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Off-campus Employment

Your F-1 status does NOT allow you to be employed off-campus without special authorization from the IC and/or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If you do not have a notation on page 3 of your I-20 or an employment authorization card from USCIS you are NOT authorized to work off-campus.  Unauthorized off-campus employment is a very serious violation of your F-1 status.

F-1’s may be eligible to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), Employment with an International Organization, or Severe Economic Hardship employment authorizations. Eligibility to apply for CPT, OPT, or Severe Economic Hardship employment authorization only begins after you have completed at least 1 academic year of study in the US. CPT, OPT and Economic Hardship forms can be found on the F-1 Forms page.

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT) - CPT is ONLY used for internships, practicums, or field studies that are an integral part of the established FSU curriculum. CPT may also be used for employment that is necessary to gather data for the completion of thesis or dissertation. Additionally, if you will enroll in an internship course through your department, you MUST apply for CPT. CPT is generally authorized 1 semester at a time. CPT is NOT intended for ongoing employment, or to bridge a gap between graduation and OPT. Please see the Curricular Practical Training section for more information.

• Optional Practical Training (OPT) - OPT  is 12 months of employment authorization during or after the course of study. OPT employment MUST be in the field of study and can begin only after an Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) has been received from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Most F-1’s use OPT after graduation. Please see the Optional Practical Training Section for more information.

• Severe Economic Hardship - Severe Economic Hardship authorization my be recommended by the IC can begin only after an EAD card has been granted from USCIS. This is only for cases arising from sudden, unforeseen circumstances beyond the student’s control. Examples: Unforeseen loss of financial aid or on-campus funding, loss of funding from sponsor or family member, sudden changes in home country’s economic system or currency. Please talk to your IC advisor for more information.

Employment with an International Organization - You are eligible to apply for this type of employment authorization as soon as F-1 status begins. However, you must have an offer of employment from a qualifying international organization Employment can only begin after recommendation by the IC and can begin only after an EAD card has been received from USCIS.