F-1 Status

If you were issued an I-20 form in order to obtain your U.S. visa, you are on an F-1 visa. Any accompanying family members will be on an F-2 visa, unless they are also full-time students. Here is a brief overview of the F-1 regulations.

Maintaining Status

You are responsible for maintaining your visa status. Being out of status can have serious consequences for your academic plans. There are several important things you must do to maintain your status:

Keep your passport valid. Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six (6) months into the future. Addresses of embassies and consulates are available from the Office of International Students and Scholars.
Do not work off campus without WPI or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approval.
Obtain extensions as needed. Allow ample time for WPI to assist you with any application for extension of stay.
Maintain full-time enrollment and normal progress towards your degree. To remain a full-time student, you must carry a full course of study every semester, except the summer term.
You can be allowed to carry a reduced course load for valid educational or medical reasons only if permission is given by the international student advisor.

Dependents

Your spouse and/or children may enter the U.S. on an F-2 visa provided they have evidence of adequate financial support. A person on an F-2 visa may not be employed under any circumstances and may not engage in study for credit. A separate I-20 form must be issued for the spouse/child.

Transfer

If you are considering transferring to another university in the U.S., you need to inform the international student advisor. Once you have decided to transfer, WPI needs to enter a "release" date into SEVIS and indicate the school you are transferring to. If you are a transfer student starting at WPI, you need to make sure your SEVIS record from your previous school has been released and you must register within the first week of class.

F-1 Student Employment

The basic requirement for all types of employment is that you must maintain lawful F-1 status. The USCIS defines employment as work performed or services provided in exchange for money, tuition, fees, books, room and/or board, or any other benefit.

On-Campus Employment

You can work on campus provided you are maintaining your F-1 status. On-campus employment must not exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session. During vacation periods, you can work full time. In some situations, you can work off campus at a location which qualifies as on-campus employment. You need to obtain an on-campus employment authorization from the international student advisor before starting any employment on campus.

Off-Campus Employment Based on Severe Economic Hardship

If you are experiencing severe economic hardship based on unforeseen circumstances beyond your control, you may be eligible to apply for Employment Authorization from the USCIS. You should see the international student advisor before applying.

Curricular Practical Training

Curricular practical training is defined as work experience directly related to the student's field of study. Curricular practical training is the employment authorization used for F-1 students on co-op or graduate students on internship. You apply for curricular practical training work authorization from the international student advisor.

Optional Practical Training

Optional practical training (OPT) is defined as work experience related to your field of study. You have 12 months of OPT for each degree level (BS, MS, and PhD). The term “optional” refers to your option as when to use part or all of your practical training. For more information on how and when to apply, please visit the IH's Forms page to download the most up-to-date OPT application.

There are three types of OPT: Pre-completion, Post-completion, and STEM extension. Each OPT takes approximately 60 days to process, so it is important to begin your applications early.

Pre-completion is OPT used while students are still enrolled at WPI. Some students elect to use this option if their intended employment does not fall within the CPT guidelines. Any OPT a student uses during this time period will subtract from the total 12 months the student has available once they graduate. A student must have employment for a specific period of time in order to apply for this form of OPT.

Post-completion OPT is the most common form of OPT, and allows students to work for up to 12 months before either returning to their home country, beginning a new academic program, or applying for an H-1B visa to work for a company or organization for a longer period of time. The ideal timeline for applying for post-completion OPT is 60 days prior to your program completion date (for example, 60 days before the last day of exams in May, not the date of graduation). Students can apply for Post-completion OPT without an employment offer, but to maintain F-1 status, must have employment within 90 days of OPT start date.

The newest form of OPT is the STEM extension, which is only available to students majoring in STEM degrees: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Many of the majors at WPI fall into this category, but some do not. If you want to verify whether your degree is STEM eligible, please contact the International Student and Scholars Office.

A student must apply for a STEM extension 60 days before the conclusion of their first 12 months of post-completion OPT. STEM extensions allow students to continue working on their OPT for an additional 17 months, giving them a total of 29 months of OPT work time; however, currently the STEM extension can only be used once in the lifetime of a student, so if considering further study, contact the International Student and Scholars Office to discuss OPT and H-1B options.