The Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has regulations governing on-campus employment for students in F-1 status.

Any F-1 student may work on campus if:

• Valid F-1 status is maintained
• Employment does not exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session
• F-1 students may be employed full time on campus during holidays and vacation periods, provided you intend to register for the next academic semester.

NOTE: If a student works for more than one on-campus employer, the total number of hours worked from all jobs cannot exceed 20 hours per week.

The definition of on-campus employment includes:

• Work performed on the NYIT campus
• Work for an on-campus employer who has a contract to provide services to students, including bookstores and food services

Off-Campus Employment (Economic Hardship)

Current immigration regulations do allow off-campus employment for student in F-1 status based on economic hardship.

In order to be eligible, the student must:

• Be in valid F-1 status for at least one academic year (two semesters)
• Be in good academic standing and registered for a full-time course load
• Provide evidence of economic hardship based on unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control
• Demonstrate that on-campus employment is either unavailable or insufficient to meet needs.

The regulations require that students make a good faith effort to locate employment on campus before applying for employment authorization based on economic hardship.

The regulations offer examples of unforeseen circumstances that may cause economic hardship, including the loss of scholarship or on-campus employment without fault on the part of the student, substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rates, inordinate increases in tuition and/or living costs, unexpected changes in the financial condition of a student's sponsor, medical bills, or other substantial and unexpected expenses.

Employment is limited to no more than 20 hours per week when school is in session, full-time during holidays or vacation periods. Employment authorization is automatically terminated when a student fails to maintain status. Students may work for an employer at any job, anywhere in the United States. A job offer is not required in advance of obtaining employment authorization. Employment may not commence until the student receives the work authorization (EAD) card from the Bureau of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Students seeking employment authorization based on economic hardship will need to meet with the director or associate director of international education at NYIT, fill out the necessary application forms, and apply by mail to the USCIS Vermont Service Center to obtain an employment authorization document (EAD), which will be valid for one-year intervals. There is a $340 fee for the EAD.

It can take up to 12 weeks for the EAD card to be processed by the USCIS Vermont Service Center. Therefore, students are urged to allow sufficient processing time for this procedure by submitting their paperwork early.

Employment may not commence until the student obtains the EAD.

Curricular Practical Training

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is employment directly related to your field of study. CPT may be a paid or unpaid internship, practicum, or other type of employment offered by a sponsoring employer through a cooperative agreement with the school. It may take place during the academic year or the summer.

If CPT is required as part of your curriculum, it will be listed under the department’s degree requirements and course offerings. All students in that program are required to complete an internship or practicum.

CPT may be recommended to you if it is beneficial but is not required for completion of the degree. You must register for a minimum of a one-credit internship, practicum, or field study course listed in the college catalog. As an F-1 student, you must be enrolled on a full-time basis for at least one academic year before you are eligible.

Optional Practical Training

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is defined as paid employment directly related to your field of study. As an F-1 student, you must be enrolled on a full-time basis for at least one academic year before you are eligible. OPT is limited to a total of 12 months. You may be eligible for another 12 months upon pursuing another academic degree.

• Are you F-1 and on OPT? Please update your address and employment status with us.

NOTE: F-2 dependents may not accept employment or be enrolled full time.

Optional Practical Training - 17 Month STEM Extension