If you want to work while you’re a student at Saint Louis University, you should first meet with your international adviser to understand employment rules for F-1 and J-1 students. Working without proper authorization may result in severe consequences, such as the cancellation of your SEVIS record.
Whether you work on or off campus, you will need to get a Social Security number after you are hired but before you begin to work.
On-Campus Employment
F-1 and J-1 students may work on campus. This applies to any job at SLU, including those within a college or school, administrative departments, libraries, Simon Rec, etc. You may also work on campus for outside companies that serve SLU students, such as the bookstore or DineSLU.
Limited to 20 hours per week during normal academic semesters, 40 hours per week during academic breaks.
J1 students must receive a new DS-2019 authorizing you for on-campus employment.
Upon graduation, students are not allowed to work on campus.
- Find a job through Handshake or by visiting the department or office where you want to work.
- If you need a U.S. Social Security card, obtain a job offer letter written in the required format and printed on department letterhead.
- Request a letter from the Office of International Services that indicates your eligibility for a Social Security number. You will request this through our immigration portal, "Access the Portal" on the International Services homepage.
- Take the two letters, your passport, I-94 record and I-20 or DS-2019 to a Social Security Administration office.
- Complete HR paperwork.
Economic Hardship
F-1 students are eligible for economic hardship employment authorization, which is special off-campus work permission given through the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Please meet with your international advisor before applying to see if you qualify.
Limited to 20 hours per week during normal academic semesters, 40 hours per week during academic breaks.
You must have been enrolled full time for at least one academic year and prove to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service that employment is necessary due to severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond your control. The work authorization is granted one year at a time or until you complete your study.
- Make an appointment with your international adviser.
- Compile required documents, including a letter detailing severe economic hardship due to circumstances outside of your control; substantiating documentation; Form I-765; copy of your I-20, passport, visa, and I-94 information; two passport-sized photos; and the application fee made out to USCIS.
- Check your mail. If USCIS needs more information to make their decision, it will send you a request in the mail. Bring this to your international counselor immediately.
- Wait for your approval. Approval can take up to 90 days. You cannot begin working until you receive approval and have received an EAD card. Once you’re approved, you can begin to apply for jobs off campus.
Optional Practical Training
F-1 students are eligible for 12 months of full-time employment off campus to obtain
additional training and experience directly related to their major area of study.
This is known as Optional Practical Training. Most students wait to use "OPT" after
graduation, but it is possible to use it prior to graduation or "pre-completion."
All international students who want to apply for Optional Practical Training are encouraged
to attend an Information and Application Workshop offered by the Office of International
Services.
Eligibility begins only after you have maintained full-time status for at least one academic year. You are not required to have a job offer to apply for Optional Practical Training ; however, once you are approved, you should not accrue more than 90 days of unemployment.
Pre-completion Optional Practical Training occurs when you are still a student with a full-time course load. You may have part-time employment (up to 20 hours per week) during the academic year, and full- or part-time employment during the summer term.
Post-completion Optional Practical Training occurs after you’ve completed your studies. Work authorization is granted after completion of all course studies for full- or part-time employment. Post-completion Optional Practical Training may be requested no earlier than 90 days before graduation, and no later than 60 days after graduation.
Students with post-completion Optional Practical Training in a field related to science, technology, engineering or mathematics may request an additional 24-month extension.
- Make an appointment with your international adviser.
- Complete the appropriate application for Pre-completion Optional Practical Training or the Post-completion Optional Practical Training.
- From our home page, click on "Access the Portal." Locate the "Forms" option.
- Click on the appropriate application, pre or post completion. Submit all materials.
- Your international advisor will issue a new I-20 that authorizes you for OPT.
- You will mail a copy of that I-20 along with the materials listed on the OPT application page.
- You will mail the completed packet to US immigration authorities.
- Wait for your approval, which can take up to 90 days. You may not begin working until you receive approval and have received an Employment Authorization Document card.
- A copy of your Employment Authorization Document
- The name and address of your employer
- Any change in your employment status
- Any change in your legal name
- Any change of your residential address in the United States
- Any change in your immigration status, including a change to a work visa or a return to your home country
- We do not recommend traveling outside of the United States while waiting for permission to take part in Optional Practical Training, as you will not be allowed to re-enter the United States without an Employment Authorization Document or a job offer letter.
- The Office of International Services cannot send Employment Authorization Document cards to students outside of the country.
- You should discuss all international travel plans with your international adviser.
- Once your Optional Practical Training is approved, you will still need a travel signature on your I-20.
OPT STEM Extensions
F-1 students may be eligible for a 24 month extension of OPT if the degree received at SLU was in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). STEM extensions may be requested within 90 days of the end date of the initial 12 month period of OPT. To qualify, the student must be employed in a field related to the degree earned, and that employer must be registered with a U.S. government system called E-Verify. To initiate the process, please contact the Office of International Services.
Curricular Practical Training
F-1 students are eligible for Curricular Practical Training. The training must be either required of all students in your degree program or for earned credit and be stated in the University catalog as an integral part of the established curriculum. This includes off-campus work such as an internship, extended volunteering, practicum or cooperative education program.
Part-time Curricular Practical Training employment (up to 20 hours per week) is allowed for an unlimited number of semesters with no consequences. Students may not engage in full-time Curricular Practical Training unless they are in their last semester of study or are doing an internship over the summer. Students must be enrolled full time in classes while doing Curricular Practical Training unless they are in the final semester of their program. Full-time Curricular Practical Training employment (which is defined as work over 20 hours per week) held beyond 12 months will make you ineligible for Optional Practical Training.
Most students will not be eligible for this training until they have maintained full-time status for at least one academic year. Curricular Practical Training will only be approved under one of the following circumstances:
- It is a required part of the curriculum for all students.
- It is for academic credit.
- It is an internship offered under cooperative agreements between an employer and the University through a University cooperative education office.
- Make an appointment with your international adviser.
- Complete the Curricular Practical Training Application.
- Wait for approval. This process typically takes 24 hours after the submission of your application. Upon approval, you will receive a new I-20 with your authorization listed on page three. You can NOT begin working until you receive your new I-20 with your Curricular Practical Training authorization.
Academic Training
Academic training employment is for students with a J-1 visa. Training must be directly related to the field of study and can occur while you’re a student or beginning no later than 30 days after completion of your studies.
You must be in good academic standing. J-1 students are required to have a job offer to apply. If you are sponsored by another organization, you must consult with your J Program Sponsor to obtain the standards for academic training. The permitted length of academic training varies based on your academic program and the start/end dates for employment. In general:
- Non-degree students: Time engaged in academic training does not exceed the time spent in study.
- Undergraduate and pre-doctoral students: 18 months or the period of the full course of study, whichever is less.
- Post-doctoral: Up to 36 months of academic training (inclusive of any prior academic training) or the period of the full course of study, whichever is less.
- Obtain a job offer letter written in the required format and printed on company letterhead.
- Obtain a recommendation letter from your academic advisor stating:
- Date of completion of studies
- Goals and objectives of your academic training program
- Description of your academic training program (including company name and address, supervisor name, number of hours per week and start/end dates)
- Description of how the academic training relates to your major field of study
- Explanation of why the academic training is an integral or critical part of your program of study
- Submit all documents to the Office of International Education prior to the expiration date of your DS-2019 and wait for approval. This process typically takes 24 hours. After you’re approved, you will receive a new DS-2019 with your academic training authorization listed on page one.