Please Note!

this a very busy time in the IPS office. Many different types of applications, letters and other procedures for maintenance of F-1 student status are being processed.  Processing time is 1 to 3 weeks.

PERMISSION TO WORK

Students who have F-1 status may work under certain circumstances while they are in the United States. There are two major categories of work for which an international student may qualify.
I. EMPLOYMENT ON CAMPUS
II. EMPLOYMENT OFF CAMPUS (employment must be approved by IPS or USCIS prior to beginning)

• Severe Economic Hardship: must be authorized by USCIS
  
• Curricular Practical Training: Internship authorized by International Student Advisor
  
• Optional Practical Training: 12 months authorized by USCIS per degree level
  

The following is an explanation of the types of work listed above. It includes a description of the rules, how to get permission, and the kinds of work which may be authorized.

EMPLOYMENT ON CAMPUS

On campus employment is permitted only on the campus that has issued the I-20 (SJSU). A student must be in valid F-1 status. A student is limited to 20 hours a week during the semester, but may work full time during vacation periods (summer, winter, holidays). To be employed, the student will need to have a Social Security Card. To apply for a SS# the student must obtain a job offer on campus; the IPS office will issue a confirmation letter to the Social Security Office. A Social Security card may be obtained at a Social Security Office. IPS will also issue a letter to the SJSU Human Resources office certifying that students are maintaining their lawful F1 status for work authorization.

On campus /HR
Once on campus job is offered. Student will need to go to HR complete a SJSU Employment Authorization Card for the employee. The card establishes an employee's eligibility to work for the University and may include an expiration date based on the individual's appointment period or immigration work authorization documentation. The employee should retain this card throughout his/her employment with the University. University offices must verify the employee's possession of the SJSU Employment Authorization Card prior to the employee's first day of work.
For a full text version view guidelines governing the SJSU Employment Authorization Card.

EMPLOYMENT OFF CAMPUS

SEVERE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP

Off campus employment due to Economic Hardship is permitted only in cases where there is proven severe economic hardship. The purpose of this kind of work is to enable a student to earn income that is needed to pay tuition and living expenses because his/her sponsor cannot provide sufficient funds. A student applying for permission to work off campus must prove there is economic necessity due to unforeseen circumstances. In other words, a student must provide evidence that he/she is not receiving enough money to pay for school expenses and that the cause for not receiving enough money is something that was not expected to happen when he/she came to the U.S. Permission to work off campus is granted by the USCIS. Students interested in applying must see the International Student Advisor to obtain application. (A student may not apply for this work permission until she/he has been in full-time F1 status for two academic semesters.)

PRACTICAL TRAINING

Practical training refers to employment in a student's field of study, which adds practical work experience to the knowledge acquired in the classroom. Practical training may be obtained both during studies and after the completion of studies. An exception is a student must be in full time student status for one academic year before become eligible for any practical training. A student who is in a one year program that requires Practical Training would be eligible when required. Attendance at a Practical Training workshop is required. Sign up at the IPS office.

There are two types of practical training, Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). Both are described below.

1. Curricular Practical Training
   Curricular Practical Training (CPT) refers to work experience what is part of the curriculum. In other words, it is work for which one is receiving academic credit. Some academic majors require students to acquire practical work experience as part of their degree program. Please refer to the SJSU catalogs to determine if an internship or practicum class is part of the curriculum that is required for graduation in your major. International students in such majors may obtain CPT approval to satisfy the requirements for such a class.
   In other cases, a student may enroll in an optional internship or practicum class as a way to obtain Curricular Practical Training. The work must be in the major and a professor must approve the job and establish what requirements must be met to earn credit for what is learned on the job. In these cases, the department offers internships or practicum classes, which a student may take to gain practical work experience.
   Please see your academic advisor and attend the PT workshop to determine if you are eligible for CPT.
   
   For more information regarding CPT, read the Frequently Asked Questions page.
   
   
2. Optional Practical Training
   All international students are eligible for a total of one year (12 months) of Optional Practical Training (OPT) in addition to curricular practical training of less than 12 months. This provides the opportunity to find employment in the student's field of study, which adds to what is learned in class. It can be done while still a student, or after completing all course work for a degree.
   A student may wish to use some of the 12 months of Practical Training available while still working on a degree. He/she may do so 1) full-time during the summer break, if intending to register for the Fall semester, 2) part-time while school is in session and 3) full-time after completion of all course requirements with only a thesis or project remaining.
   Any Practical Training used while still a student will be deducted from the 12 months total available, reducing the amount available after graduation. Thus, if a student decides to use Optional Practical Training for three months full-time during summer vacation, he/she would only have nine months available at the completion of studies. Practical training during the school year (20 hrs/wk) is counted as ½ time. If a student decides to have Optional Practical Training for four months during the semester (20 hrs/wk), then 2 months would be subtracted from the 12 total available months.
   A student will be eligible for another 12 months of OPT if the student completes a higher educational level. A student's OPT will be cancelled if they enroll in a new degree program while still on OPT, and it is a violation of F1 status.
   Please note that to obtain OPT an application is made to the USCIS California Service Center (CSC) and it may take as long as three or more months to have it approved. Students may not work until the Employment Authorization Document (EAD), is received by mail. Students may apply 120 days before the completion of all degree requirements. The application must be received at the CSC and logged in to the USCIS system prior to graduation.

Career Center

The Career Center provides the tools to guide students in making career planning decisions. Their mission is to motivate, educate, and empower students by giving them access to:

• Customized consulting services and programs
• Job and internship opportunities (on & off-campus)
• A network of industry professionals and alumni

Integral to the SJSU educational experience, the Career Center is the University's key link to the employment community and Silicon Valley's first choice of diverse and talented student applicants.

Social Security number

SOCIAL SECURITY CARD
A Social Security card lists a social security number, which is a U.S. government identification number. You will need a social security card only if you are employed. You do not need one to apply for a driver's license or open a bank account.

To apply for a social security card:

Step 1:
Gather the following documents:

• Your passport
  
• Your I-94, which is attached to your passport
  
• Your I-20
  
• Your SJSU ID card
  
• The Social Security Card application form (available at the Social Security Office)
  
• A letter from IPS office after you have obtained a job offer letter

Step 2:
Go to a Social Security Office.
The offices are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. There are several Social Security offices in San José:

• 280 South 1st Street, Room 244
  
• 3315 Almaden Expressway
  
• 2726 Aborn Street
  

Other locations:

• Campbell - 770 W. Hamilton Avenue
  

More locations can be found in your local telephone book.

Social Security tax

When you receive a paycheck, there will be a paper attached to it describing which government taxes have been withheld from your salary. International students should not have social security tax withheld from their salaries. You should inform your employer of this before you start work. However, if social security tax was withheld in error, contact the employer who withheld the pay and ask for a refund. If it is not possible to get a refund from the employer, file a claim for refund from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS - the office which manages U.S. taxes) on Form 843. Attach a W-2 copy to prove the amount of tax withheld, your work permit, Form 8316, or a signed statement claiming that the employer was asked to refund social security tax withheld in error, and it has not been refunded.
File the claim for refund to the IRS office where the employer's tax return was filed. If such information is not known to you, file your claim with the IRS Center, Philadelphia, PA 19255. http://www.irs.gov

Contact us at
The IPS Office
Clark Hall, Room 543
Tel  (408) 924-5920 Fax (408) 924-5976
or send us an email