Most F1 students are eligible to be employed for 12 months in their field of study for "Optional Practical Training." These 12 months do not need to be continuous. For example, students may work for three months at an internship after their junior year and for nine months after graduation. To apply for this type of training, a student does not need to have a specific position.
Requirements for employment include:
- Job must be directly related to the student's field of study.
- Job may take place anywhere in the U.S.
- Job must be appropriate for the student's level of education.
- Student must have had student status for at least nine months prior to employment.
It's the student's responsibility to apply for employment authorization before starting to work. There are two steps students need to go through to receive work authorization:
- Recommendation from Foreign Student Advisor.
- Authorization from Immigration Services.
A student's permission to begin Optional Practical Training is not finalized until he or she has received an "Employment Authorization Document" (EAD) from the INS. It can take from 30 to 90 days for the application to be processed, so students are encouraged to apply early. For Practical Training after completion of the degree, students must submit their application for authorization during the period between 120 days before and 60 days after the completion of the program of study.
17 Month Extension of OPT for STEM Students
Students who receive a Bachelor’s, Master’s or doctoral degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) field may apply for a 17-month extension of their OPTM. Complete information can be found on the Carnegie Mellon Office of International Education website.