On-Campus Employment
F-1 students who are maintaining status may work on-campus up to 20 hours per week while school is in session. Currently the only employment option on cmaous is Follett's Bookstore. Please contact them directly to check job availability. F-1 students may work on campus over 20 hours per week during annual vacation and breaks between quarters.
Off-Campus Employment
Working off-campus is very limited for students in F-1 status. However, there are some guidelines for practical training and severe economic hardship work authorization that students may qualify for which are outlined below.
Curricular Practical Training
CPT gives F-1 students authorization to engage in employment training and to work in paid internship positions related to their field of study. Several academic programs have an internship requirement so students can apply for CPT to fufil this requirement. CPT is usually part-time. F-1 students in the ESL program are not eligible for CPT. Please email iss@stfpaddington.com to check your eligibility for CPT. Students can also access the directions for Curricular Practical Training by clicking on ISS Forms.
Optional Practical Training
F-1 students may request Post-Completion OPT to obtain work in their field of study once per educational level (associate's, bachelor's, master's, doctorate). Students are allowed 12 months of work during the 14-month period following completion of studies. Employment must be related to the field of study!
Please make an appointment with ISS to check OPT eligibility and discuss application directions. Students should verify their graduation quarter with their advisor before meeting with ISS. Students can access the OPT Application Instructions by clicking on ISS Forms.
Severe Economic Hardship
Students in F-1 status who have an unforeseen change in their economic situation, such as substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rate, unexpected changes in the financial condition of the sponsor, medical bills or other substantial and unexpected expenses, who have maintained status for three consecutive quarters and are in good academic standing, may be eligible for severe economic hardship work authorization. Severe economic hardship work authorization can be potentially issued for a maximum of one year or until the end of a student’s studies, whichever comes first.
F-1 students may begin to look for employment, but they may NOT begin working until they receive their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card, which shows their start date. F-1 students may tell a potential employer that they have filed for severe economic hardship and that they are waiting for a response from USCIS. It takes approximately 90 days to receive an EAD card from USCIS, if approved.
Please email iss@stfpaddington.com to check your eligibility for SEH. You may access the application instructions for Severe Economic Hardship by clicking on ISS Forms.
Social Security Numbers
To obtain a Social Security number you must be employed. After you receive a job offer from an employer, please follow the the steps below.
Steps to apply for a Social Security Number for Work On Campus:
- Request a letter from your employer on official letterhead that includes:
- Your full name
- Your job title
- Your start date
- The number of hours you will be working
- Your supervisor's name
- Your supervisor's telephone number
The letter needs to be addressed to:
Social Security Administration
Old Mill Centre
604 N 109th Ct
Omaha, NE 68154
- Email your letter from your employer as a PDF to ISS at iss@stfpaddington.com. Share that you have a job offer and request a letter from a Designated School Official that includes:
- Your name
- Your school status
- Your employer
- The type of work you will be doing
3. Complete the Application for a Social Security Card that is available at
Social Security Card application (form SS-5) pdf
4.
Go to the Social Security Administration with your:
- Letter from your employer
- Letter from an International Student Services Designated School Official
- Application for a Social Security Card
- Passport - not expired
- Current I-94
- I-20 from OPE电子竞技官网
Steps to apply for a Social Security Number for Optional Practical Training or Severe Economic Hardship:
- Go to the Social Security Administration no earlier than the start date of your employment authorization. You will need your: