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There are however, some limited circumstances under which an F-1 student may undertake limited work (usually on the college campus), or as a direct component of the undertaken course of study.
Its best to assume that most types of employment (even if part-time) are not authorized.
The F-1 student should always check with the university's or college's "designated school official" (DSO), who is the responsible on-campus point of contact for immigration related questions.
Under limited circumstances, they CAN work in the U.
S.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student's major area of study.
Under the prior rules, an F-1 student could be authorized to receive up to a total of 12 months of practical training either before (pre-) and/or after (post-)completion of studies.
Students must initiate the process by requesting the Designated School Official (DSO) at their academic institution to recommend the OPT.
The DSO makes such recommendation by endorsing the student's Form I-20 and by making appropriate notation in SEVIS, the system used to track F-1 students.
Students then file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization Document (EAD), with U.
S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
If approved, USCIS will issue an EAD to the student.
The student may begin engaging in pre- or post-completion OPT only after an application has been approved and an EAD has been issued.
Note that this is not a long-term employment solution, as the OPT serves to give a graduate merely some 'hands-on' practical work experience before the graduate is presumed to return to his or her home country.
For graduates who are interested in remaining in the United States for employment purposes, the advice of qualified immigration counsel is highly recommended, if not essential.
There are options for most university and/or college graduates, but only a lawyer with expertise in U.
S.
immigration law can properly advise on these matters.
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