F-1 Employment

International students studying on an F-1 visa should keep in mind that the primary purpose of their visit to the United States is educational; working is always secondary and only students who are succeeding academically should pursue optional employment during their studies. F-1 students should know the following about their options for employment:

On-Campus Employment

International students in a degree seeking program are eligible for on-campus employment.

on-campus employment information

 

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

International students in a degree seeking program that has an internship or practical training component may be eligible for one or more semesters of CPT.

more on CPT

 

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

International students in a degree seeking program will have the option to apply for 12 months of work authorization during or after their studies.

more on OPT 

 

STEM OPT Extension (STEM OPT)

If you have a degree that is STEM eligible, you can apply for an extension of your OPT. See more information on the application process, reporting your employment and travel on STEM OPT.

MORE on STEM OPT

* Students who have suffered an economic hardship and lost the funding they had for their education, may be eligible for work authorization. If you feel that you may be eligible, please contact ISSS and make an appointment with an advisor.


Career Resources

GoinGlobal career and employment resources include more than 10,000 pages of constantly-updated content on topics such as: job search sources, work permit/visa regulations, resume writing guidelines and examples, employment trends, salary ranges, networking groups, cultural/interviewing advice, and much more. An H1B Plus database provides millions of visa application listings for American employers seeking to hire international talent in the United States. Note that students must be logged into myUSF in order to access GoinGlobal.

Search for a job on Goinglobal

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