Hiring International Students

F-1 Student Visa Training

• Work done during a student’s academic program to gain (e.g., co-op) experience that is an integral part of their degree.
• Student must have completed one full academic year of full-time study before full-time CPT.
• Student applies directly with their university’s international office (typically 5-10 business days processing).
• Requires no sponsorship fee. Employer provides an offer letter with job details (title, description, dates, address). No additional paperwork beyond standard onboarding.

F-1 Student Visa

• Work typically done after graduation to pursue work experience in student’s field of study.
• Student files application with USCIS (online or paper); processing averages 90-100 days (up to 3-5 months in peak seasons starting February). Fees: $470 (online) or $520 (paper), paid by student. Premium processing available as of October 2025 for faster adjudication.
• Student receives Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card; cannot start work without it.
• Requires no action or fees from employer. Student can apply with or without a job offer.

Eligible F-1 graduates with STEM degrees can extend OPT by 24 months (total 36 months). Employer must:

• Be enrolled in E-Verify.
• Develop and sign Form I-983 Training Plan with student (submitted by student to school).
• Report student progress at 6 and 12 months; notify of termination within 5 business days.
• Ensure comparable pay/hours to U.S. workers; be prepared for site visits. No fees for employer.

J-1 Student Visa

• Work done during or after an academic program to gain experience directly related to the field of study.
• Duration: Up to 18 months total (pre- and post-completion combined) or the length of the program, whichever is shorter (up to 36 months for doctoral students).
• Student applies directly with university’s international office (five business days processing); no USCIS involvement or fees.
• Requires no sponsorship from employer or additional paperwork beyond offer letter.

No! International students can be employed with work authorizations that require no additional fees paid by the employer or paperwork beyond standard onboarding procedures. For CPT and standard OPT, the student handles all applications. For STEM OPT, employers sign the training plan but incur no costs.

• CPT: No strict limit, but 12+ months of full-time CPT eliminates OPT eligibility. Part-time CPT does not affect it. Must maintain full-time enrollment during academic year. Duration tied to completing academic requirements (one semester to full program).
• OPT: Up to 12 months post-completion (pre-completion OPT deducts from this). Automatic 180-day extension if timely refiled.
• STEM OPT: Additional 24 months for eligible fields.
• AT (J-1): Up to 18 months (or program length); non-degree J-1 students limited to time spent in program.

Students cannot apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) until they have a job offer and work authorization. The university’s international office will assist with the application. SSN alone is not proof of work authorization—always verify EAD (for OPT) or authorization letter (for CPT/AT). Once approved for employment, students can begin working and continue for up to 90 days without an SSN while the application is pending.