Employment for International Students
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Working without the right authorization is a serious violation of your student visa status. While attending College of Western Idaho, it is your responsibility to comply with all regulations that apply to F-1 students.
If you have any questions about work authorization, please contact internationalservices@cwi.edu.
On-Campus Employment
To be eligible for on-campus employment at CWI, international students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 or above.
- Eligible students may not work more than 20 hours per week while school is in session.
- Students may be employed full-time on campus only during holidays and summer vacation, provided they are eligible and are registered for the next semester.
- Students may not be employed on campus after they have completed a program of study unless they have applied for and have been granted written permission to engage in a type of employment that CIS called Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
CPT allows a student to work off-campus for a specified amount of time in a position related to his/her field of study.
To qualify:
- Student must be in F-1 status.
- Student must have completed at least two semesters at CWI
- Internship must be directly related to student’s academic program
- Student must receive college credit for the internship
- Student must have USCIS authorization through International Student Services prior to employment
- CPT must be part-time (20 hours or less) while school is in session. During summer and winter breaks, CPT may be full-time.
Steps to Complete:
- Find an internship opportunity through your academic department.
- Obtain a signed job offer letter from the employer on official letterhead with a detailed internship/job description.
- Complete the CWI Internship form and receive approval from your department.
- Bring a copy of the approved CWI Internship Application Form, and the offer letter from your internship employer to International Student Services.
- Wait for a confirmation e-mail from International Student Services before you begin your employment.
International Student Services cannot approve the CPT until the internship credit is added to your class schedule.
Students cannot begin working until CPT has been approved by USCIS and International Student Services.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a 12-month work authorization that allows F-1 students to gain additional work experience after graduation in their field of study. Students can work anywhere in the United States on OPT, so long as the employment is directly related to their field of study.
Steps to Complete:
- Meet with International Student Services about 90 before you complete your program to request OPT.
- It can take 3 - 4 months for an OPT application to be approved by USCIS.
- Student does not need a job offer to apply for OPT.
- Complete the OPT application through USCIS.
- Apply for a social security number.
- Wait for a confirmation e-mail from International Student Services before you begin your employment.
- After student receives approval for OPT their SEVP Portal will need to be set up.
Students cannot begin working until OPT has been approved by USCIS and International Student Services.
Economic Hardship
A student who has been enrolled for an academic year and is maintaining F-1 status may apply to USCIS for “off-campus employment based on severe economic hardship.” The student is required to show that his/her severe financial hardship has been caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond his/her control. The student must also provide documentation showing that employment opportunities on campus are insufficient to ease the hardship. Keep in mind that the student must show specifically how the financial data submitted to the school for creation of the I-20 has changed. Support documentation is necessary.
Common reasons for seeking economic hardship employment
- Unexpected loss of a scholarship
- Decrease in funding from home country due to serious currency devaluation or family illness or death
- Tuition and fee increase
- Medical bills, loss through robbery/burglary (documented with police report) or natural disaster loss of sponsor support
If you think you might qualify for Severe Economic Hardship Employment, please make an appointment with the International Student Services for assistance.