Working in the U.S.

Employment In F-1 Status

USCIS regulations permit currently enrolled F-1 students to work on-campus. On-campus jobs are plentiful at Concordia and most departments hire student workers. Regulations limit F-1 students to working no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session – during official school breaks there is no USCIS limitation to on-campus hours, but different departments may have policies that might limit how much you can work to no more than 40 hours per week. Please check directly with your supervisor.  Students may work during a break between semesters providing they plan to attend at Concordia the next semester.  Students who have graduated, are transferring, or who otherwise will not attend in the coming semester may NOT work during a break.

The Concordia Language Village locations are part of campus. You may work over breaks, but again only if you plan to enroll the following term. If you graduate or will not attend the following term, on-campus employment cannot be automatically authorized, although you can consider CPT.

Off-campus employment opportunities are limited, and permitted only under certain circumstances:

  • Optional Practical Training (OPT)
  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
  • Employment with International Organization
  • Special Student Relief
  • Severe Economic Hardship Employment

Any employment authorization a student has automatically ends if the student fails to maintain his or her F-1 status or transfers to another school.

Information For:

current students
faculty and staff		 parents
alumni		 high school students
admitted students