Hi Society, By popular demand, I'm now offering a complimentary 1:1 consultation! Yes, this is in addition to the group Weekly Q&A calls. I understand that some questions are better discussed privately, and I appreciate each of you who have already reached out and shown how big this need is. So go ahead and book your free call with me here: https://calendly.com/josh-apk/connect-call Excited to talk with you soon, and in the meantime... Live Your American Dream 💪

Hi Society, I get asked about this a lot, and while I have a module dedicated to this topic in the Classroom section, here's a quick overview of ways that international students can work in the U.S.: Here are the most common types of work authorization, and a couple things to consider about each type. On-Campus Employment This is the easiest type of employment to get in terms of the approval process. If your school hires student workers, then you can work one of these jobs with no special permission so long as the employment is no more than 20 hours per week. Examples of on-campus employment include working in the campus bookstore, in the cafeteria, etc. While a great option for many, the drawbacks are that these positions tend to be relatively low-paying, and smaller schools may not have as many open positions. Curricular Practical Training (CPT) CPT is a great option at schools that offer it, but not all schools do. CPT allows for employment that provides a practical learning element to the student’s program of study. In other words, it allows international students to work a job that’s directly related to their program so they can get some real-world experience to supplement their academic learning. Again, not all schools offer this, and many that do require students to complete an academic year before they can get CPT approval, so plan ahead and don’t just expect to walk off the airplane and immediately get CPT approval. Optional Practical Training (OPT) Similar to above, OPT allows international students to work off-campus in a position that’s directly related to their program of study. The major difference is that OPT is approved by the United States Customs & Immigration Service (USCIS), not the school, which means that the approval process requires an application fee and can take about 90 days to process. There are other considerations to take into account as well. If you apply for Pre-Completion OPT, meaning OPT while you are still a student, you cannot work more than 20 hours per week, and every month of Pre-Completion OPT reduces your total OPT eligibility. International students are eligible for 12 months on OPT, so if you do 3 months of Pre-Completion OPT, then you’d only be eligible for 9 months of Post-Completion OPT (which can be full-time).

A quick note on Cap Gaps... For those that aren't aware, a Cap Gap is is the period between the end of an F-1 student's status and the start of their H-1B (work visa) status. It can occur when an F-1 student graduates (or their OPT ends) before their H-1B goes into effect on October 1. As long as the F-1 student is still in their program (or doing OPT) before their employer files for H1B, and the employer files on time, then the student is automatically granted a Cap Gap extension. The Cap Gap extends the student's legal status and work authorization until the H1B goes into effect on 10/1, and it should be reflected on the I-20. IF IT"S NOT ON THE I-20... You can contact your DSO and ask them to submit a 'Data Fix' to have it added. You will need to provide them with a copy of your I-797 that proves your H1B application has been submitted. This request will then be processed by SEVP. Processing times can vary, but once the DSO submits the request a new I-20 should generally be available in 1-2 weeks. Best of luck to everyone applying for an H1B this year!

This question came up at work yesterday and I thought it would be helpful to share with the community. An F-1 student reported that his wife and children had failed their visa interview. According to the student, the embassy interviewer denied his family because he didn't believe they had the financial resources to live in the U.S. Takeaways for the group: The reason interviewers ask questions is to see how the applicant responds. Sounds obvious, right? But in this case, the student was upset at the interviewer for asking a question that his wife didn't know how to answer. I explained to him that U.S. officials are very concerned about people coming to the U.S. and becoming a 'public charge,' someone who uses welfare, food stamps, etc. Yes, the interviewer challenged the wife a bit. He apparently made comments like, 'why would you choose this area, it's so expensive?' and 'I don't think you'll be able to afford the cost of living there.' Visa interviews are stressful. I get it. But what the wife needed to do was confirm their ability to afford the stay and provide reasons for choosing that area. "Yes, it is more expensive than the cost of living here at home. But my husband and I have created a monthly budget to make sure we have enough money for us all to stay in the U.S. while he's studying. Plus, it's a very safe neighborhood with great schools, so the investment is worth it for our family.' Had she responded with something along these lines, her outcome probably would have been very different. I hope this perspective is helpful! And if you have your own question, feel free to start your own thread using the "Write Something" section up top. I'll be happy to answer, and your fellow community members may benefit too (you never know who has the exact same question but is too shy to ask!).