Employer's Guide to Hiring F-1 Students

Most international students who are neither U.S. Citizens nor Permanent Residents enroll in academic programs under one of two non-immigrant student immigration statuses, F-1 or J-1. Since the majority of international students maintain F-1 student status, the focus of this guide will be on how to hire an F-1 student.

Please note that a Social Security Number alone is not sufficient proof of work authorization for international students. It is critical that employers confirm an international student’s work authorization prior to employment start date to prevent any liability for the student and the employer in the future. All employees must complete their I-9 process at the time employment begins.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is work authorization that allows F-1 students to accept practical training in their academic field after one year of full-time study. Internship programs are some of the most common types of CPT opportunities for international students. Students can choose to work full or part-time during their internships, depending on the institution’s CPT policy. Students must be enrolled in a credit-earning course that allows the student to get an internship related to their major.

Duration: Part-time CPT employment does not affect eligibility for OPT. During the Fall and Spring semesters, F-1 students are limited to working up to 20 hours a week. Students could work more than 20 hours a week if they work during the break sessions (summers). Please note that the student can only work between the dates authorized by ISS on the student’s most recently issued I-20 (immigration document issued by ISS).

Employer Role: Applying for CPT is solely the responsibility of the student and therefore requires no action on the part of the hiring organization (The employer usually needs to issue a letter to confirm the internship offer).

Student Role: After the student has been offered an internship, they submit an online request form to the sponsoring school, providing the internship start and end dates as well as the organization’s name and complete physical address. The student also needs to provide the job title and a detailed job description. This process is facilitated by the student’s International Student Services office. In accordance with U.S. immigration regulations, students who engage in part-time CPT must still be full-time students during the academic year. They do not need to be enrolled full-time during official vacation periods (such as summer).

Cost and Processing Time: There is no cost to the employer. The processing and approval time for CPT is usually within 5-10 working days.

OPT Post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is work authorization that allows F-1 status students who have graduated to gain practical work experience related to their major field of study.

Duration: 12 months for F-1 students. Students should work more than 20 hours a week during OPT.

Employer Role: Applying for OPT is solely the responsibility of the student and therefore requires no action on the part of the hiring organization. OPT can be granted to the student with or without an offer of employment. However, please note that the student should only start working on or after the start date on the Employment Authorization Document, and when the student has a Social Security number.

Student Role: Obtaining OPT work authorization is a two-step process. First, the F-1 student submits a request for an OPT recommendation, which is processed and approved by an international advisor at the student’s international services office. Second, the F-1 student submits their completed OPT application, supporting documentation, and required fee to the USCIS to secure OPT work authorization. Once approved, the USCIS issues an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card as proof of work authorization for 12 months. The fee is paid by the student.

Cost and Processing Time: There is no cost to the employer. The USCIS processing time for OPT takes an average of 60 days but can take up to 3-4 months during peak OPT processing season (starting in February each year); therefore, students are encouraged to apply as early as 90 days before graduation. The new employee must have the EAD card in hand to start work.

An additional 24 months of OPT work authorization (for a total of 36 months) allows F-1 student status holders who have graduated with an approved degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) to gain extra practical work experience related to their STEM field.

Duration: 24 months for F-1 graduates. Students should work more than 20 hours a week during STEM OPT.

Employer Role: Be enrolled and in good-standing with E-Verify. Prepare and implement a formal training program to support the students’ academic learning through practical experience. The training program is signed by both the employer and student and submitted to the International Student Services Office for approval. A report of the student’s progress is submitted to the student's international student services office mid-way and at the end of the 24-month program. Report termination of employment to the student's international student services office within 5 business days. Be prepared for a government agent worksite visit to verify STEM OPT program requirements are being met. Provide an employment opportunity similar to U.S. workers in duties, hours, and compensation. Attest that: The company has enough resources and trained personnel available to appropriately train the student; The student will not replace a full- or part-time, temporary, or permanent U.S. worker; and help the student attain his or her training objectives.

Student Role: The student submits the completed I-983 training plan as part of their STEM OPT request to the international student services office, which processes the STEM OPT recommendation for the student. The F-1 student submits their completed OPT application, supporting documentation, and required fee to USCIS. Once approved, USCIS issues an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card as proof of work authorization for the 24-month period. The fee is paid by the student.

Cost and Processing Time: There is no cost to the employer. The international student services office processes the student’s STEM OPT recommendation within a few working days. The USCIS processing time for STEM OPT takes an average of up to 3-4 months, with some cases taking 5-6 months. The STEM OPT Extension must be filed prior to the expiration of the initial OPT period. If students file their STEM OPT extension applications on time and their OPT period expires while their extension application is pending, their work authorization is automatically extended for 180 days. (USCIS does not have to do anything, the regulations allow for the automatic extension of the work authorization if the student timely files their STEM OPT application.)