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Home / International Studies / Employment

International Student Employment

Georgia Southwestern strives to provide employment opportunities on-campus and throughout the community as availabilities arise. 

On-Campus
CPT
OPT
STEM OPT

On-Campus Employment

On-campus employment is an employment option for that F-1 students whose status is Active in SEVIS. On-campus employment is specific to work that takes place on campus or at an off-campus location that is educationally affiliated with the school. The definition for on-campus employment is in 8 CFR 214.2(9)(i).

There are two types of restrictions on F-1 Student Employment. The work must take place at GSW or at an educationally affiliated (associated with the school’s established curriculum or part of contractually funded research projects at the postgraduate level) off-campus location:

On the school premises:

  • Work that takes place at your school location could be for an on-campus commercial business or department, as long as the work directly provides services for students.

F-1 Students are permitted to work 20 hours per week during the school term. The F-1 student may work full-time during periods of which the school term is not in session or during the student’s annual break.

Application Process

To remain eligible for on-campus employment, F-1 students are required to complete the following verification process each semester:

  1. Apply for the on-campus position through Georgia Southwestern Human Resources 
  2. Submit a valid F-1 On-Campus Employment Approval Form within the first 10 days of each semester of employment
  3. Maintain eligibility for an Active status in SEVIS
  4. If you do not have a Social Security number, complete the Social Security Application Process.

Active F-1 students may apply for on-campus employment up to 30 days before the start of classes.

Curricular Practical Training

An F-1 student may be authorized by the Designated School Official to participate in a curricular practical training program that is an integral part of a degree programs curriculum.

Curricular practical training is defined as:

  • Alternative work/study
  • Internship, mandatory to receive the degree
  • Integral party of the established curriculum.
  • Cooperative education
  • Any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.
Eligibility:
  • The student has been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for at least a full academic year.
  • The student is not studying English as a second language.
  • The student has secured a training position.
  • The student must be in good academic standing with Georgia Southwestern State University
  • As a reminder: Students who have received one year or more of full time curricular practical training are ineligible for post-completion optional practical training.
Application Checklist:
  1. Applicant must be in active F-1 Sevis Status
  2. Applicant must submit the Curricular Practical Training Request Form 
  3. Applicant must ensure the total work load does not exceed 19 hours per week during the school term.
  4. Applicant must submit the required, signed cooperative agreement or a letter from your employer
  5. Applicant is responsible for the review of the updated I-20 with DSO endorsement

Post-Completion Optional Practical Training

Eligibility Requirements
  • The Optional Practical Training curriculum must relate to the major or course of study.
  • Your DSO will provide you with a new Form I-20 that shows the DSO recommendation for OPT.
  • The employment start date must be after you receive your Employment Authorization Document.
  • During the OPT participation, you are allotted 90 days of accrued unemployment days.
    • Unemployment days begin once your 60 day grace period ends and after the OPT start date listed on your Employment Authorization Document card.
  • During a class session, the applicant may only work 20 hours per week.

Application Checklist

  1. I-765 Form or Online Application Form I-765 within 30 days of DSO recommendation in SEVIS.
  2. Form G-1145 if submitting via mail
  3. Non-refundable application Fee – Form I-765 Filling Fee
  4. Two Passport Photos with name and I-94 number on back
  5. Copies of passport photo page, most recent visa, I-94
  6. Personal Check or Money order: Please see https://www.uscis.gov/i-765 under Filing Fee.
  7. Updated OPT I-20 with OPT Recommendation
    1. USCIS must receive application within 30 days of the date of OPT recommendation, or the application could be denied.
  1. All previous EADs (if applicable)

STEM Optional Practical Training

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant must be in active F-1 Sevis Status AND must be working in post-completion OPT.

Applicants can apply up to 90 days prior to the post-completion OPT end date. Applicants are not eligible to apply for STEM OPT once the post-completion OPT end date has passed.

  • Applicants must have completed a degree in a STEM Designated Degree Program
  • Applicant must work for an employer who meets all the requirements listed below:
    • Employers must provide STEM OPT applicants with compensation that is comparable to that of U.S. workers who perform similar duties and have similar educational and professional experiences.
    • The regular work hours should be at least 20 hours per week.
    • Employer must be enrolled in E-Verify as supported by a valid E-Verify Company Identification number
    • Employer must implement a formal training program to support the student’s academic learning through hands-on experience. This formal training will be documented on the I-983 Training Plan Form

STEM OPT Resources

Application Timeline
90 Days Prior Completed Application packet submitted to USCIS no earlier than 90 days prior to program end date listed on I-20. The program end date is the last date of finals for the semester of graduation.
60 Days After U.S. Citizenships and Immigration Services must send the OPT Receipt dated prior to the 60th day of your grace period of your program end date.
Processing Time U.S. Citizenships and Immigration Services requires a minimum 3-5 months to process and issue the Post-Completion OPT Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from the online receipt date. Check your USCIS Case Status Online.

 

USCIS Compliance Review Site Visit

The U.S Department of Homeland Security is permitted to conduct site visits of employers with STEM OPT students. The site visits are to ensure the employer is providing a structured and formal training program to support the student’s academic learning through hands-on experience. The I-983 form will be utilized to evaluate the training program.

To ensure compliance during site visits, STEM OPT students should:

  1.  Ensure the employer information is up-to-date in the SEVP Portal
  2.  Verify the employer’s physical address listed in the SEVP Portal and provided on the I-983 form is the address reported for work.
  3.  Verify the home address is up-to-date and notify the Designated School Official within 10 days of any changes.
  4.  Safe keep all documents outlining employment history, pay, duties, etc.

For further informationon Site, see Administrative Site Visit and Verification Program.

Additional Resources

A variety of additional resources are offered including:

Frequently Asked Questions

What does educationally affiliated mean?

In the case of off-campus locations, educational affiliation means the location meets one of two important criteria:

  • Associated with the school's established curriculum
  • Related to contractually funded research projects at the post-graduate level

In the case of on-campus locations, educational affiliation means the location meets the following criteria:

  • Included in a financial aid package
  • Scholarship
  • Fellowship or assistantship

How long may I work on campus as a F-1 Student?

An F-1 student who is enrolled in school, maintains status and follows the guidelines for on-campus employment may continue to work. The F-1 student should keep a DSO informed of any changes in employer and hours, however.

As a F-1 Student, may I work at more than one on-campus job?

Yes, but the total work load for all jobs cannot exceed 19 hours per week during the school term.

May I continue to work as a F-1 student during the 60 day grace period after the program end date?

No, this 60-day grace period after graduation for a F-1 student to prepare to leave the United States, unless the student is beginning a new program or applying for post-completion OPT.