Understanding Your Employment Rights on a USA Student Visa
You dream of studying abroad, and with that, you always hope that you get the chance to work there because you want to manage your expenses and build a career once you complete your studies! When it comes to the best international standards of academics, you get a name- USA!
The USA offers exciting and rewarding academic experiences to international students. Apart from this, studying in the USA also gives you chances and rights for the job. Here's a blog from expert IELTS Student Consultancy in Ahmedabad of Indus Immigration for you to understand who can work, when, and for what duration!
USA Student Visa
F-1 and J-1 vias are two student visas for international students. F-1 visa is for academic students, and J-1 visa is for exchange visitors.
The F-1 visa is for students in degree or diploma programs at the colleges or universities of the USA, while the J-1 visa allows students to conduct short-term studies, research, or internships.
Eligibility Requirements for the USA Student Visa
There are several eligibility requirements that students should meet to study in the USA. Students need to demonstrate their financial stability, i.e., show they have enough money for college/school and living costs. Also, they are eligible if students have the right academic background and speak English well (get a USA-accepted score in IELTS, PTE, or other English language proficiency test).
Employment Rights on the USA Student Visa
Coming to what you want to know- Employment Rights on the USA Student Visa.
If you have a USA student visa (one of those mentioned above), you have certain rights and limits when it comes to grabbing a job or work opportunity during/after your studies. You must know these rules to understand your work options while studying.
Permitted Employment
You get two options as permitted employment if you have a USA student visa.
- On-campus jobs, like positions within the university or college.
- Off-campus jobs related to your study field, such as Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Part-time Employment Opportunities
You are allowed to work part-time in the USA. In this, students get an on-campus or off-campus option, depending on different conditions. With this job in hand, you can get valuable work experience and have money to manage your expenses.
1. On-campus USA Work Opportunity
Many part-time jobs for international students are on campus. You can find work in the library, dining halls, or even as a research assistant. With on-campus job opportunities, you don't have to travel anywhere and can easily manage your college studies and work at the same time.
2. Off-campus Work Opportunity
Not everyone, but in many cases, students have permission to work off-campus. It is important for you to adhere to USCIS rules regarding work authorization for off-campus jobs.
Full-time Employment Opportunities
Once you complete your studies in the USA, you can go for a full-time job. For this, Optional Practical Training (OPT) is available. This program lets students get work experience in their study field. OPT helps them use what they learned in real work situations.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
After international students graduate from any recognized USA academic institution, they can choose the OPT program to work. It allows up to 12 months of work related to their study field for an employer in the USA.
- Students should follow these to be eligible for OPT.
- Finish at least 01 years of full-time study in the USA.
- Possess a valid F-1 student visa while they study.
- Earn a degree from an SEVP academic institution.
If you are eligible, you also need USCIS approval. OPT allows you to work as a software engineer, data analyst, financial analyst, business consultant, registered nurse, medical researcher, and many more in different industries.
Permission and Work Authorization
You need to get work authorization from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work. The hours you can work each week may also depend on your job and visa type. Here's a brief about the working day limit on the basis of which visa you have.
| Visa Type | Work Authorization | Weekly Work Limit |
|---|---|---|
| F-1 Student Visa | On-campus, CPT, OPT | Up to 20 hours during the academic year, full-time during breaks |
| J-1 Student Visa | On-campus, Academic Training | Varies based on program requirements |
What is the limitation on working hours on a USA Student Visa?
How long you can work with a student visa depends on your visa type. F-1 and J-1 visas let you work part-time during your classes and more, during breaks and after you complete your studies. But you can only work up to 20 hours a week during your study phase.
Sometimes, there is a restriction on what jobs you can do. You need permission from your academic institution or government for some jobs off-campus. In case students break these rules, they can lose their visas or need to be deported.
Knowing student visa work rules, work limits, and job restrictions helps students plan better.
| Employment Type | Work Hours Allowed | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| On-campus | Up to 20 hours per week during the academic term, and full-time during breaks and vacations | All international students on a valid USA student visa |
| Off-campus | Up to 20 hours per week during the academic term, and full-time during breaks and vacations | You need prior approval from USCIS |
Post-Study Employment Pathways
After completing their studies, students have the following options- STEM OPT Extension or the H-1B Visa.
You can choose STEM OPT Extension if you have completed a STEM Degree course. In this, you can work up to 24 months after OPT 1 year training to gain more experience.
H-1B Visa Sponsorship help you for a long time. With this, students can continue their careers in the USA. Employers sponsor students, and even this visa can help with permanent residency.
For any work, authorization is necessary. Forms like I-20 or DS-2019 or cards like Employment Authorization Document (EAD) are required. The procedure depends on your job type. (on-campus jobs or off-campus training). You must follow the steps like filling out forms, providing extra documents, and getting approvals from their academic institutions and immigration.
To get help with Employment Rights on the USA Student Visa, you can either do complete research from authorized sources or ease your work by contacting an expert USA visa consultant.
Indus Immigration stands tall in the field of consultancy services for study abroad. The team helps students understand the visa, work, and post-study work options. For comprehensive service, you can reach out to us. We are ready to help you study and make a brilliant career in the USA!