Employment

• You can work part-time (up to 20 hours total) per week on campus only during the fall and spring semesters. You must maintain a full-time course load while employed. Please see the Student Services and Residential Life Coordinator for on-campus employment opportunities. Upon hire, you will receive an employment letter, which you will need to apply for a Social Security Number. See here for instructions. 
• The 20-hour-per-week employment rule is very strict. You cannot work 21 hours one week, 25 hours another week, and 15 hours another week for an average of 20 each week. This action will automatically place you out of status, and you risk having your I-20 terminated. You must work 20 hours or less per week.
• You are also permitted to work on-campus during official school breaks (January Intersession and summer session) for more than 20 hours per week if you are a continuing student who will register for the next available semester and are not enrolled in courses during the January Intersession. Students taking courses during the January Intersession should continue to work part-time.

• If you wish to work part-time or full-time off campus while school is in session or during official school breaks, you are required to obtain an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for Pre-Occupational Practical Training (OPT). OPT allows students to engage in temporary employment to gain practical experience directly related to the student’s major area of study after they have been enrolled for one full academic year, and before their program end date. Students must maintain a full course of study during the period of employment (with the exception of official school breaks). Please plan to apply for Pre-Completion OPT at least 2-3 months prior to the date you would like to begin employment. Application and instructions can be found here - Form I-765). Please see Akeem Burgess for additional instructions.
   
• If you wish to work full-time after you graduate, you are required to follow the same steps above to obtain an EAD from USCIS. Please note that this type of employment is considered Post-Completion OPT and has strict deadlines as to when students can apply. Please see Akeem Burgess for the deadline dates, the types of activities that constitute employment while on OPT, reporting requirements, and the 90-day unemployment requirement.
  • Please Note: Students who have completed all requirements for their degree except for their thesis or dissertation can apply for Post-Completion OPT.
     
• OPT is available for a maximum of 12 months per degree. Use of Pre-completion OPT counts towards the 12 months available to use for Post-completion OPT.
   
• Other types of employment available:
  • Authorized employment due to severe economic hardship
  • Special Student Relief Program employment
  • Certain employment sponsored by international organizations

You can volunteer 20 hours or more per week on or off campus without approval; please make certain that this is strictly volunteer work and that you are not receiving payment. Receiving payment without prior authorization and an employment card is in direct violation of F-1 Visa regulations and you will fall out of status. You will need to provide documentation of your volunteer work for your visa file. Please see me before you begin any volunteer work to ensure it falls under the permitted guidelines and does not violate Federal and Connecticut labor laws. In addition, you are strongly advised to volunteer for no more than 20 hours per week.