Hiring F-1 & J-1 Students

F-1 Students

International Students in F1 Status may engage in employment as follows:

ON-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT

• Student may accept employment ON CAMPUS.
• May work no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session.
• Full-time work is allowed during breaks.
• To work during the Winter and Summer breaks, the student must be enrolled for the following semester.
• May engage in On Campus Employment ONLY until GRADUATION DATE, unless the student has applied for and RECEIVED an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) for OPT.

OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT)
Post-completion OPT (Requires the issuance of an Employment Authorization Document)

• Must apply for an OPT and an Employment Authorization Documents at least 120 days before graduation.
• May begin to work on OPT once the EAD is in hand.
• May work part or full time.
• Time used in Pre-Completion OPT will be deducted from the one year of Post-Completion OPT.

NOTE: If you employ a student under the provision of On-Campus Employment, and you seek to continue to employ the student after graduation, encourage the student to apply for OPT and the EAD at least 120 days before graduation. This will avoid any interruption of employment while the student waits to receive the EAD.

STEM OPT (2-year extension of the initial grant of post-completion OPT)

• If the degree program was in a STEM field the student may extend the OPT Period and the EAD for 2 years.
• Application to extend should be filed 90 days before the expiration of the initial EAD https://https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/students-and-exchange-visitors/optional-practical-training-extension-for-stem-students-stem-opt-in-the-united-states/students-and-exchange-visitors/optional-practical-training-extension-for-stem-students-stem-opt 
• Student may continue to work by presenting a receipt for the extension.

Pre-completion OPT (Requires the issuance of an Employment Authorization Document)

• Must have been enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year.
• May work no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session.
• Full-time during breaks if the student is enrolled in the following semester.

For more information on International, Student Employment contacts TAMUCC’s Office of International Education, University Center, Room 226, Tel:361.825.3346, or Email: International@tamucc.edu.

                             J-1 Students

Like F1 students, the J1 student may engage in On Campus Employment while actively enrolled in a degree program. 

• Student may accept employment ON CAMPUS.
• May work no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session.
• Full-time work is allowed during breaks
• To work during the Winter and Summer breaks, the student must be enrolled for the following semester.

Post Grad Academic Training (AT)

J1 Students have a post-grad work program like OPT. It is called “Academic Training.”

• Academic training provides for post-grad employment.
• The job offer must be in the student’s field of study.
• The J1 Student with AT may work full or part-time.
• The period of employment is up to 18 months.
• The time you are authorized for academic training before your program completion will be subtracted from the total time of academic training for which you are eligible.
• Post-doc training may last as long as 36 months.

For more information on International Student Employment contact TAMUCC’s Office of International Education, University Center, Room 226, Tel: 361.825.3346, or Email: International@tamucc.edu 

Disclaimer

The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and are not intended as legal advice. The Human Resources Department provides immigration administrative support to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, (the Petitioner or Employer) when it seeks to petition an employment-based petition for a faculty or staff member. We do not represent the employee. Employees are encouraged to consult with an immigration attorney of their choice, at their own expense, for advice on individual immigration matters.