U.S. Employment Authorization

With authorization, eligible F-1 and J-1 students may work on campus as student assistants, tutors, teaching assistants, etc. 

SF State student employees may work up to 20 hours per week (part-time) during the Spring and Fall semesters and up to 40 hours per week (full-time) during Summer sessions and semester breaks.

See On-Campus Employment >>

Rules governing volunteering and unpaid internships are complex, as this is an area where immigration regulations and labor laws intersect. 

Students must understand relevant regulations so that they do not violate any laws by participating in unauthorized employment.

See Volunteering and Unpaid Internships >>

A Social Security Number (SSN) is not a U.S. work authorization.

Even if an international or exchange student already has an SSN, it does not imply that the student has U.S. work authorization. In essence, an SSN does not verify the eligibility of international or exchange students to work in the U.S.

SSN  is primarily intended to identify participants in the U.S. federal government's Social Security Program. SSNs are generally assigned to people who are authorized to work in the U.S. and are used to report their wages to the government.

See Social Security Number (SSN) >>

Career & Leadership Development (CLD) equips SF State's diverse student and alumni population with modern resources that assist, guide, and foster their leadership, professional, and career advancement.

See Career and Leadership Development >>

Academic Training allows eligible J-1 exchange students to gain work experience in their field of study (as it appears on the student’s DS-2019) by participating in off-campus internships and employment opportunities.

See Academic Training for J-1 Students >>

J-1 exchange students may request off-campus work authorization in the event of lost exchange program funding. Loss of funding must result from unforeseen circumstances outside the student's control. Off-campus work authorization will only be considered if on-campus employment opportunities are not available or are otherwise insufficient.

J-1 exchange students who believe they qualify for Economic Hardship should contact exchange@sfsu.edu.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a temporary employment authorization available for eligible F-1 international students. With an approved CPT, an F-1 student is allowed to work off-campus for a specific time frame in a specific role that is an integral part of their major.

See Curricular Practical Training (CPT) >>

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a temporary employment authorization available for eligible F-1 international students. With approved OPT, an F-1 student is allowed to work off-campus for a specific time frame in roles that are integral to their major.

F-1 students are eligible for Pre-Completion OPT during their programs and for Post-Completion OPT after they complete their programs at SF State.

See Optional Practical Training (OPT) >>

STEM OPT extension is a temporary employment authorization available for specific eligible F-1 international students currently on Post-Completion OPT. With an approved STEM OPT extension, an F-1 student is allowed to work off-campus for a specific time frame in roles that are an integral part of their major.

See STEM OPT Extension >>

F-1 students may request off-campus work authorization based on unforeseen and severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control if other employment opportunities are not available or are otherwise insufficient.  This work authorization is issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

See Economic Hardship >>

U.S. Regulations allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to suspend or alter rules regarding duration of status, full course of study, and employment eligibility, for specific groups of F-1 students from parts of the world that are experiencing emergent circumstances. This collection of benefits is known as "Special Student Relief" (SSR).

See Special Student Relief >>

F-1 students who have been granted H-1B status receive automatically an extension of F-1 status and post-completion OPT until September 30.

See H-1B Status and the Cap Gap Extension | Study in the States (dhs.gov) >>

Students who are eligible for Cap Gap extension may request an updated I-20 with extension remark.  Submit request at Updated I-20 Request (qualtrics.com).