Employment Options
PrintableGeneral Information
Employment is any work performed or services provided (including self-employment) in exchange for money, tuition, room and board, or other benefit or compensation. All international students must receive authorization prior to beginning compensated off-campus employment. Specific rules apply to both F and J students.
Part-time employment is defined as 20 hours/week or less; full-time is more than 20 hours/week.
Students in F-1 status
On-campus: Students may work part-time (no more than 20 hours per week) while school is in session and full-time (more than 20 hours per week) during quarter breaks and their annual vacation quarter. Employment is limited to the University of Washington Seattle campus and affiliated organizations, such as Harborview. Employment need not be related to the student’s field of study. All F-1 students are eligible and therefore do not require authorization from the International Student Services (ISS) prior to beginning on-campus employment. The I-20 immigration document is evidence of employment eligibility.
Graduate students with a typical .5 FTE TA or RA appointment have reached the part-time limit for on-campus employment. Additional employment, such as an hourly grader or tutor position, would require advance authorization from ISS (See Curricular Practical Training below). Unlike for domestic students, on-campus employment is not permitted after graduation (without Optional Practical Training authorization). Unauthorized employment can have serious immigration consequences for students and pose a compliance risk to the University.
Off-campus: Students must receive authorization from ISS/immigration prior to beginning any type of compensated, off-campus employment. In almost all cases, off-campus employment must be related to the student's field of study. Off-campus employment may be part-time or full-time.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) allows students to work off-campus in jobs (internship, co-op, practicum) which are integral to the academic program. Unless required of all students in the program, students requesting CPT must earn academic credit for the employment experience. The credit must be earned in the same quarter for which CPT is authorized, though exceptions may be granted for students pursuing CPT during their vacation quarter. CPT must be done prior to graduation. Advisers and department administrators are required to submit a letter to ISS in which authorization is requested. The following information needs to be included in the letter:
- Describe the internship or cooperative education program and identify the work experience within the context of the regular curriculum in the student's program of study.
- State whether the training is optional or required and, if optional, state the course number, the number of credits to be awarded, and the quarter in which credit will be earned.
- State whether or not the department considers the applicant to be a full-time student.
- Include the name and address (street, city, state, and zip) of the employer.
- State the beginning and ending dates of employment.
- State the number of hours per week the student will be working.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows students to work off-campus in jobs related, but not necessarily integral to the academic program. Students are awarded 12 months of full-time OPT per degree level. Students may use some or all of their OPT time prior to graduation, although most will use it all afterwards. OPT requires an application be sent to Immigration. Therefore, students are advised to apply at least three months prior to the intended start date.
Students in J-1 status
On-campus: Students may work part-time while school is in session and full-time during quarter breaks and their annual vacation quarter. Employment is limited to the University of Washington, Seattle campus. Employment need not be related to the student's field of study. Employment must be authorized in advance and in writing by an ISS adviser or the student's program sponsor.
Off-campus: J-1 students may be authorized for Academic Training (AT), which is paid or un-paid work related to the field of study. Students may pursue AT during studies or commencing no later than 30 days after completion of studies. AT has an overall limit of 18 months. The total amount of training time cannot exceed the length of the academic program.