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International Student and Scholar Services

Job Requirements and Unemployment While on OPT

Job Requirement

You cannot begin working on OPT until you have your EAD card in your hand and the start date has been reached, and you must stop working on the end date listed on the EAD card.

In order to qualify as "employment" while on OPT all of the following conditions must be met:

  • The position must be directly related to your field of study.
  • The position must be commensurate with your level of study.
  • The position must be for at least 20 hours per week, or, if you will hold multiple positions simultaneously, they must collectively total at least 20 hours per week.

ISSS recommends that you keep documentation of all your employment for your personal records in case you ever need to provide proof of your employment. The documentation from your employer should include:

  • Job Title
  • Start Date (and End Date, if applicable)
  • Hours Worked Per Week
  • Description of Job Duties
  • Contact Information of your Supervisor

Permissable Types of Employment

Paid Employment: This is the most common type of employment in which you are hired as an employee and compensated for your work.

Multiple Employers: If you are working multiple jobs, they must collectively add up to at least 20 hours per week. Students such as performing artists (e.g., Music or Theatre majors) may work for multiple short-term employers (gigs). You should keep a log of all gigs worked, including details such as dates, duration, work site/location, etc.

Work for Hire (1099 employment): This is when services are done based on a contractual relationship rather than an employment relationship. You should retain evidence of the contract period and documentation of the name and address of the company.

Self-Employment: You may start your own business and work for that business while on OPT. You should have evidence to prove that you have the proper business licenses and are actively engaged in a business related to your degree program. ISSS recommends you consult with an immigration attorney for guidance on starting a business.

Employment Through an Agency: ISSS highly recommends that you keep documentation of the number of hours you work each week.

Unpaid Employment: You are permitted to engage in volunteer work or unpaid internships as long as the work does not violate any labor laws. ISSS strongly advises that you request an official letter from the organization detailing the type of work to be performed, start dates (and end dates, if applicable), work site location(s), and hours per week. ISSS also advises that you keep your own personal log of how many hours per week you are working.

Please be advised that if labor laws are violated, that could have serious implications for you and your employer. ISSS cannot determine whether an employer is violating labor laws; this is your responsibility.

Employment Must Be Related to Major

According to SEVP Guidance found at https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/optDirectlyRelatedGuidance.pdf, all F-1 students must provide a description of how their OPT employment is directly related to their major area of study.

You must submit on OPT Relationship to Major request for each employer you have while on Post-Completion OPT to explain how your employment is related to your degree. Please see our Reporting Requirements page for full details.

If you are not absolutely sure that your job is directly related to your degree and meets the OPT requirements, you should not begin employment nor update your SEVP with your employer's information. You should instead submit a Request Inquiry in the ISSS Portal, which ISSS will use to determine if there is a direct relationship. You will need to upload information about the position, such as the job posting, your job offer letter, or any other relevant documentation.

You may also wish to utilize websites that provide a general crosswalk between jobs and programs of study, such as:

Finding Jobs in Your Field

In addition to the links above, the University provides various resources to assist you in your job search.

Unemployment Limit

While on OPT, you cannot exceed 90 days of unemployment for the entire 12 months. Staying past the 90-day limit may be considered a violation of status by DHS.

Any day during the date range printed on your EAD card during which you do not have a job that qualifies as "employment" on OPT will count as a day of unemployment. Weekends are included in the calculation.