LISTSERV 16.0 - INTERNATIONAL-L Archives

Dear international students,

As a reminder, international students are only permitted to conduct employment as authorized by the federal visa regulations. Please read the information below carefully if you are thinking to work while in the United States. Remember that is a violation of your F-1 or J-1 visa status to be working without proper work-authorization!

On Campus Employment: If you are working for UConn on campus, and you are an F-1 visa student, you are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week when school is in session (up to 40 hours per week during a vacation term). If you have an offer to work for UConn at an off-campus location, or if you have an offer to work on-campus for a non-UConn employer, then you need to check with ISSS to see if your employment arrangement is OK under the student visa regulations. J-1 students must get an employment authorization letter from ISSS before you can begin any employment on-campus.

Starting a Business: F-1 students must be authorized for Optional Practical Training (OPT) if they are planning to start a business or engage in any start-up activity, even if the start-up activity is funded by a grant from UConn (UConn Third Bridge Program Grant recipients may be eligible for Curricular Practical Training, a different type of work authorization). Any type of start-up or self-employment must be directly related to your academic program to be eligible for OPT work authorization. If you are already working on campus, it may not be possible to have OPT at the same time. Talk to an ISSS advisor for further details. J-1 students are generally not permitted to be self-employed or engaged in start-up activity.

Internship related to your academic program: If you are doing an internship for academic credit, or that is required for graduation, you will need to get Curricular Practical Training Authorization. Internships that are related to your degree program, but are not for credit or required for graduation, require pre-completion OPT authorization. J-1 students require Academic Training authorization to be engaged in internships related to the academic program.

Working remotely for a job in your home country (or other location outside the U.S.): This is not permitted, unless you have CPT or OPT authorization (F-1 students). J-1 students should consult with ISSS if considering this arrangement.

Other Off Campus Employment: Not permitted.

Want to learn more?

There are many rules/guidelines that apply to the different types of employment authorizations described above. To find out more about your employment authorization options, please see isss.uconn.edu, or attend an OPT/CPT workshop this fall. You can register online at www.icworkshops.uconn.edu for a workshop.

If you have specific questions about your situation, email your international advisor: http://isss.uconn.edu/about/staff-directory/ or come to ISSS during Walk-In advising hours: Monday and Friday, 1:00 – 3:30 and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9 to 11:30.

Rae Alexander
Director

International Student and Scholar Services

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT

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