FAQ

Employment is simply any work, paid or unpaid.

Yes, you can work on campus if you are offered a position. You do not need authorization from ISSS to engage in on-campus employment, but you do need to get a Social Security number if you will be earning money.

You can find opportunities posted on the Student Employment page. Please note that international students are not eligible for federal work study positions.

If you have completed at least two semesters of full-time study (fall and spring semesters only) on your current SEVIS ID number, you can apply for curricular practical training (CPT) authorization to hold an off-campus internship related to your field of study. For further information on CPT, review the F-1 student employment page.

Yes. If your SEVIS record was transferred from another U.S. university, we can count your semesters at the prior university toward your CPT eligibility. However, this does not apply if your SEVIS record was transferred from a U.S. high school or ESL institution.

In the rare instance that your university program requires you to complete an internship in your first year at The New School, please make an appointment to discuss your situation with an ISSS advisor or come to ISSS drop-in hours.

During the semester for which CPT and on-campus employment are authorized, you may work up to 20 hours per week. During breaks, as in summer and winter, you can be authorized for up to 40 hours per week of CPT or on-campus employment.

Working off campus without authorization from ISSS is a violation of your F-1 student status. This may affect your F-1 status and any future benefits applications, visas to the United States, or change of status applications. ISSS urges students not to engage in unauthorized employment.

If you are having financial problems, please make an appointment with an ISSS advisor or come to our drop-in hours to discuss your situation.

Yes. In order to work in the United States after graduation, you must first apply for and be granted optional practical training (OPT).

You should plan to view the OPT webinar in your final semester of study. You can email us at [email protected] in your final semester for the link and information on how to apply. You will first need to submit your application to ISSS for review through iGlobal to get a new I-20; you can then mail your application to USCIS anytime between 90 days before the end of your program and the end of the 60-day grace period after your program completion date. We encourage students to apply as soon as possible, since the average processing time for USCIS is 90 days.

If you did OPT previously at a lower education level, you can apply for OPT based on your higher-level degree. The standard progression of degree programs is associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, PhD. For example, if you have previously done OPT at a master’s level, you are not eligible to apply for OPT based on a bachelor’s or associate’s degree but you are eligible for OPT based on a PhD program.