must first meet with an international student advisor.
To be eligible for this type of employment you must have been:
- in F-1 status for a minimum of nine consecutive months, and
- a full-time student during each semester in the U.S. Only the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service can approve this type of employment
After discussing your situation with our advisor and gathering all the supportive documents, mail the application to the USCIS. It may take the USCIS 3 to 4 months to make a decision.
If your application is approved, you will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) with a beginning and ending date of employment. The USCIS approves the employment for a maximum of one year. You cannot begin work until you receive an EAD card from the USCIS.
If approved, you are permitted to work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week during fall, winter and spring quarters. You can work more than 20 hours per week during the summer. You are allowed to take any kind of job off-campus.
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