International Students

After an international student obtains a visa and enters the U.S. in F-1 status he/she must continue to maintain that status and follow F-1 regulations upon entry until final departure.  The key requirements for maintaining F-1 status include, but are not limited to the following: 

1. Report to FIDM's Designated School Official (DSO) for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) registration upon arriving at FIDM. Students must be registered in SEVIS no later than 30 days after the program start date. 

10. Abide by the aggregate unemployment rules while on post-completion OPT. 

1. On-campus employment: Must be performed on campus, and is limited to 20 hours a week while school is in session. 

2. Off-Campus work authorization: In general if an F-1 student wishes to work off-campus before graduation, one of the following circumstances must exist:

Student must have been in F-1 status for at least one full academic year. Must prove to U.S. Citizens and Immigration Service (USCIS) that employment is necessary due to severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond his/her control that arose after obtaining F-1 status.  It is designed for off-campus employment but there is no specific prohibition on it being used on-campus.  It is granted by USCIS in increments of one year at a time, or until the program end-date, whichever is shorter.  Authorization ends if a student transfers schools.   It is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session; can be full-time during official school breaks. The work can be in any job; it does not have to be related to the course of study.  The student must apply for Employment Application Document (EAD) from USCIS, and receive EAD before employment begins. 

B. Internship/Apprenticeship/Curriculum Practical Training (CPT)

Student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis at a Department of Homeland Security (DHS)- approved school for one full academic year before being eligible for CPT.  Additional requirements per FIDM policy are:

(2) Student may engage in CPT only for the specific employer, location, and period approved and recorded by FIDM's International Students Office in SEVIS.  CPT must be an integral part of student's established curriculum to qualify.

(3) Student must first receive an offer letter from his/her potential employer specifying the job title, job duties, day(s) and hours of employment, and the company's Employment Identification Number. 

(4) The potential CPT must be approved by both FIDM's Career Center and the Education Department/Office of Academic Support prior to being submitted to FIDM's International Students Office for processing.