Commencement Information

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International Cottey student standing in front of flag garden

Off-Campus Employment

In some cases, you may be authorized to work off-campus. You must have written authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to obtaining employment.

For more information, see below.

Additional Information

Curricular Practical Training
  1. Student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year before being eligible for CPT.
  2. Must have an offer of employment from an employer offering work that qualifies as curricular practical training. Students may engage in CPT only for the specific employer, location and period approved and recorded by the DSO in SEVIS.
  3. Can be approved for part-time (20 hours or less) or full-time (over 20 hours).
  4. Must be an integral part of an established curriculum in the student’s course of study.
  5. Must receive written authorization from the DSO, who records authorization in SEVIS and issues SEVIS I-20 with notation, before work begins. USCIS approval is not required.
  6. Use of full-time CPT for one year or more eliminates eligibility for OPT.
Optional Practical Training
  1. Student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for one full academic year before being eligible for OPT.
  2. May be taken pre or post completion of studies.
  3. Employment must be directly related to and commensurate with the level of the student’s course of study.
  4. No offer of employment is required, but the student is expected to work or be actively seeking employment after the OPT authorization is issued.
  5. Must apply for and receive authorization from USCIS with the assistance of the DSO before work begins. Form I-765 for USCIS is required.
  6. Fee is required (currently $410).
Severe Economic Hardship

This is available to international students in F-1 status after 1 year. Employment need not be related to their academic area of studies.

  1. Must be able to demonstrate financial need and a change in financial situation since initial I-20.
  2. Requires notification & clearance by DSO and authorization of US ICE through SEVIS.
  3. Must complete form I-765 for US CIS. Application requirement includes written statement by student indicating reasons for request and documents supporting those reasons (i.e. bank statements, affidavits, sponsorship letters, etc.).
  4. Fee is required.