U.S. immigration law allows F-1 students to work on-campus and off-campus with work authorization. There are specific rules for each employment type that all students must know. Failure to follow these rules will result in the termination of your F-1 status.
Per the U.S. federal government regulations, international students with F-1 visa are eligible to work on-campus while maintaining their F-1 visa status at MSU. The definition for on-campus employment is in 8 CFR 214.2(9)(i).
While school is in session (fall/spring, first or final semester): Maximum 20 hours per week. MSU is considered in session starting the week in which classes begin as listed on the MSU Academic Calendar.
While school is not in session or during annual vacation: More than 20 hours per week is permitted if you will continue full-time enrollment in the next semester. MSU is not in session starting the week after final exams as listed on the MSU Academic Calendar.
Work week: MSU's work week begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday of each week.
Students and employers must review the MSU Academic calendar and MSU Payroll Schedule to determine the periods in which F-1 students become eligible to work more than 20 hours per week.
Start date: You may begin working up to 30 days before the official start of your academic program.
Multiple jobs: You may hold more than one on-campus job, but the total combined hours must not exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session.
Continuing employment between programs: If you complete one program and begin another at MSU, you may continue on-campus employment as long as you will enroll in the next term.
Failing to follow on-campus employment regulations is a violation of your F-1 status. This could result in termination of your SEVIS record.
Working on-campus offers more than just extra income. It helps you: gain U.S. work experience and professional skills, practice English in a real-world setting, build your resume for future internships or full-time jobs, connect with MSU faculty, staff, and fellow students, and learn about U.S. workplace culture and expectations, and more!
MSU hires thousands of students each year in a wide variety of roles, including food service, tech support and computer labs, research and laboratory assistance, tutoring and writing support, office and clerical work, creative roles and more!
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is defined to be alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.
CPT is a work authorization that allows F-1 students to gain practical off-campus experience, paid or unpaid, directly related to your field of study before completion of the program of study listed in the Form I-20.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Guide
If you have additional questions about CPT, contact your OISS advisor.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary practical training authorization that is directly related to the F-1 student’s major of study as listed on the student’s I-20. OPT employment authorization is granted for 12 months typically after completion of degree requirements. OPT is authorized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
OPT Guide: Eligibility and Application: This guide covers everything you need to know about applying for OPT including eligibility, application timeline, how to apply, and more!
OPT Guide: Approval and Reporting: This guide covers everything you need to know about after you have applied and your OPT has been approved including maintaining status while on OPT, reporting requirements, the SEVP Portal, and more!
If you have additional questions about OPT, contact your OISS advisor.
F-1 students who are currently on a period of Post-Completion OPT, with degrees in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM), may be eligible for a 24-month extension of employment. See the Department of Homeland Security’s STEM Designated Degree Program List.
STEM OPT Guide: Eligibility and Application: This guide covers everything you need to know about applying for the STEM OPT extension including eligibility, employment requirements, how to apply, and more!
STEM OPT Guide: Approval and Reporting: This guide covers everything you need to know about after you have applied and your STEM OPT extension has been approved including maintaining status while on STEM OPT, reporting requirements (MyOISS), and more!
If you have additional questions about STEM OPT, contact your OISS advisor.
Current regulations allow certain students with pending or approved H-1B petitions to remain in F-1 status during the Cap-Gap period. This is referred to as filling the "Cap-Gap", meaning the regulations provide a way of filling the "gap" between the end of F-1 status and the beginning of H-1B status that might otherwise occur, if F-1 status is not extended for qualifying students.
You are eligible for the cap-gap extension, if both:
If your OPT authorization is unexpired when your employer submits your H-1B petition to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), then your OPT authorization is extended. You can continue working in F-1 status through the extension date.
If your OPT authorization is expired, but you are in your 60-day grace period when your employer submits your H-1B petition to USCIS, your F-1 status is extended, but not your work authorization. You cannot work, but you can remain in the U.S. through the extension date.
To request a Cap-Gap Extension I-20, you must submit the Cap-Gap Extension I-20 Request Form and required documents to OISS after May 9. See the Cap-Gap Extension I-20 Request Form for required documents.
J-1 students have some work authorization options that must be pre-approved by OISS or your J-1 visa sponsor. The possibility of employment for J-1 students is primarily governed by the J-1 visa sponsor. Most J-1 students at MSU also have J-1 visa sponsorship from MSU, but some have other J-1 visa sponsors.
Your J-1 visa sponsor is in Box #2 on your DS-2019. If your DS-2019 lists MSU as your visa sponsor, refer to the section below titled "J-1 Student Employment: Under MSU Visa Sponsorship." If your DS-2019 lists another organization as your visa sponsor, refer to the section below titled "J-1 Student Employment: Under Outside Visa Sponsorship".
J-1 students are eligible to work on-campus for 20 hours a week during the school year and full-time during vacation periods. Work that exceeds 20 hours per week on campus or any work off campus must be authorized by OISS in advance.
Please note that permission is needed for all kinds of jobs - positions that are paid on an hourly basis, graduate assistantships, and Resident Assistant positions in MSU housing.
Submit the J-1 Student On-Campus Work Authorization Letter request through the MyOISS portal under J-1 Student Services.
Note: Once you have the work authorization letter and obtain an on-campus job, you must apply for a Social Security Number (SSN). Learn more about the process of obtaining an SSN card in the U.S.
Lastly, please keep the OISS Work Authorization Letter along with your other immigration documents. Do not dispose of any DS-2019’s or support letters we provide during your J-1 program at MSU.
If you have questions about on-campus work authorization, please contact an OISS J-1 advisor.
Off-Campus Employment
J-1 students wishing to work off-campus (or more than 20 hours per week on campus) may apply for temporary work authorization called Academic Training (AT).
Before students can engage in AT, they must receive an AT work authorization letter and an updated DS-2019 from OISS. These documents will be provided once the AT application is reviewed and approved.
Note: If you are seeking additional employment due to serious, urgent, and unforeseen financial problems, you may be eligible for off-campus work authorization based on economic hardship.
If you have questions about off-campus work authorization, please contact an OISS J-1 advisor.
Review the Academic Training Guide here.
Submit the J-1 Academic Training Application through the MyOISS portal under J-1 Student Services.
J-1 visa sponsors have the authority to set their own rules regarding employment for the students under their sponsorship. Students with DS-2019 issued by another visa sponsor (e.g. Fulbright) must contact their sponsor directly for information about employment authorization possibilities.
Whether you’re looking for a part-time job, internship or a full-time job after college, MSU’s Career Services Network has partnered with MSU’s Office for International Students and Scholars to provide centralized online career resources for international students. Below you will find curated content that will assist you in successfully navigating your job search process.
J-2 spouses and J-2 children age 14 and above are eligible to apply for work authorization through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The application takes approximately three months to process. See J-2 Request for Employment (PDF) for more information.
If you will not work for MSU, OISS cannot advise you on immigration categories such as H-1B, L-1, or Permanent Residency.
To get more information about other employment-based immigration categories:
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