Off-campus Employment
You MAY NOT work off campus unless you have specific written permission from an IC adviser AND/OR the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The permission will be noted on page 3 of a new I-20 which will be issued specific to the employment requested. There are several types of employment that may be available to you as a benefit of your status. However, please be sure to check with the IC before considering off-campus employment of any kind.
Practical training
Federal regulations state that ".an F 1 student may request employment authorization for practical training in a position which is directly related to his or her major area of study." You are eligible for practical training if you are an F 1 student who has been enrolled full time for 1 academic year. Graduate students whose academic program requires an internship before the completion of 1 academic year are also eligible for CPT. There are two types of practical training: Curricular and Optional.