Office of International Education

Employment Options

Employment Options for F-1 Students

On Campus Employment
F-1 and J-1 students may work on campus 20 hours or fewer per week while school is in session and full-time during vacation terms or any official school breaks. J-1 students must have permission from their program sponsor prior to beginning on-campus employment if the employment is not listed as a source of funding on their DS-2019. F-1 students do not require additional permission for on-campus work.

Please note that on campus is defined as work for Carnegie Mellon University. Work that takes place at Carnegie Mellon for another employer (a professor's private company or companies housed in the Collaborative Innovation Center, for example) or work that takes place at another school is not "on campus" and would require employment authorization. Students should discuss employment authorization with their OIE advisor for any employment opportunity that involves an employer other than Carnegie Mellon University.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
CPT is employment that is an integral part of an established curriculum and is directly related to the student's major area of study. Examples include a COOP program, internship, or research that is part of a thesis or dissertation.

OPT Regulation Changes Effective 4/8/2008

Optional Practical Training
F-1 students may be eligible for 12 months of full- or part-time off-campus employment using OPT with an Employment Authorization Document (work authorization) approved by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

17 Month OPT Extension for STEM Students
The 12 month limit on F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) may be
extended by 17 months, for a total of 29 months, for certain STEM degree holders (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) with an employer who is enrolled in the US government’s E-Verify program and with an Employment Authorization Document (work authorization) approved by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Employment based on Severe Economic Hardship
Employment based on severe economic hardship is designed to address situations where a financial need beyond the student's control arises, which was unforeseen at the time the student applied to the school he or she is currently attending and after all other potential employment opportunities have proven insufficient.

Employment Options for J-1 Students

Academic Training
J-1 students may only work off campus in the US with written work authorization in advance from your J-1 Responsible Officer. Academic Training is the name used to describe J-1 Student off-campus work authorization for certain types of study-related employment.

Social Security Number
The primary purpose of the Social Security Number (SSN) is to track individuals for taxation purposes in the US. F-1 students may apply for a social security number in person with the Social Security Administration only after a job offer has been secured or employment has begun. For a complete list of required documents and instructions, read OIE's handout SSN Application Instructions.

SSN for On-campus employment.
F-1 or J-1 students who have secured an on-campus job, but lack a SSN, will use OIE's Social Security Number Form / F-1 or J-1 Student On-campus Employment. The hiring department will first sign the form to verify the employment AND then OIE will sign to verify immigration status.  The form is required in order to proceed with the SSN application process.

Last Updated On: October 3, 2007