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. government regulations, international students with F-1 visa are eligible to work on-campus while maintaining their F-1 visa status at Michigan State University (MSU). On-campus employment must not exceed 20 hours a week while school is in session.
A school is considered in-session during the fall/spring semesters AND during the student’s first or final semester. MSU is considered in session starting the week in which classes begin as listed on the MSU academic calendar. MSU’s work week begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday of each week.
An F-1 student is eligible to work on-campus more than 20 hours when MSU is not in session and during an annual vacation. MSU is not in session starting the week after final exams as listed on the MSU academic calendar.
An annual vacation is taken during the summer semester and it is intended for students who completed full-time enrollment prior to summer and will continue full-time enrollment in their program of study after the end of summer.
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.
Learn more about how to apply for on-campus job opportunities on the Career Services Network website.
For details on CPT requirements and eligibility, see the CPT packet.
Music students applying for short-term gigs:
Graduate Students in the College of Engineering:
All other students:
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).
The above guide covers:
Eligibility
Application timeline
OPT start date
How to apply
Completing the OISS OPT D2L course
Travel while OPT pending
And more!
The above guide covers:
Maintaining status while on OPT
Reporting requirements while on OPT
The SEVP portal
Travel while on OPT
And more!
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
The above guide covers:
Eligibility
Employment requirements
Application process
Travel while STEM OPT pending
And more!
STEM OPT Guide: Approval and Reporting
The above guide covers:
Maintaining status while on STEM OPT
Reporting requirements while on STEM OPT (MyOISS)
Travel while on STEM OPT
And more!
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.
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).
Failure to get employment authorization prior to employment will return in termination of your visa status.
AT can be authorized either before or after completion of studies to conduct hands-on training within the field of study.
It will take OISS approximately two weeks to process J-1 Academic Training requests.
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. Please see an OISS advisor for further details.
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 must contact their sponsor directly for information about employment authorization possibilities.
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 accept a paid position in the United States, you must apply for a Social Security Number.
If you earn money in the United States, you must file tax paperwork each year regarding your income. MSU College of Law Clinic provides assistance through seminars and scheduled appointments. More tax information can be found at our Tax information webpage.
F-1 and J-1 International Students Cannot work in the U.S. Without Authorization
Working in the U.S. without authorization from OISS and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will result in serious consequences and the termination of your I-20 or DS-2019 and the loss of immigration status. This will impact you now and in the future. It is not worth the risk.
How to Check Your Work Authorization Status:
MSU’s Career Services Network has developed award-winning career guides to help students—from freshmen to seniors—prepare for life after college.
OISS and MSU Career Services Network developed a special guide to help international students, U.S. employers, and university advisors navigate work authorization options, job searching in the U.S., transitioning to the U.S. workplace, and more.
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:
Access MyOISS
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OISS Weekly Archive
