Can you work?
Yes.
Where can you work?
- On-campus only.
- No more than 20 hours a week while school is in session.
- During school breaks such as between Fall and Spring semesters students can work 40
hours a week.
If you work, you will have to pay taxes. Taxes will be automatically taken out of
your checks: FICA, Federal Tax, Michigan Tax and Big Rapids Tax.
There are four types of employment:
- On-campus Employment
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
- Optional Practical Training (OPT)
- Severe Economic Hardship
-
- Limited to 20 hours per week while class is in session; 40 hours during official school
breaks
- Must work On-Campus
- Can find a job through Student Employment Website
- Cannot work at jobs near campus: McDonald's, Rite Aid, etc. these are not considered
on-campus
- After offered a job you can apply for a Social Security Number
-
- Internship, clerkship, or clinical rotation for academic credit
- Great for professional future
- Must have been a student in the U.S. for at least 1 academic year
- Must have an internship secured
- Come to OIE for application procedure or they may be available online.
- Apply before semester begins
- OIE will have CPT Workshop during the semester
-
- Pre-Completion OPT:
- Work before graduating
- Can be full time or part time
- Need authorization from USCIS
- Plan ahead & apply early
- Post-Completion:
- Work authorization for after graduating
- Apply before you graduate
- Full time work authorization
- Must complete your degree
- Workshops throughout semester
-
- Off-campus employment that the government authorizes
- Must prove to government that employment is necessary due to severe economic hardship
caused by circumstances beyond student's control
- $340 fee to apply
- Must have been in U.S. for 1 full year
Do not accept unauthorized employment. Although the money may be enticing, students
who accept unauthorized employment can be deported.
