Working in the United States
There are six categories of employment available to F-1 and J-1 students. All of these categories require that the student be currently maintaining valid F-1 or J-1 status. A student who is out of status is not eligible for any type of employment until s/he applies for and receives reinstatement to status. Please consult ISSS for more information on all of these types of employment.
On-campus employment:
F-1 and J-1 students are permitted to work no more than 20 hours per week on-campus while classes are in session and full-time during official school breaks as long as they maintain status. On-campus means any of the Drexel University campuses; it does NOT mean the University of Pennsylvania campus or any other college or university campus in the United States.
Click here for more information on On-campus employment.
Optional practical training (OPT):
Please visit OPT page for more information about OPT
Curricular practical training (CPT):
Please visit CPT page for more information about CPT
Certain employment sponsored by international organizations:
F-1 students can request permission to work at international organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Academic training:
Through academic training, J-1 students can gain up to 18 months of work experience. Academic training permission is granted by International Students and Scholars Services.
Employment authorized because of severe economic hardship:
F-1 students who have an unexpected loss of funding may apply for off-campus work authorization. Contact ISSS for more information about this employment option.
Students who work off-campus without employment authorization will be reported to the USCIS as being out of status