Internship vs. Employment (work or job)
An internship includes a learning objective; it is an opportunity to gain knowledge and skills through experiential learning as a complement to the theoretical knowledge gained in an academic setting. International students can only be authorized for internships that are an integral part of their academic curriculum. A job is a position of regular employment.
How to find an internship or employment
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The best way to locate an internship is to work with the Career Development at Florida Poly, who can provide guidance and resources to help students identify internship opportunities on and off campus. Please visit their website at Career Development.
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Students may find on-campus employment opportunities on the Florida Poly Human Resources website and selecting Student Positions.
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Students eligible for off-campus employment or seeking to find employment after graduation are responsible for their employment search, but may still contact Career Development for help with post-graduation employment opportunities.
F-1 Employment Options
F-1 students are permitted to work in the United States (US), but only under certain conditions, and in accordance with complex guidelines and restrictions issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
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Generally, all employment is contingent on remaining within the terms and restrictions of the F-1 visa.
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Employment options consists of on and off-campus employment/internships.
Please view the F-1 Employment Options guide for a quick reference of the criteria and process steps required for the most common F-1 employment benefits while studying in the US.
IMPORTANT: While immigration regulations provide a variety of opportunities for students to be employed during their time in F-1 status, working without authorization is a serious violation; F-1 students must always consult with DSO before accepting any employment.
On-Campus Employment
F-1 students are eligible to work on-campus starting their first semester, as long as they are maintaining F-1 status, and do not work more than 20 hours per week while school is in session (on-campus employment includes, Graduate Assistantships “GA”).
On-campus employment is the only work benefit that new F-1 students are eligible for during their first semester, all other work benefits cannot be applied for until after one academic year (fall and spring semesters) of full-time enrollment has been completed, or after completion of the program of study (graduation).
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Students may only work full time (21 hours or more) during holidays and vacation periods, provided they intend and are eligible to register for the next school term.
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Work performed on university grounds is considered “on-campus employment” as long as the position provides direct services to students (e.g. Dining Facility).
How to Apply
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Students seeking to apply for on-campus employment must complete the F-1 On-Campus Employment learning module via CANVAS.
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This course will explain in detail the guidelines for working on-campus; students must complete and pass the required quiz
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Students that do not complete the course first, will not have their request processed.
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Next, students must submit a coyp of their employment offer letter once they have secured employment and have their employer complete:
The DSO will assist you with the next steps in your process, which includes applying for a Social Security Number (SSN) - please view the F-1 Students SSN Guide for instructions on how to apply.
hen Can I Start Working?
F-1 students that have secured an offer for on-campus employment and turned in all completed all required Human Resources (HR) onboarding tasks must be cleared by HR at Florida Poly, BEFORE they may begin working. Being cleared, means you have completed all required tasks in the Workday Portal, submitted all documentation, and HR has verified with Payroll Services and your employment supervisor that you may begin working.
Remember: You are not authorized to began working until you have been cleared with HR; a DSO cannot clear you to work.
Off Campus Employment
Off-campus employment is a benefit available for some F-1 students who are:
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Experiencing an economic hardship.
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Seeking special student relief due to emergent circumstances.
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Participating in an internship with an international organization.
A DSO must verify that the student qualifies for off-campus employment by entering the employment information in SEVIS.
- The student must then file a Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization, with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
International Organization (IO) Internship
An IO employment authorization is a benefit for F-1 students who have been offered an internship with a recognized international organization. Please view a list of qualifying international organizations.
Eligibility Criteria
In order to qualify for International Organization employment authorization, you must meet the following criteria:
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You must have a written offer for an internship position offered by and within the scope of a recognized international organization as per 59 Stat. 669, International Organization Immunities Act.
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You are a full-time student in a degree program and you hold F-1 status sponsored by Florida Polytechnic University.
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The position does not have to be related to your field of study, but the authorization cannot extend beyond the end of the your academic program.
This type of employment authorization does not impact the your eligibility for participation in other types of employment related to F-1 status. However, during the period of employment you must otherwise continue to maintain your F-1 status, including continuing to pursue a full course of study.
How to Apply
Applying for International Organization employment authorization is a two-step process. First, you must obtain DSO recommendation in the form of a new I-20. Then, you must apply to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by filing Form I-765 for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
If you have a letter of certification from the international organization on their official letterhead that indicates employment is within the scope of the organization’s sponsorship, please view the International Organization (IO) Internship Guide for how to apply.
Severe Economic Hardship
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) defines “severe economic hardship” as a financial condition caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student’s control that make it difficult for a student to continue education in the United States.
These financial conditions may include:
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Loss of financial aid or on-campus employment through no fault of the student.
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Substantial changes in the exchange rate or value of the currency upon which the student depends.
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Inordinate increases in tuition or living costs.
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Unexpected changes in the financial state of the student’s source of support.
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Medical bills.
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Other substantial and unexpected expenses.
If other employment opportunities are not available or are otherwise insufficient, an eligible F-1 student may request employment authorization based on severe economic hardship by completing the F-1 Economic Hardship Guide for DSO recommendation then file the online Form I-765 and pay the required fee to USCIS for approval.
Special Student Relief (SSR)
Special Student Relief (SSR) is the suspension of certain regulatory requirements by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for F‑1 student from parts of the world that are experiencing emergent circumstances. Regulatory requirements that may be suspended include: duration of status, full course of study and off-campus employment eligibility.
What Circumstances Constitute SSR?
SSR applies when emergent circumstances occur. Emergent circumstances are world events that affect F-1 students from a particular region and create significant financial hardships, such as but not limited to:
What is the Criteria for SSR?
DHS issues a Federal Register (FR) notice when the secretary declares that an event constitutes emergent circumstances. You may be eligible for SSR if you (view current list of countries eligible): :
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Are the citizen of a country specified in an FR notice.
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Have lawfully resided in the US for the dates indicated in the FR notice.
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Have reported on time to your DSO and been enrolled in an SEVP-certified school since the event.
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Are currently maintaining F-1 status.
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Are experiencing severe economic hardship.
Your DSO must certify in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) that you meet all the above requirements to qualify for SSR. You must first file a Form I-765, “Application for Employment Authorization,” with USCIS and receive authorization before you can begin off-campus employment.
Please note that SSR and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are different. TPS may be offered to various visa classifications, when applicable, including F-1 students. However, SSR, when applicable, is offered only to eligible F-1 students.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defines CPT as alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education or other type of required practicum that a sponsoring employer offers through cooperative agreements with a college or university; it must be integral to the degree program of study and an established curriculum within a school, student must be in good academic standing, marinating their F-1 status and meet all criteria to be considered for approval.
- F-1 students are eligible to apply for CPT after one academic year (fall and spring) and meeting pre/co-requisites for required internship course.
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Undergraduates: Must use CPT to be eligible to secure an off-campus internship to satisfy their program requirement for IDS 4941 (all undergraduate programs) and complete the Undergraduate CPT learning module via CANVAS.
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Graduates: Must use CPT to be eligible to participate in an off-campus internship, and must enroll into EGN 5950 (Engineering majors) or IDS 5950 (Computer Science majors) and complete the Graduate CPT learning module via CANVAS.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Work authorization that allows F-1 students to gain work experience directly related to their major field of study, and can be used either before (pre-completion) or after (post-completion) degree completion. To apply for OPT students must complete the OPT learning module via CANVAS.
Students must request DSO recommendation, then file the I-765 online application and the pay the required fee to USCIS for approval.
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No specific job offer is required to apply for OPT, however, students MUST find employment within 90 days of being approved for OPT to maintain legal F-1 status
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Employment must be directly related to earned degree program of study
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Students cannot begin your employment until they have received their approved EAD card
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Students who use 12 months of OPT (pre or post) do not become eligible for another 12 months of OPT unless they move to a higher degree level (e.g. Bachelor’s to Master’s, Master’s to Ph.D.)
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Students who use full time CPT for one year or more, are ineligible to use OPT (pre or post) - use of part-time CPT does not affect eligibility for OPT
- There are two forms of OPT, pre-completion OPT (pre-OPT) and the most commonly utilized, post-complete OPT (post-OPT):
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Pre-completion OPT: Work authorization prior to degree completion
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Post-completion OPT: Work authorization after degree completion
- See OPT FAQs s for more employment information
STEM OPT Extension
F-1 student OPT 24-month work authorization to extension that must be directly related to their STEM degree; eligible F-1 students with STEM degrees who finish their program of study and participate in an initial period of regular post-completion OPT (often for 12 months) have the option to apply for this STEM OPT extension by completing the STEM OPT learning module.
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Students may not apply for STEM OPT extensions during the 60-day grace period following an initial period of regular post-completion OPT
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STEM OPT requires a student to have an USCIS E-Verify employer that can provide the student with formal training and learning objectives
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Students may work a minimum of 20 hours or more
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STEM OPT has reporting requirements which includes an annual self-evaluation
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