As an undergraduate or postgraduate international student studying in the United States, employment is possible on a part-time basis for up to 20 hours every week. During the first year of education, students may only work on-campus, such as at the school’s gym, cafeteria, bookstore, or library. Working for 10 to 15 hours per week may be enough to cover books and personal expenses, but will not cover the majority of education costs.
Upon graduation from your education course in the USA, you may apply for an Optional Practical Training (OPT), which gives you the opportunity to work in the United States for 1 year after your final examination in a field related to your major area of study. An OPT may be extended if the employer approves you to continue your work in the United States.
Most international students in the United States hold an F-1 visa, which is the U.S. non-immigrant student visa. F-1 students are allowed to work in the United States, but only under certain conditions and in accordance with complex guidelines and restrictions issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). On-campus employment is the category most freely permitted by the USCIS regulations, and it does not require USCIS approval. However, although F-1 status includes an on-campus employment privilege, on-campus employment opportunities at most schools are limited. Even if you can obtain a job on campus, you may not rely on it to prove financial resources for the year, and often these jobs are not related to your studies. Many schools do require that you obtain permission from the International Student Office prior to accepting any on-campus employment, and may not permit such employment in a student’s first semester or year.
Pingback: Undergraduate and Masters scholarship for Nigerian students