F-1 students may work in the United States, both on and off-campus. On-Campus employment is permitted as long as you are in active F-1 status and maintaining your immigration status. Off-campus employment will always require authorization from either ISSS or USCIS.
F-1 students are eligible to work on-campus as long as you maintain your immigration status.*
You can work a maximum of 20 hours each week (including assistantships) while classes are in session. During Winter, Spring, and Summer breaks, you may work more than 20 hours per week. Thanksgiving Break is NOT considered a ‘break’ and employment must be limited to 20 hours per week.
You may have multiple jobs on-campus as long as the total hours for all your on-campus jobs are under the limits noted above. Remember to Apply for your Social Security Number (SSN) and complete I-9 paperwork with Human Resources.
Employment of an academic nature (teaching, research, etc.) at one of the Five Colleges (Smith College, Mt. Holyoke College, Amherst College and Hampshire College) or one of the other UMass system schools is generally considered “on-campus employment.” Please submit the Five College Work Authorization Request for ISSS approval.
*You cannot work on-campus after your I-20 end date/completion of studies date. You must have OPT authorization to continue working after you have finished your academic program.
**Working remotely for a company outside the U.S. while you are physically in the U.S. may require CPT authorization. Please review our CPT FAQs for more information.
How to Find an On-Campus Job
Search for jobs here: Choose ‘Not Work-Study’ and ‘On-Campus’ for F-1 student eligible positions.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an off-campus employment authorization that includes "alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school."
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit for F-1 students and provides an initial 12-months of off-campus work authorization in their field of study in the United States. International students who have been enrolled full-time for a minimum of one academic year (considered to be 9-months or two full semesters) are eligible.
STEM Optional Practical Training (STEM OPT)
Some F-1 students on Post-Completion OPT are eligible for an additional 2 years of work authorization under the 24-month STEM OPT Extension.