International Students Employment & Internships

F and J students are generally permitted to work part-time on-campus as long as you are maintaining your immigration status. The majority of positions international students are eligible for can be found here. However, the Career Center's employment database may have additional‚ on-campus jobs. The Career Center is an excellent resource when looking for employment, writing resumes and cover letters, interviewing, and more!

Students are also eligible to work at the Campus Bookstore, Aramark Dining Services, and Lexis Nexis. Please connect with them to determine what openings they may have. 

Note: F or J students who complete their program, withdraw from classes, or who have otherwise failed to maintain status, must discontinue on-campus employment immediately.

Eligibility:

• You must have a valid Western New England University I-20 or DS-2019.
• Your job must be on-campus and you can only work a maximum of 20 hours per week (unless it is a school break then you can work over 20 hours per week).
• You are eligible for institutional positions ONLY; Federal Work Study is not allowed.
• You will need a Social Security Number.
• You must complete I-9 paperwork with Human Resources.
• Exchange Students will need employment authorization from IPE. Authorization is employer-specific; if there is a change in the employment (including position, hiring unit, or number of hours per week), a new authorization is required. Employment authorization is valid for a maximum of one year.

Once you have been hired on-campus, for an internship, or Optional Practical Training, you may need a Social Security Number (SSN).

All employees of Western New England University are required to complete their I-9 paperwork within 3 days of beginning employment. Below is what most international students will need to complete their paperwork:

• Employment Verification Form (form begins on page 7)
• I-20 or DS-2019
• Passport
• Visa
• I-94
• SSN Card OR SSA approval verification letter

A full list of acceptable documents for I-9 paperwork can be found here.

Western New England University Human Resources in Rivers processes all I-9 paperwork.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for F-1 Students

F-1 students who have maintained their immigration status for one academic year (nine or more months) are eligible for CPT . Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a paid off-campus internship/opportunity directly related to your field of study. The purpose of CPT is not to facilitate employment authorization but to allow you to participate in training related to your field of study. This is usually an internship for credit or connected to a required course.

For more information, see the CPT Guide and Application Process and the CPT Request Form.

Graduate Students using CPT for thesis or dissertation research that cannot be completed on-campus must also submit the CPT Faculty Approval for Research Letter.

Academic Training for J-1 Exchange Students

Academic Training is designed to provide J-1 exchange students with employment experience related to your program of study. Exchange students may only engage in Academic Training after your program ends and the end date of your internship must be prior to your start date at your home institution. Please note that Academic Training cannot be authorized for permanent employment.

The employment start date must begin with 30 days of completing the exchange program. Since a job offer is required, you should start your job search early by connecting with the Career Center. IPE recommends you apply for Academic Training as soon as you have a job offer.

Eligibility for Academic Training

You are eligible for Academic Training if:

• are in good academic standing or have successfully completed a program of study;
• are participating in Academic Training that is directly related to your major field of study;
• are authorized to engage in Academic Training through written approval of the Responsible Officer BEFORE beginning the academic training

If you plan to leave the U.S. after you complete your program of study and reenter the country for J-1 Academic Training, you must obtain employment authorization before you leave or risk difficulties returning to the U.S.

Application and Authorization Procedures

Academic Training is authorized by IPE. To apply for Academic Training, you should submit the information needed below.

• Academic Training Request Form
• Employment Offer Letter
• Home Institution Confirmation Approval (if required)
• Proof of Insurance that meets Department of State guidelines to cover your internship period

Once your Academic Training application is approved, IPE will issue you a new DS-2019. 

If you have paid Academic Training, you will need to apply for a Social Security Number.

All F-1 students in good standing are eligible for one year of Optional Practical Training (OPT) after completion of a degree program.* For more information on OPT and how to apply, please refer to the OPT Application Packet.

If you wish to invite your family members to commencement, review the Invitation Letter information here.

STEM OPT
STEM students have the option of obtaining a 24-month extension of your OPT. For more information about the STEM extension and how to apply, please refer to the OPT STEM Extension Application Packet. The I-983 form required for the STEM OPT application, can be found here. 

*A Pre-completion OPT option is available. Please contact ISSS for more information and eligibility requirements. Students must complete at least one academic year before beginning Pre-completion OPT.

Cap-Gap Extension
The H-1B “cap-gap” occurs when an F-1 student’s status and OPT work authorization expires after April 1, and before the student can start approved H-1B employment during the next fiscal year that begins on October 1. For example, under the new rule, a student currently on OPT who is the beneficiary of a timely-filed H-1B petition that requests an employment start date of October 1 of the following fiscal year will have his or her duration of status and OPT employment authorization extended to that date. This is what is called the “cap-gap.”

If you need an I-20 to prove you are in cap-gap status, you should contact ISSS.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) recommends that you remain in the U.S. during your cap gap extension, as USCIS will consider a change-of-status application to be abandoned if the applicant leaves the country while the application remains pending. You will likely need to apply for an H-1b outside of the U.S. if you leave. 

Under rare circumstances, F-1 students who can demonstrate severe financial hardship due to unforeseen circumstances beyond your control after your arrival in the U.S. can apply for Severe Economic Hardship. Please note that your must be enrolled for nine (9) months before being eligible for a severe economic hardship authorization.

Authorization for F-1 students is approved by USCIS and can take up to 3-4 months to process.