International students are not eligible to work off-campus unless they have specific permission from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). International students must have been in the US as F-1 student for a minimum of 9 months (2 semesters) before off campus employment can be considered.
Off-campus employment is not guaranteed, so you should not count on this in order to pay for your educational expenses. If you work off-campus without specific permission, you are in violation of your F-1 status and could face arrest or deportation.
Options for Off Campus Employment:
- Optional Practical Training (OPT)
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
- Off Campus Employment Based on Severe Economic Hardship
If you believe you are eligible for one of these reasons for off-campus employment, schedule an appointment with a DSO in Center for Global Learning and Engagement. You cannot begin off-campus employment before your application has been approved.
Do not work off-campus without specific work authorization.If you do, this is a violation of your visa status and you could be arrested and deported.