The following is a list of all opportunities to obtain authorization to work in the United States if you are in F-1 immigration status. Each category may allow for authorization under different circumstances and at different times during your stay in the United States. The list is meant to be the one place where you can see all opportunities, but does not include all regulations governing the employment. The Office of International Students & Faculty (OIS&F) has more specific information concerning all of the following categories of employment available at the reception desk in the OIS&F.

On-Campus Employment

Full-time students are allowed to work twenty (20) hours per week during fall and spring semesters. During vacations, you may work more than 20 hours per week. International students wanting to work on campus in summer must be enrolled for classes for either the summer, or the following fall. If not enrolled for either summer or fall, international students will not be allowed to work on campus during the summer. On-campus employment means simply that you are paid by New Jersey Institute of Technology, or working at a university location with an employer that is providing services to students, such as the Bookstore.

Off-Campus Employment Based on Financial Need

Students who have been in F-1 status for one academic year (fall and spring semesters), and who are experiencing extreme financial difficulties due to unforeseen changes that severely affect their financial resources, may apply for work permission. Authorization is given by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) with the recommendation of the OIS&F.

Practical Training

This is defined as employment related to your field of study and is available during and after completion of your studies. You may obtain detailed information about practical training at our reception desk.

The following is a list of the categories of practical training:

1. Curricular practical training (before completion of your studies), defined as employment pursuant to a required or optional internship which is an integral part of the established curriculum of your school. It may be full-time (greater than 20 hours) or part-time (less than 20 hours) per week.

2. Optional practical training, defined as employment related to your field of study. It is authorized in variable increments, deducted from the maximum of one year of optional practical training, and is available in the following variations:

• Optional practical training following completion of your studies. It must be applied for BEFORE you complete your studies.
• Optional practical training before completion of your studies which includes:

1. Practical training during the annual vacation.
2. Practical training following completion of all course requirements for the degree except the thesis or equivalent, or
3. Practical training while school is in session, provided that employment does not exceed 20 hours per week.