Office ofInternational Student Support
Employment
On-Campus Employment
International students can find many opportunities to work on campus during both the academic year and the summer.
F-1 regulations limit students to working only up to 20 hours a week when classes are in session. F-1 students can work more than 20 hours a week during breaks and over the summer. If you hold more than one position on campus, you must calculate the total hours worked across all jobs to ensure that you work twenty or fewer hours per week. Working more than the limit could constitute a violation of the student's F-1 status, which could have serious ramifications.
On-campus employment must occur on-campus with Haverford College as the employer or an educationally affiliated employer (for example, the Haverford College Bookstore, and Bryn Mawr College).
Students can find on-campus employment via the CCPA Part-Time Jobs Board or by networking with academic and other departments on campus.
Graduated students who wish to work on campus after commencement must have work authorization via optional practical training.
Questions?
Off-Campus Employment
F-1 students should not engage in off-campus employment without the prior authorization by the Office of International Student Support, and, in most instances, U.S. immigration (USCIS). If there is any question about whether or not a particular endeavor qualifies as employment, students should contact ISSO before starting to work.
It is important to understand that off-campus employment means any employment that is not for Haverford College or Bryn Mawr College, and can include self-employment, working within the U.S. for a foreign-based entity, and can even include work for which no monetary compensation is gained. You can learn more about differences between unpaid internships and volunteering in this Department of Labor Fact Sheet on Unpaid Internships.
Students wishing to engage in off-campus employment must be eligible for "practical training." Students become eligible for practical training at the completion of one full academic year. Additionally, in order to be considered practical training, off-campus employment must be related to a student's major course of study. It is important for the student to receive authorization from the Designated School Official and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services before starting work. Haverford College students may engage in three types of off-campus employment.
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
- Optional Practical Training (OPT)
- pre-completion
- post-completion
Additionally, students may be eligible for employment authorization based on severe economic hardship or if working for a specific type of international organization.
F-1 Student Off-Campus Work Guide
Unauthorized Employment
Working in excess of the on-campus employment maximum, or working with an off-campus employer without prior authorization, constitute one of the most severe violations of F-1 status. We are required to report these violations to the U.S. government, and this will result in the termination of one's legal status. Please make sure to discuss employment plans with the International Student Support Office before engaging in employment.
CPT and OPT
What is the difference between Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT)?
CPT is practical training that is connected to the curriculum. You must be receiving credit through the Experiential Learning Credit Program or through a course receiving academic credit. CPT is employer specific and is only available pre-graduation. OPT is optional for any student who meets the eligibility requirements and is not attached to any credit or requirement.
OPT is not employer specific and may be done before or after you graduate. OPT is authorized by USCIS whereas CPT is authorized via the International Student Support Office. F-1 students are eligible for 12 months of OPT at each educational level, and students in STEM eligible majors may apply for a 24 month extension. Part-time CPT has no impact on OPT eligibility. However, using 12 months of full-time CPT eliminates OPT eligibility.
| Curricular Practical Training (CPT) | Pre-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) |
|---|---|
| You must have a job offer to apply for work authorization | You can apply without securing a job offer. |
| Students must be receiving academic credit via a course enrollment or receiving experiential learning credit. | Does not have any credit requirements. |
| Students apply to Haverford’s ISSO office and there are no application costs. | Students must apply to US Citizenship and Immigration Services and the application currently costs USD $410. |
| Part-time CPT does not have any impact on OPT eligibility (regardless of number of days of authorization). 12 months (365 days) of full-time CPT eliminates OPT eligibility. | Pre-completion OPT work authorization time is deducted from the student’s 12 month total OPT eligibility. |
| CPT is employer specific. This means that the employer is named in the student’s I-20 at the point of issuing their work authorization. The student can only work for this employer. | Students on OPT can work for multiple employers and change employers more easily. Students report who they are working for after they start working. |
| Typically processed within 10 business days. | Average processing time is 10 - 12 weeks. |
Social Security Numbers
How do I apply for a social security number?
To apply for a social security number, a student must have secured employment (usually on-campus employment.) Students must have completed their first SEVIS registration and must have an I-20 in Active (not initial) status.
Please review the Social Security Application Guide and contact hc-isso [at] haverford.edu (ISSO) or come in walk-in hours when you are ready to have your SSN Work Authorization letter signed.
Learn more about social security numbers:
Taxes
Who must file tax forms for the 2023 tax season?
Even if you did not earn any income, if you were physically in the US on F or J status anytime between January 1 – December 31, 2023 , you're obligated to file a Form 8843 with the IRS (the Internal Revenue Service, or ‘IRS’, are the US tax authorities).
Meanwhile, if you earned any taxable US sourced income, you may need to file a federal tax return with the IRS. Depending on your individual circumstances, you may also need to file a state tax return(s).
Tax Filing Deadline:
April 15, 2024 is the last day for residents and nonresidents who earned US income to file Federal tax returns for the 2023 tax year.
Who is considered Resident or Nonresident for Federal Tax Purposes?
Generally, most international students & scholars who are on F, J, M or Q visas are considered nonresidents for tax purposes. International undergraduate students on J-1 & F-1 visas are automatically considered nonresident for their first five calendar years in the US, whilst Scholars/Researchers on J visas are automatically considered nonresidents for two out of the last six calendar years in the US. If you’ve been in the US for longer than the five or two year periods, the Substantial Presence Test will determine your tax residency.
How to File
We have teamed up with Sprintax to provide you with an easy-to-use tax preparation software designed for nonresident students and scholars in the US. F-1 students will receive an email from the Office of International Student Support with a code that covers federal tax preparation costs. Students must cover any fees related to state tax preparation services. We (and all other College staff) are not qualified or allowed to provide individual tax advice.
After you login to Sprintax, you will be asked a series of questions about the time you have spent in the US over recent years. Sprintax will then determine your tax status. If it determines that you are a "nonresident alien" (NRA) for federal tax purposes, you can continue to use the software to respond to a series of guided questions. Sprintax will then complete and generate the tax forms you need to send to the tax authorities.
However, if Sprintax determines that you are a resident alien for federal tax purposes, you won't be able to continue using the software.