Employment may be authorized for students in F-1 status as long as they are in good standing, pursuing a full course of study and meet the requirements for each of the following categories.
On-campus work performed for CSULB and Forty Niner shops Inc is usually acceptable, whether it is employment in the library, the computer center or the housing office, or work required by a scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship for departments.
Eligibility: A student must be enrolled for atleast 6 units to be eligible to work on-campus. Some jobs might require previous experience. The minimum pay in California is $8.00 per hour. The pay depends on the kind job you are selected for. Students cannot work for more than 20 hrs during spring and fall semesters. They can work for not more that 40 hrs during summer and winter sessions.
Potential Job search AreasCurricular Practical Training (CPT) is authorization for international students to work before graduation in short-term paid or unpaid work experience positions which are related to an academic program of study. We usually use the term internship for CPT. There are two kinds of CPT’s offered at CSULB 1. Department Based CPT 2. Career Development Center Based CPT
Department Based CPT for Graduate Students requires the Graduate Advisor or Thesis Advisor to complete a CIE CPT application form verifying that the work the student will be doing provides experience that supplements the student's academic program of study in a meaningful way and that the academic credit awarded for this work experience will count toward the student's academic program.
Career Development Center Based CPT requires the student to enroll in a 3 credit internship course through the Career Development Center and to complete a CIE CPT form. CPT is considered a benefit of maintaining proper F-1 status and the final decision to authorized CPT is made by the Center for International Education. Students should attend a workshop or meet with their International Student Advisor to discuss CPT options and to request a CPT application form.
Eligibility: Students who have been in F-1 status for a minimum of 9 months and in good academic standing are eligible for CPT.
Work Hours: Work hours are limited to 20 hours per week (part-time) during Fall and Spring semesters and 40 hours a week (full-time) during the summer.
Note: Students seeking to do unpaid internship/ volunteer/ co-operative education placements do not require CPT or prior authorization from CIE.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is the employment authorization granted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) upon application from the student and recommendation from the International Student Advisor. OPT is an opportunity for an international student (F-1 visa) to work full-time in the U.S. for 12 months (we can extend it by 17 months before expiration of 12 months period) before (Pre) or after (post) completion of a college/university degree.
Pre-completion OPT: An F-1 student may be authorized to participate in pre-completion OPT after he or she has been enrolled for one full academic year. The pre-completion OPT must be directly related to the student’s major area of study. Students authorized to participate in pre-completion OPT must work part-time while school is in session. They may work full time when school is not in session. Graduate students who have only thesis and no regular classes remaining may apply for OPT before finishing their thesis.
Post-completion OPT: An F-1 student may be authorized to participate in post-completion OPT upon completion of studies. The post-completion OPT must be directly related to the student’s major area of study. CIE recommends students start the OPT application process a minimum of 3 to 4 months prior to completion of all coursework. Initially we will be granted with 12 months period of OPT.
Under the new rule, certain students will be eligible to receive a 17-month extension of post-completion OPT.
