Advising services and important immigration information on employment for international students can be found below. It is important for you to understand the immigration rules and regulations; please visit Maintaining Your Status for more information about your responsibilities as an F-1 or J-1 student.
There are a few types of employment available to students holding F-1 visas. It is important to follow the procedures and reporting requirements very closely. If you do not follow these procedures exactly, you may be working illegally, which could put your F-1 status at risk. If is your responsibility to follow these guidelines, but the Office of International Programs is always here to help.
CPT eligibility is determined by a student’s class level.
Students must maintain good academic standing before and during CPT employment.
You will receive a new form I-20 showing CPT Employment Authorization on page 2. You should show this authorization to your employer as proof that you are authorized to work.
If your employer has questions about this authorization, they may visit USCIS to see a list of acceptable documents to verify employment eligibility.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows students to get real-world work experience related to their field of study. While a Designated School Official (DSO) recommends OPT in SEVIS, it is the student who must apply for the work permit with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
To be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) you must:
OPT employment MUST be directly related to your program of study and appropriate for your education level.
The Office of International Programs will recommend you for OPT. You must submit the application to USCIS for authorization. For post-completion OPT, only full-time employment can be requested. Once an application for OPT has been submitted to USCIS and the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued, it is difficult to change or cancel. This process can take 90 days or longer. To see estimated processing times, please visit the USCIS Case Processing Times page.
Students are eligible for 1 year (12 months) of OPT for each new degree level. Students with majors in STEM fields may also qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Please see the section on STEM OPT for more information.
Applications for post-completion OPT should be submitted approximately 90 days before the projected start date. OPT applications must be received by USCIS BEFORE the end of a student's 60-day grace period. Applications received after the end of the 60-day grace period will not be approved.
The following are estimated application date ranges for timely application processing:
Using the Post-Completion OPT Planning Tool within Interstride allows users to calculate the amount of OPT available and generate suggested application timeline based on the Program End Date and the desired OPT start date.
You must have your EAD card to begin employment. You can begin working on or after the start date listed on the EAD and may until the end date on the EAD card.
Prepare documents to send to USIC: USCIS must receive the OPT application no more than 30 days after the OPT recommendation has been issued. Applications received more than 30 days after the OPT recommendation will be denied.
The following documents are required to apply for the EAD (OPT work permit). You can find all immigration forms at www.uscis.gov under “Forms and Fees".
Please note that the I-765 application fee is currently $410. This can be paid by credit card.
Students on post-completion OPT are limited to 90 days of unemployment. Students who are unemployed beyond the 90-day limit may be denied future immigration benefits and are in violation of their F-1 Visa status.
Volunteer work, internships, unpaid employment, and part-time jobs may be counted as employment. If you do not find a job within the first two months of OPT, you may look for a volunteer position and/or an internship while you continue to search for a full-time, paid position. Please note that part-time employment should be at least 20 hours/week.
If you are unable to find employment, you should make plans to change your status or leave the USA. If you plan to leave the USA, please contact the Office of International Programs to notify us of your departure so this information can be reported on your SEVIS record.
You must report your employment using the SEVP Portal. Failure to report this information may result in termination of your SEVIS record and F-1 student status. If you do not receive notification from SEVP to set up the portal, please contact international@roosevelt.edu.
You should also report any employment information using the OPT Employment Reporting Form. Choose the option below that best describes your situation:
Students must also report any changes in their address within 10 days of moving.
DHS recommends that students keep clear records for all periods of employment and unemployment during OPT. Students should keep a record of all reports made to the Office of International Programs as well as other proof of employment. The following list contains suggested evidence of employment:
You may be required to prove the existence (or nonexistence) of periods of unemployment in future petitions for immigration benefits; therefore, it is very important to document the start and end dates of any periods of unemployment, along with the employment information above. Remember, this is your responsibility.
Students on post-completion OPT should use the SEVP Portal to comply with reporting requirements. Once your post-completion OPT has been approved, you will receive notification from DHS to create an SEVP Portal account, please follow the instructions provided or visit the SEVP Portal Help Page for more information. You are responsible for reporting changes in your address and employment through this portal.
You should also report any employment information using the OPT Employment Reporting Form. Choose the option below that best describes your situation:
It is important that you list your preferred email address on the OPT Request Form to ensure you receive the notification to set up the SEVP Portal. You may contact international@roosevelt.edu to reset the portal access or if you have questions about the process.
Traveling outside of the US while your OPT is pending can be a risky affair with no certainty that you will be allowed back in. After you have received your EAD card there is still a risk of not being permitted back into the US, especially if you are not employed. If travel is necessary, you should carry all of the following documentation with you when traveling:
If you do not possess a current, valid visa at the time of travel, you must apply for a new F-1 visa for re-entry to the US.
The F-1/H-1B “Cap-Gap” occurs when an F-1 student's status expires before they can begin approved H-1B employment in the next fiscal year beginning October 1. The Cap-Gap Extension applies to all F-1 beneficiaries of H-1B and concurrent change of status petitions. Under this rule, F-1 status is extended while the H-1B petition is pending; F-1 students may remain in the U.S. until October 1 of the next fiscal year when their H-1B status begins. The student must have a valid EAD card at the time the H-1B application is submitted to USCIS in April.
An F-1 student currently engaged in a period of post-completion OPT may be eligible to apply for a 24-month STEM extension. Extension applications are accepted only for students currently working on OPT, not from students who are initially applying for post-completion OPT. You must submit the STEM OPT Request and Form I-983 before you can apply.
The student must have been awarded a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in an approved STEM field and work for an E-Verify employer. To determine your eligibility, check the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List and the Program of Study listed on your I-20.
DHS grants STEM OPT extensions to eligible F-1 students once per degree level (i.e., bachelor's, master's, or doctorate). An F-1 student is allowed two 24-month extensions total. Each extension must be used immediately after the completion of a qualifying higher level degree program. You cannot combine the two periods of STEM extension.
The degree must be on the current STEM Designated Degree Program List at the time of application for the STEM Extension. This applies to both current and previous degrees.
To qualify for the extension the student must be in a valid period of 12-month post completion OPT (even if the OPT is based on a non-STEM degree). For students requesting the extension on a previous STEM degree:
Students must work at least 20 hours per week in a paid position for an E-Verify employer. Volunteering and self-employment are not allowed during the STEM Extension. Most temporary agency and contract work will not be eligible for the 24-month STEM extension.
The STEM OPT employer must be enrolled in USCIS' E-Verify employment eligibility verification program.
The STEM OPT employer must work with the student to create a formal training plan and complete the Form I-983.
STEM OPT students may participate in entrepreneurial ventures. However, they may not fill out their own Form I-983, nor act as their own employer for the purposes of the form.
Employers are responsible for reporting any material changes to, or material deviations from, the student’s formal training plan. Material changes or deviations may include, but are not limited to:
The employer and student both must notify the DSO when the student’s employment is terminated for any reason before the end of the authorized extension period. The employer must report such a change in employment to International Programs no later than five business days after the student’s employment terminates or the student has departed.
Students who are approved for STEM OPT are responsible for reporting and submitting the information below. You will not receive reminders from the Office of International Programs.
To report the changes and/or your employment, please choose the option below that best describes your situation:
Self-Evaluation of your Form I-983 Training Plan (pages 6-7 of the form
Material changes to, or material deviations from, the your formal training plan. Material changes or deviations from the original Form I-983 may include, but are not limited to
The STEM OPT application must be received by USCIS before the expiration of the current OPT period. Students may apply as early as 90 days before the end of the current OPT period.
Your OPT application must be received by USCIS within 60 days of the issuance of your new STEM OPT I-20. If the application is filed in a timely manner, a 180-day automatic work authorization extension will be granted while the application is pending. It normally takes up to 90 days for USCIS to process STEM OPT extension applications.
Students in J-1 status may be authorized to participate in Academic Training to gain practical work experience in their field of study. You may be authorized for Academic Training during your program or after you have finished your study. You must receive written approval from International Programs at least two weeks before the program end date on your form DS-2019.
Submit the following documents to the Office of International Programs:
If you are working for the first time in the U.S., you must obtain a Social Security Number for tax purposes. If you already have a Social Security Number, you do not need to apply again. You may only be issued a Social Security Number if you are working legally; you cannot request this number for any other purposes.
Take the following documents to the Social Security Administration Office (locate the nearest office):
You will be issued a letter from the Social Security Administration that states you have “applied for a Social Security Number." Your SSN Card will arrive in the mail 6-8 weeks after the application date. Make sure to bring your SSN card to Human Resources when you receive it.
All F-1 and J-1 students (and their F-2 or J-2 dependents) are required to file income tax forms for each year they are present in the USA. This is required even if you did not work in the USA. If you are in the U.S. in another immigration status, this information may not apply to you.
Each individual has a unique tax position and is responsible for his or her own tax determination and compliance. The Office of International Programs cannot assist you in filing your taxes.
Income taxes are due on April 15 in the following year; some years this may be 1-2 days later if April 15 is a weekend or holiday. This means that you will be filling your taxes for 2022 in April of 2023.
You are responsible for completing these forms. Unfortunately, during the "tax season" there is an increased chance of tax scams - the IRS has posted this notice of Five Easy Ways to Spot Suspicious Calls. Remember, the IRS (or other US Government agencies) does not use unsolicited email, text messages or any social media to discuss your personal tax issue; the IRS will not call you if you owe taxes without first sending you a bill in the mail.
You must file the Tax Form 8843 - Statement for Exempt Individuals and Individuals With a Medical Condition. You are classified as an "Exempt Individual". You should file this form even if you did not work during the year.
You should complete this form to show that you are a "non-resident" for tax purposes (an "exempt individual"). This means that you may qualify for tax treaty or other benefits that reduce your tax rate if you are employed in the USA or have a taxable scholarship. You must submit this form each year to qualify as a "non-resident" for tax purposes. You should file this form during the first 5 years you are in the U.S. as an F-1 or J-1 Student.
All international students who worked for any part of the previous year must file the Tax Form 8843 AND U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
Most students are considered non-residents for tax purposes. However, you; however, if you have been in the U.S. for more than 5 years, you may need to file as a resident. You can find help to determine your residency for "Tax Purposes" by reviewing Tax Topic 851 - Resident and Nonresident Aliens.
You must also file Illinois State Tax Forms (IL-1040). If you were in the U.S. in a state other than Illinois, you may need to file additional forms.
Please bring any of the following documents that you have been issued if you meet with a tax preparer. You may not have all of these documents. You should have received the appropriate documents by mail or electronically from your employer and/or the university.
As international students and citizens of other countries, your country may have a tax treaty with the USA. You may or may not owe taxes and can often receive substantial refunds of withheld taxes if you file an income tax return. You can find more information on Tax Treaties on the IRS homepage.
The IRS provides help for all tax payers. You can find tax help on the IRS homepage for Foreign Students and Scholars or through several tax services in the Chicago area.
There are also companies that can assist you in filing your taxes for a small fee.
The Office of International programs cannot assist you in completing your tax return, and is not responsible if you fail to file your return in a timely manner. Please consult one of the companies above for individual assistance.
Interstride is a portal that helps Roosevelt University international students find jobs and internships, network with other international and globally-minded students, and find immigration and career support. You can discover jobs and internships that qualify for CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, and perhaps even a sponsor for a future H1-B! There are also fantastic tools to help you take advantage of all of the benefits tied to your F-1 visa status. Roosevelt’s Office of International Programs and Career Services are thrilled to be able to provide this resource to all international students and alumni.
Start by visiting my.roosevelt.edu and selecting the Interstride icon.
Interstride can be used to:
Some of the areas to explore on the Interstride site include:
Check out Interstride’s Welcome Tutorials at https://student.interstride.com/help-center.
Helpful tutorials and tools: