Work authorization for international students with F-1 status
These are the most popular work authorization types for international students with F-1 status. There are other types of visas that grant work authorization; for example, H1B, O, TN, etc.
Questions? Contact Julie Seman at jseman@iu.edu
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Work authorization that allows international students with F-1 status to accept practical training in their academic field. Internship programs are some of the most common types of CPT opportunities for international students.
Duration: There is no limit, but 12 months of full-time CPT eliminates eligibility for OPT. Part-time CPT employment does not affect eligibility for OPT.
Hours: Students can either work part-time (20 hours or less/week) or full-time (more than 20 hours/week). The employer decides the student’s hours. Employer Role: Must give the student an offer of employment. Applying for CPT work authorization is the student’s responsibility, and no action is required on the part of the employer.
Cost: There is no cost to the employer.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Post-completion work authorization that allows international students with F-1 status and who have graduated to gain practical work experience related to their major field of study. This can also be done before completing their degree program.
Duration: 12 months
Employer Role: Applying for OPT work authorization is the student’s responsibility, and no action is required on the part of the employer. OPT can be approved with or without an offer of employment.
Hours: Students can either work part-time (Less than 20 hours/week) or full-time (20 hours or more/week). The employer decides the student’s hours.
Cost: There is no cost to the employer
STEM OPT Extension
An additional 24 months (about 2 years) of OPT work authorization (for a total of 36 months) allowing international student with F-1 status and who have graduated with an approved degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) to gain extra practical work experience.
Hiring international students with F-1 status
Do not let fear of the visa process prevent you from hiring the best and brightest international graduates available. U.S. law provides several ways for employers to hire foreign graduates of U.S. universities.
Frequently Asked Questions
We do not currently sponsor employees or file for future work visas. Can I still hire an international student with F-1 status?
Yes! CPT and OPT work authorization does not require sponsorship from an employer to apply; only a job offer.
How much must the employer pay to hire an international student with F-1 status for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT)?
There is no cost to the employer. Students pay the application fee to receive their work authorization.
How much paperwork does the employer need to fill out to hire an international student with F-1 status?
Very little! All paperwork is handled by the student, the school, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The employer must fill out the usual hiring paperwork (Example: I-9, etc.)
How long can an international student with F-1 status work for an employer?
For CPT, it can vary but typically work authorization is granted on a semester basis.
For OPT, international students with F-1 status are granted 12-months of work authorization to work in their major field of study post-graduation.
For the STEM OPT Extension, certain international students with F-1 status are granted an additional 24-months of work authorization post-graduation. The employer must participate in the E-Verify system for the student to file for their STEM OPT Extension.
What about taxes?
International students with F-1 status earning income while working on practical training are subject to applicable federal, state, and local income taxes. Generally, international students with F-1 status are exempt from Social Security and Medicare tax requirements.
