Employment

Employment
International students who are maintaining a full time course of study can work on campus part time (20 hours per week) during the academic year, and full time during the summer months and any periods when school is not in session. On-campus employment assumes that the work will not interfere with your studies and that you are maintaining good academic standing. You must secure a social security number to work on campus and receive clearance by the ISP Office (for status, insurance, current visa documents) to be eligible to work.

Optional practical training (OPT) allows students to work for up to a total of twelve months in a job related to their field of study. For full details about OPT you should read the optional practical training handout prepared by the International Student Programs Office. OPT can be granted at the following times:

  • during the student's annual vacation period and at other times when school is not in session if you are currently enrolled and intend to register for the next term
  • while school is in session, provided that the practical training does not exceed twenty hours per week
  • after completion of course requirements (but before completion of a course of study) excluding thesis or dissertation if the student is in a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree program
  • after graduation or last term of attendance.

Applications for OPT can be obtained at the International Student Programs Office and are sent to the U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) in Lincoln, Nebraska. It takes the INS about three months to reply to an OPT application so students should plan well in advance for this kind of work permission.

Curricular practical training (CPT) allows a student to work before graduation in an internship or practicum related to their field of study. For full details about CPT you should read the curricular practical training handout prepared by the International Student Programs Office. There are two types of curricular practical training:

  • non-credit training programs that are a required part of the stated curriculum.
  • for-credit training programs which are an integral, but not required, part of the stated curriculum. All other programs at Gonzaga are in this category and optional CPT requires registration in concurrent course work such as an internship for 1-3 credits.

Off Campus Employment Due To Severe Economic Hardship Students who encounter an unforeseen severe economic hardship after completing one academic year in F-1 status can apply to the U.S. INS for permission to work off campus. Students must be able to document that there has been an unanticipated change in their financial support so that either their expenses have increased significantly or that their income has decreased significantly since their arrival in the U.S. Students must also be able to document that other employment opportunities are not available through the other employment options (on campus employment or the pilot off campus work program). Students who can document that they have encountered an unforeseen economic hardship after completing one academic year in the U.S. should contact an International Student Adviser in the Office of International Education and Exchange. It generally takes the INS around three months to reply to an application for off campus work based on severe economic hardship.

Appointments for work authorization can be made with Patricia Moss moss@gonzaga.edu or Kristin Webster websterk@gonzaga.edu in the ISP Office.