Working on an F-1 Visa: 5 Legal Ways to Work in the U.S.

An F-1 visa is a nonimmigrant status for full-time international students at a U.S. school. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) generally allows F-1 employment only when the work relates to your education. There are a few exceptions, and every option has clear rules.

Before you accept any job, talk to your designated school official (DSO). A DSO is the staff member at your school's international student office who can advise you and update your student record. Your top priority is keeping your F-1 status in good standing.

In all, there are five legal paths to F-1 student employment:

On-campus employment is the one option open to you in your first academic year, and it does not require USCIS approval. On-campus employment is work you perform for your school, or for a company that serves students on campus, such as the bookstore or cafeteria.

For on-campus work, USCIS sets a few simple rules:

• Maintain valid F-1 status.
• You may work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session.
• Full-time hours are fine during holidays and breaks if you plan to enroll next term.
• Your job may not take a position away from a U.S. worker.

On-campus jobs are limited and may not relate to your field of study. Many schools also require permission before you start, so check with your DSO first.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is off-campus work that is a built-in part of your degree program, such as a required internship or co-op. Your DSO authorizes CPT, not USCIS, and it appears on your Form I-20, the certificate of eligibility that proves your F-1 status.

To qualify for CPT, you generally must have completed one full academic year in valid F-1 status. You also need a job offer in your major, and the position must count toward your degree or a course for credit.

Watch your hours closely. If you work full-time CPT for 12 months or more, you lose eligibility for OPT. Part-time CPT, or full-time CPT for less than 12 months, does not reduce your OPT. Working before your DSO authorizes CPT counts as unauthorized employment, which can end your status.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is up to 12 months of work authorization in your field of study, available during or after your degree. USCIS requires you to file Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization), with a recommendation from your DSO, to receive an Employment Authorization Document. An Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is the card, often called a work permit, that proves you may work.

Pre-completion OPT happens while you are still in school. You may work up to 20 hours per week during the term and full time on breaks. Post-completion OPT happens after you finish your degree, and that work must be full time. During OPT, you may not have more than 90 days of unemployment.

If you study a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics), you may add a 24-month STEM OPT extension. That brings your total to 36 months of work authorization. The STEM extension requires an employer enrolled in E-Verify, the federal system that confirms work eligibility. New 2026 rules change how you file, as the next section explains.

Two lesser-known paths help students who do not fit the CPT or OPT mold. Both require USCIS approval through Form I-765 and an EAD before you begin.

Severe economic hardship applies when an unexpected event beyond your control threatens your ability to pay for school. USCIS examples include lost financial aid, a large currency swing, or unexpected medical bills. You must have one academic year in valid F-1 status, be in good standing, and show that on-campus work is not enough. If approved, you may work off campus up to 20 hours per week in session.

Employment with a qualifying international organization is the second option. The organization must appear on the official U.S. Department of State list, and it must sponsor you for work in your field. This path does not reduce your 12-month post-completion OPT, no matter how long you work.

On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule that replaces "duration of status" with a fixed admission date. The rule takes effect on September 15, 2026. Duration of status let most F-1 students stay as long as they kept valid status, with no fixed end date. That open-ended system is ending.

Here is what changes for F-1 students under the new rule:

• Your Form I-94 will show a fixed end date tied to your program, for up to four years, instead of open-ended "D/S."
• Your grace period to depart after your program drops to 30 days, down from 60.
• To start OPT after your admission period ends, you may need to file two applications: Form I-765 for the work permit and Form I-539 to extend your stay.
• STEM OPT keeps its automatic extension of work authorization for up to 180 days when you file Form I-765 on time.

DHS built in temporary relief. If you are in valid F-1 status on September 15, 2026, and you file Form I-765 for OPT by March 18, 2027, you generally will not need the extra Form I-539 for that period. Travel abroad can change how these rules apply, so talk to your DSO before you leave. Follow the details on our F-1 visa OPT changes page, and learn how your Form I-94 sets your authorized stay.