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F-1 Employment GuidelinesThis information is designed for Bryant University international students on F-1 visa. Students who are lawfully maintaining their F-1 VISA status are eligible for employment according to the following guidelines: Definition of EmploymentEmployment is defined as any type of work performed or services provided in exchange for money, tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, food, or any other benefit. Some Notes of CautionDo not assume that you are automatically eligible to work in the U.S. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) considers unauthorized employment to be the most serious violation of your F-1 status. Please consult with the Intercultural Center (ICC) before accepting any employment. We can help you with matters pertaining to applications for employment authorization.Employment will be terminated once you complete the course of studies, transfer to another school or if you fail to maintain status. On-Campus EmploymentWork on the Bryant University campus is permissible as soon as you are a full-time enrolled student at Bryant. Acceptable employment includes: work required by a scholarship, assistantship or fellowship, work in the libraries, Information Technology center, administrative offices, and work performed on Bryant's premises for an outside contractor or firm as long as the employer provides direct services to students (example: work for a food service company at Bryant). Employment is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session, but may be full-time during Bryant's vacation periods. Off-Campus Employment Which Qualifies as On-Campus EmploymentThe USCIS has expanded the definition of on-campus employment to include jobs with employers that are educationally affiliated with Bryant University, provided that the job is associated with Bryant's curriculum, or related to contractually funded research projects, and provided that the job is an integral part of your academic program. Employment is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session, but may be full-time during Bryant's vacation periods. Final permission is granted by the ICC. Off-Campus EmploymentCurricular Practical Training To be eligible for this category under most circumstances, you must have been in F-1 student status for one academic year (fall and spring semesters). A job offer is required to be eligible to apply for curricular practical training. While there is not limit to the length of time you may be employed in curricular practical training, any student who works for twelve months or more in full-time training automatically loses the right to any optional practical training after completion of studies. For more information on the F-1 employment authorization category, go to: Curricular Practical Training. Curricular practical training is defined as:
Employment with an International OrganizationTo be eligible for this category you must have been in F-1 status for one academic year. If you are maintaining lawful F-1 status and are offered employment in the form of an internship by a "recognized" international organization, you may obtain permission to engage in this work during summer vacation periods prior to graduation. You must first obtain a written certification from the international organization about the proposed employment, and then apply to the USCIS. Some examples of "recognized" international organizations include the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. For more information, go to Employment with an International Organization. Optional Practical TrainingTo be eligible for this category you must have been in F-1 student status for one academic year. A job offer is not required to be eligible to apply for optional practical training. You are eligible for a total of twelve months of full-time optional practical training at each degree program as an F-1 student. The "option" is that you may apply for periods of practical training before completion of studies, save the total twelve month period to be used after completion of studies, or use a combination of both. Such employment may be full-time or part-time, and it may take place at any location in the U.S., but it must be directly related to your major field of study. Any periods of optional practical training used before completion of studies will be deducted from the total twelve-month period available. For example, if you worked full-time for two months during a summer vacation, you would only have ten months of practical training available after graduation. For more information, go to: Optional Practical Training Before Completion of Studies and Optional Practical Training After Completion of Studies. Employment Due to Severe Economic HardshipTo be eligible for this category you must have been in F-1 student status for one academic year. A job offer is not required to be eligible to apply for this category or work authorization. If other F-1 employment authorization opportunities are not available or are otherwise insufficient, you may apply to the USCIS for off-campus employment authorization based upon severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control. For more information, go to: Economic Hardship Employment Authorization. Employment Eligibility VerificationWithin the first three days of beginning work, you and your employer must complete a form entitled Employment Eligibility Verification (USCIS form I-9), which will be kept by the employer. You may need your passport and visa documents proving that you are authorized to be employed in the U.S. to complete the I-9 form. The I-9 must be updated each time you receive a renewal of your work permission, or if you change employers. |
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