Working in the United States

Employment Opportunities for International Students

Working during your time at Cedarville and in the U.S. is a great way to gain experienceand grow lifelong skills. Learn about the unique opportunities you have as an international student and see how you can get plugged into a job that's right for you!

Types of Employment

Social Security

Paying Taxes

Types of Employment

International Students– Employment for international students is limited by SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) to on-campus positions. In cases of severe economic hardship, you may present a request for off-campus employment to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Visit the ISS office for help with this application.

MK and TCK Students– If you're a U.S. citizen, you may choose to find employment on campus or in local businesses.

Working on campus is a great opportunity for you to form connections, gain valuable experience, and help offset the cost of your studies.

Keep in mind that SEVIS requires F-1 visa students to work fewer than 20 hours per week while classes are in session. We recommend that you work no more than 12 hours per week, as this will help you manage your workload. During official school breaks, you may work up to 40 hours per week.

Find a Job On Campus

What is CPT?

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is authorization to participate in off-campus workplace training experiences that are required for the completion of your major program such as internships, practicums, clinicals, student teaching, and pharmacy IPPEs and APPEs.

CPT authorization may also provide you the opportunity to earn income while completing these curricular requirements. A Cedarville University DSO will assist you in determining if you need CPT authorization and/or qualify for CPT authorization.

SEVIS regulations require F-1 students to complete a full academic year on their initial I-20 before they are eligible for CPT.

How Many Hours Can I Work?

Part-Time CPT

On weeks when classes are in session, students may only be authorized for part-time CPT unless otherwise required by their program of study.

Students with part-time CPT authorization may work a maximum of 20 hours per week for all CPT authorizations combined.

Full-Time CPT

Students may only work full-time on weeks when classes are not in session unless it is required by their program of study.

Students with full-time CPT authorization may work greater than 20 hours per week in CPT employment.

How Do I Apply for CPT?

Complete Cedarville's CPT application form in your Terra Dotta portal. You'll find the form through the CPT icon on the Control Center tab.
Cedarville's Designated School Official (DSO), along with your advisor, will review your application and grant approval. They will determine if you are eligible for part-time or full-time curricular practical training and will create a new I-20 to reflect this.
Once you receive authorization from International Student Services, you may begin curricular practical training. Make sure you only work for the authorized dates, unless you request and are granted an extension.

If you are offered an internship by an international organization, you do not require work authorization because you will be outside of the United States.

Please consult the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations to make sure that your employer is on the list of approved international organizationsrecognized by the U.S. government.

What is OPT?

Optional Practical Training (OPT) permits F-1 students to gain up to twelve months of supplemental training through employment that is directly related to your field of study. Students may receive twelve months of OPT per education level (bachelor's, master's, doctorate).

Your OPT benefit may be used before (pre-completion) or after (post-completion) graduation, or a combination of both. Students who have participated in twelve months of full-time CPT do not qualify for OPT.

In addition to the initial twelve month OPT benefit, some degrees are recognized by the U.S. government as STEM degrees and may qualify a student for up to 24 months of STEM OPT extension. Current Cedarville University STEM degrees include:

Check with the Registrar for the CIP associated with your degree to compare it to the most up-to-date listing of OPT STEM Designated Degrees.

How Do I Apply for OPT?

Request that your DSO recommend OPT. Your DSO will do this by endorsing your I-20 and entering the recommendation into SEVIS.
Complete Form I-765 online. This will include paying a filing fee with a credit card and uploading the following required documents (which must be submitted as .JPG or .PDF files, except for the passport photo, which must be a .JPG or .PNG file):
- Government-issued photo ID
- I-94 showing F-1 status
- Current I-20
- New I-20 showing OPT recommendation
- 2x2 passport photo
After USCIS approves your OPT application, they will mail you an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card as legal proof that you can begin your Optional Practical Training. Keep in mind that once you've applied for OPT, the start date cannot be adjusted. If you are not yet employed after the start date passes, any time counts against the allowable 12 months, even if you don't work. Every OPT participant receives 90 days of unemployment to allow for flexibility in the job search timeline.

When Do I Apply for OPT?

No matter what type of OPT you're applying for, you'll need to do so after Cedarville's Designated School Official (DSO) has entered the recommendation for OPT into your SEVIS record.

Post-Completion OPT – After the DSO enters the recommendation for OPT into your SEVIS record, you will have 30 days to apply. You can apply up to 90 days before, but no later than 60 days after, your program end date.
STEM OPT Extension – After the DSO enters the recommendation for OPT into your SEVIS record, you will have 60 days to apply. You may apply up to 90 days before your current OPT authorization expires.

You don't need a job offer to apply for OPT, but once your EAD start date has passed, any time spent looking for jobs will count as part of your 12 month total. On the other hand, you may begin looking for employment before receiving OPT authorization, but you can't begin working until you receive your EAD card.

Other Regulations

Address Reporting – If your address or phone number changes, you must report the change within 10 days to International Student Services. Even though you aren't formally registered for classes during OPT, Cedarville is still responsible for monitoring your F-1 status.

Traveling Outside the U.S. – Once you have your EAD card and a job offer letter, you may travel outside the U.S. and re-enter as an F-1 student on OPT. Use your valid visa, EAD card, job offer letter, and endorsed I-20 with a travel signature no older than six months for re-entry. If you leave the U.S. after graduating and before applying for OPT, you give up all rights to OPT.

Social Security

If you're planning to work in the U.S., you will need a Social Security Number (SSN) to work and receive payment. Learn more from the Social Security Administration about international students and social security numbers.

How Do I Apply for a SSN?

Find a job on campus and get a job offer letter on official letterhead.
Contact the ISS office to get your SSN application and arrange a time to go to thelocal Social Security officeto provide required documentation.
When you go to the Social Security office, bring the following documents with you:
- Completed application
- I-20
- Passport
- I-94
- A letter from ISS verifying your enrollment at Cedarville University
- A letter from your employer on official letterhead, describing:
  - Your position title and job description
  - Your start date
  - Your anticipated hours per week
  - Your supervisor's name, contact information, and signature
After your application is approved, you'll receive your Social Security card by mail within 14 days.

Paying Taxes

If you work and receive payment, you must file income taxes each year with the Internal Revenue Service. Taxes are filed for income earned the previous year. You'll need to pay federal, state, and local taxes, but check with International Student Services to see if your country has a tax treaty, which would let you exclude some of your income from federal taxation.

Keep in mind that F-1 students who have been in the U.S. for less than five years typically don't have to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes. Make sure to bring this to the attention of your employer, as many employers aren't familiar with this law. Talk to International Student Services for more information about the tax exemption.

What is a Form W-2?

Form W-2 is a wage and tax statement created by your employer showing the income taxes, Social Security taxes, and/or Medicare taxes that were withheld from your paycheck throughout the year. You'll receive a new W-2 each year, and you'll need access to the form when preparing your taxes. If you're employed on campus and earn at least $600 in the course of a year, you'll receive a W-2 from Cedarville's Payroll office.

How Do I File My Taxes?

International Students – You can access tax prep software like Sprintaxto help you prepare and file your tax forms. Reach out to International Student Services to purchase an access code.

MK and TCK Students – If you're a U.S. citizen, you can access tax prep software like TurboTax to help you prepare and file your tax forms.

⇦ Back to Accepted International Students

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Employment Opportunities for International Students

Types of Employment

On-Campus Employment

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

What is CPT?

How Many Hours Can I Work?

Part-Time CPT

Full-Time CPT

How Do I Apply for CPT?

Internships with International Organizations

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

What is OPT?

How Do I Apply for OPT?

When Do I Apply for OPT?

Other Regulations

Social Security

How Do I Apply for a SSN?

Paying Taxes

What is a Form W-2?

How Do I File My Taxes?