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As an international student in The United States, you have the benefit of certain employment options during and after your academic program. However, the rules governing these options are very strict, and the penalties for breaking these rules can be costly. If ever you have any questions about what you read in the Employment section of this site or elsewhere, please consult your International Student Advisor immediately for clarification.

The most important rule to remember is that all off-campus employment must be authorized in writing and in advance before it can begin. This rule applies to internships, practicum, co-operative education and other types of off-campus experiences, whether or not you are receiving college credit for it. Working off-campus without the appropriate authorization is considered illegal employment according to federal immigration law and is a potentially deportable offense. SEVIS regulations require that all unauthorized employment be reported. So, now more than ever, it's essential for international students to understand the off-campus employment rules that pertain to them.

Thanks to Binghamton University for guidance on the employment section of our website.

On-campus employment

F-1 students do not need prior authorization from their International Student Advisor to work on-campus. For F-1 students, on-campus employment is considered "incident to status" and does not require an authorization on the SEVIS I-20.

Students may work 20 hours per week during regular school semesters. Students may work full-time during school breaks and summer.

On-campus employment does not have to be related to the student's field of study.

Off-campus employment

International Students who are in the United States in F-1 status need prior authorization from their International Student Advisor to work off-campus!!

Types of Off-campus employment:

1. Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

• CPT allows you, as an F-1 student, to accept paid, temporary off-campus employment that is an integral part of the curriculum of your degree program.
• CPT can be full-time (over 20 hours per week) or part-time (20 hours per week).
• Engaging in CPT is like working to full-fill a degree requirement. CPT is divided into three categories:

     Types of CPT:

1. Internship: the employment is a mandatory part of a course that you are taking for degree credit. The course may be an elective, but the credit must count toward your degree.
2. Practicum: this is a non-credit employment or fieldwork experience that your department requires of all degree candidates in your program.
3. Cooperative Education: employment offered under cooperative agreements between an employer and Ramapo College through The Cahill Center, which is an integral part of the curriculum but not required either for a particular course or of all students.

     Eligibility

     In order to qualify for Curricular Practical Training, you must meet the following criteria:

1. You must have been a full-time student at Ramapo for at least one full academic year (two semesters), and be in lawful F-1 status. You may engage in CPT before the end of one full academic year only if your program requires all enrolled students to obtain work experience in the first academic year.
2. You must be making normal progress toward degree completion, be in good academic standing, and otherwise maintaining F-1 status while engaged in CPT.
   • CPT is authorized directly by your International Student Advisor.
   • Note that if you work over 12 months of full-time CPT, you will forfeit your eligibility for optional practical training.

2. Optional Practical Training

• F-1 Optional Practical Training allows you, as an F-1 student, to accept paid, professional-level employment that is directly related to your field of study.
• OPT can be full-time or part-time.
• OPT cannot be authorized by your International Student Advisor (ISA). You must apply directly to USCIS for authorization with the aid of your ISA.

     Optional practical training may be undertaken in one or more of the following situations:

Before Degree Completion
(A) on a part-time basis only, during the academic year while still engaged in coursework.
(B) on a part-time or full-time basis, during the annual vacation period.
(C) on a part-time or full-time basis, while working on a master's thesis project or doctoral dissertation following completion of all coursework.

After Degree Completion
(D) on a full-time basis only, once all degree requirements have been fulfilled.

You are granted a maximum of 12 months of optional practical training. Optional practical training can be used before or after the completion of a degree, as long as the total amount used does not exceed 12 months. Please note that part-time OPT counts at a rate of 50% toward full-time OPT. For example, 2 months of part-time OPT is equivalent to 1 month of full-time OPT.

     Eligibility

• You must have been a full-time student at Ramapo for at least one academic year (two semesters).
• You must currently be in F-1 status.
• You must be in good academic standing and making full-time progress toward degree completion.
• You must not have used more than 12 months of OPT in the past at your current degree level. 

3. Severe Economic Hardship Employment

• This type of off-campus employment is for students having severe financial difficulty, due to an unforeseen circumstance that has occurred since the original issuance of their I-20.
• A major source of funding on that original I-20 must now be non-existent.
• This type of employment can be full-time or part-time and does not count toward the on-campus employment 20 hour per week rule.
• A student authorized for economic hardship employment may work for any employer at any location.
• Employment does not have to be related to the student's field of study.
• Engaging in this type of employment does not have any effect on eligibility for CPT or OPT.
• Student must apply to USCIS for authorization with the aid of their ISA.
• Approved for one year at a time and is renewable.

     Eligiblity

• Student must have been in F-1 status for at least one full academic year.
• Student must be in good academic standing (2.0 or higher).

Student must be able to provide evidence of hardship that was out of their control.

We strongly suggest that you contact the Office of International Students and Scholars with any questions or concerns before applying for or accepting any type of employment.