Employment

Employment opportunities for international students are limited by Department of Homeland Security regulations and are available only to students who have maintained their immigration status and academic standing. Do not work or give the appearance of working before you have received proper approval.

Both paid and unpaid "work" experiences may be considered as employment by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It is therefore essential that you contact the Center before pursuing any kind of work experience.

There are three general types of employment for F-1 and J-1 students. Before making an application for any type of employment F1 students must attend the appropriate seminar listed below, J-1 students must make an appointment to see the Center J-1 Advisor for all employment types. F-2 visa holders are never allowed to work.

On-Campus Employment

After academic registration and upon securing a job, international students are eligible to apply for on-campus employment as long as they are maintaining status and a full course of study.

In order to recieve authorization, you must attend the On-Campus Employment seminar. At this seminar the procedures for obtaining on-campus employment, completing the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification process, applying for a Social Security Number, and maintaining status will be explained. Students currently employed as teaching, graduate, or research assistants are not required to attend this seminar.

On-campus employment is limited to 20 hours per week during the academic semester and may be increased to full-time (usually 40 hours) per week during the winter, spring, and summer breaks. The 20 hour limitation applies to all international students (including RA's, TA's, and GA's) unless additional employment has been authorized by the USCIS or Slutzker Center (e.g., CPT).

Approved University breaks when full-time on-campus employment is acceptable:

Summer: May 8 through and including August 24, 2008

Winter: December 12, 2008 through and including January 11, 2009

Spring: March 8, through and including March 15, 2009

CASE Center Co-op Program

International students studying at Syracuse University on an F-1 Student Visa are eligible to apply for permission to work “on campus at an off campus location” with an employer who has an affiliation agreement with the University. International students who have maintained F-1 student status and are pursuing a full course of study may apply under this option for permission to work for a company that has an affiliation agreement with the CASE Center and Syracuse University.

Immigration Requirements for the CASE Center Co-op Program Employment Opportunity:

  • must be an integral part of the student’s educational program;
  • must be associated with the school’s educational curriculum or related to contractually funded research at the post-graduate level;
  • must be with an employer who has an Educational Affiliation Agreement signed and on-file with the CASE Center;
  • employment is limited to 20 hours/week during the academic semester and may be full-time during approved University breaks (see above).

Students must obtain authorization for the work opportunity in advance of beginning work.

Process for Application:

  1. Obtain a job offer from an eligible company
  2. Consult with the CASE Center and complete the On-Campus Employment Authorization Form
  3. Obtain a signature from appropriate Academic Department.
  4. Provide the form and copy of your job offer to the Slutzker Center for final authorization.
1 CASE On-Campus Employment Authorization Form

On-Campus Employment Seminar Schedule:

Tue, 10:00 am | Fri, 3:00 pm

Off-Campus Employment


Under restricted circumstances the immigration regulations allow F-1 students to apply for employment off-campus. This employment is based on immigration definitions of NEED. The student must demonstrate to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that a severe economic hardship exists, due to unforeseen circumstances.

To be eligible for this type of employment the student must:

  • Have been in F-1 status for a minimum of nine consecutive months, and
  • Have been a full time student during each semester in the U.S. This type of employment can only be approved by the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service.
Applications can take two months for processing by the CIS. Students must read the Center handout carefully, and if eligible, make an appointment to see an Advisor for more detailed requirements and instructions.

Seminar schedule: F-1: Ask for Handout; J-1: Appointment Only

Practical Training

This is a form of employment that must be related to your academic field of study. F-1 visa holders who have been in the U.S. in a full-course of study of one academic year are eligible. There are two types of practical training:

  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT) must be an integral part of your curriculum. It can be an internship, co-op, practicum, or professional experience which is listed as a course in your curriculum. It may be for credit or non-credit, full-time or part-time.

    This type of employment must be taken prior to the completion of your degree. However, if you complete 12 months of full-time curricular practical training, you are not eligible for any period of Optional Practical Training. Authorization for CPT is obtained from the Slutzker Center.
  • Optional Practical Training (OPT) is employment which also must be related to your academic study. It can be taken either before or after you complete your degree, or a combination of both. You are allowed only a total of 12 months of employment in OPT.

    If you save your OPT for the period after you complete your degree, you may apply for authorization up to 90 days prior to or 60 days after the completion of your degree. Authorization for OPT must be obtained from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
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Academic Training (J-1 Students)

Academic Training (AT) is a form of practical training, that can be authorized only for J-1 visa students. For sponsored students, the training can be authorized only by your J-1 visa Program Sponsor in the form of a letter. You should contact your program sponsor for more information about the limitations of your eligibility. The information that follows is a general description of the conditions of Academic Training. For more information, contact the J-1 advisor at the Center for International Services.

To be eligible for Academic Training: The training must be related to your program of study, you must be in good academic standing, and you must maintain health insurance coverage for yourself and any dependents staying with you in the US.

Your academic advisor must approve the training. It may be for 18 months, or the period of a full course of study, which ever is shorter. If you receive a Ph.D., your post-doctoral training may last as long as 36 months, under certain conditions. Part-time AT counts against the 18 or 36 month period the same as full-time AT. Earning more than one degree does not increase your eligibility for additional periods of Academic Training.

Academic Training may be taken either during or after completion of the program of study. It requires a written letter of employment. However, if taken after the completion of the program of study, you must present a copy of this offer to the Center no later than 30 days after the end of your program. After the 30 day period you will lose eligibility for this training. MORE

Seminar schedule: F-1: Wed, 3:00 pm; J-1: Appointment Only

Life After Practical Training

This seminar will cover issues related to the options available after practical training (F1) or academic training (J1). Topics covered will be H visas, permanent residency, and other types of visas. This seminar covers the basics of what you should know regarding immigration regulations when trying to plan a career path in the United States. MORE

Seminar schedule: For F-1 & J-1 | First Monday each month, 2:30 pm