Skip to main content.
Bard
  • Bard
  • Academics sub-menuAcademics
    Bard College Commencement
    • Academics
      • Programs and Divisions
      • Structure of the Curriculum
      • Courses
      • Requirements
      • Discover Bard
      • Bard Abroad
      • Academic Calendar
      • Faculty
      • Libraries
      • College Catalogue
      • Dual-Degree Programs
      • Bard Conservatory of Music
      • Other Study Opportunities
      • Graduate Programs
      • Early Colleges
  • Admission sub-menuAdmission
    • Applying
      • Apply Now
      • Financial Aid
      • Tuition + Payment
    • Discover Bard
      • Campus Tours
      • Meet Our Students + Alumni/ae
      • For Families / Familias
    • Stay in Touch
      • Join Our Mailing List
      • Contact Us
  • Campus Life sub-menuCampus Life
    Bard Campus Life

    Make a home in Annandale.

    • Living on Campus
      • Housing + Dining
      • Campus Resources
      • Get Involved on Campus
      • Visiting + Transportation
      • Athletics + Recreation
      • New Students
  • Civic Engagement sub-menuCivic Engagement
    • Bard CCE The Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) at Bard College embodies the fundamental belief that education and civil society are inextricably linked.

      Take action.
      Make an impact.

      Get Involved
      • Campus + Community
      • In the Classroom
      • U.S. Network
      • International Network
      • About CCE
      • Resources
      • Support
  • Newsroom sub-menuNews + Events
    Upstreaming
    • News + Events
      • Newsroom
      • Events Calendar
      • Video Gallery
      • Press Releases
      • Office of Communications
      • COVID-19 Updates
    • Special Events
      • Commencement Weekend
      • Alumni/ae Reunion
      • Family + Alumni/ae Weekend
      • Fisher Center
      • Bard SummerScape
      • Bard Athletics
  • About Bard sub-menuAbout Bard

    A private college for the public good.

    Support Bard

    Legacy Challenge
    • About Bard College
      • Mission Statement
      • Bard History
      • Love of Learning
      • Visiting Bard
      • Employment
      • OSUN
      • Bard Abroad
      • The Bard Network
      • Montgomery Place Campus
      • Campus Tours
      • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • Sustainability
      • Title IX and Nondiscrimination
      • HEOA Disclosures
      • Institutional Support
      • Safety and Security
      • Inside Bard
      • Alumni/ae Network
      • Family Network
      • Support Bard
      • Legacy Challenge
  • COVID-19 Information
  • Give
  • Search

Employment

OISSS Menu
  • About OISSS
  • Students
    • New Students
    • Maintaining Status
    • Employment
  • Scholars
    • J1 Scholars
    • TN Status for Canadian and Mexican Citizens
    • B1/B2/WB/WT
    • H1B Specialty Occupations
    • O1 Extraordinary Ability
  • Finances
    • Social Security
    • Taxes
    • Banking
  • Travel
  • Get Involved
  • Home
Employment Authorization for F1 and J1 Students
There are two types of employment authorization available to F1 and J1 students: on-campus and off-campus. F1 and J1 students require different work authorizations depending on the type of work they are pursuing. It is important that you understand your options before you begin exploring and accepting work opportunities. More information about the type of work authorization your current immigration status requires can be found below.

F1 and J1 On-Campus Employment

F1 and J1 students are eligible to work on campus up to 20 hours per week during the semester and up to 40 hours per week during semester breaks (January intersession, summer). 

F1 and J1 On-Campus Employment Conditions

F1 Students: 

  • You must be enrolled full time during the fall and winter semesters.
  • You do not require authorization for on-campus employment.
  • You may work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session.
  • You may work full time on campus during official College holidays and session breaks.
  • You may not engage in on-campus employment after the program end date listed on your I-20.
  • Most employers require a Social Security number from their employees in order to process employment paperwork, as a result, F1 student visa holders are required to apply for a Social Security card as soon as they are employed on campus.
J1 Students: 
  • You must be enrolled full time during the fall and winter semesters.
  • You require prior work authorization for on-campus employment.
  • You may work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session.
  • You may work full time on campus during official College holidays and session breaks.
  • You may not engage in on-campus employment after the program end date listed on your DS 2019.

F1 Off-Campus Employment: Optional Practical Training (OPT)

International students in F1 status are generally eligible for either precompletion Optional Practical Training (OPT) prior to graduation, or postcompletion OPT after graduation. Postcompletion OPT is available for up to 12 months, provided the student did not participate in precompletion OPT during degree completion. Graduates who obtained a degree in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering, math) are eligible for an additional period of 17 months of OPT, for a total of 29 months. Individuals who are eligible for postcompletion OPT must apply to USCIS to obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Once the EAD is received and the start date on the card has been identified, the individual can then work.

How long will it take to complete the OPT application process?

The entire process can take 3-5 months to complete, it will take a minimum of 90 days for OPT applications to be processed. 

APPLY EARLY--you do not need to have a job offer to apply for OPT!

You are eligible to apply up for post-completion OPT up to 90 days before your graduation date and NO LATER THAN 60 days beyond your graduation date or end date of your I-20.  Applications are authorized by the United State Custom and Immigrations Services (USCIS).

F1 Pre-Completion Practical Training

Students who have remained in legal F1 status for a full academic year are eligible for off-campus employment through Optional Practical Training (OPT). OPT must be in the student’s major field of study. Pre-completion OPT can be used for up to 20 hours during the academic semester and full time during session breaks. The total amount of time for OPT (pre- and post-) is 12 months. Pre-completion OPT will count against the 12-month maximum. 

Please schedule a time to meet with an OISSS adviser to discuss the rules, regulations, and application process for OPT. 

To be eligible for OPT you must:

  • Maintain full-time student status for at least one academic year or two full semesters by the requested OPT start date.
  • Maintain valid F1 status prior to and at the time of application
You are able to use pre-completion OPT if:
  • It is part time during the semester.
  • It is full time during annual vacation periods (e.g., summer).
  • It is full time once all course requirements are complete and only the thesis requirement is remaining.

F1 Post-Completion Practical Training

To be eligible for OPT you must:

  1. Maintain full-time student status for at least one academic year or two full semesters by the requested OPT start date.
  2. Maintain valid F1 status prior to and at the time of application.
Post-completion OPT should be applied for up to 90 days before your graduation date and no later than 60 days beyond your graduation or I-20 program end date. 

If you plan to leave the United States at any time during the 60-day grace period, you must apply for OPT before you leave the country. If you leave the United States without applying for OPT, you forfeit the benefit of applying for OPT.  

When you apply, it is important to identify a start date that will:

Prepare you for any possibility and ensure you are eligible to work at the earliest time preferred. The earliest start date is the first day after graduation. You cannot start working before the start date on your OPT card and you cannot change the requested dates after you apply. The latest date requested to start your work authorization is 60 days after graduation.

You do not have to have a job to apply for OPT. 

You are required to have a job during your post graduation OPT period. The-12 month period of OPT allows you to be unemployed for up to 90 days. If you apply for and receive a STEM extension, you can be unemployed for up to 150 days. 

J1 Off-Campus Employment: Academic Training (AT)

Academic Training (AT) requires work authorization for off-campus employment directly related to your program of study. You must schedule an appointment and meet with an OISSS international adviser before you apply for AT.

Conditions of Academic Training 

It is flexible and can be applied to paid or unpaid opportunities that offer applicable field related engagement. Academic Training can be pursued part-time (up to 20 hours/week) during your studies and full-time at the end of your program. Academic Training requests can be approved if the position meets the criteria for Academic Training, your J-1 status has been maintained, you have followed the appropriate application procedures, and your stay in the U.S. will remain in the stated time limits. Academic Training is approved on a case by case basis.

The time limits for Bachelor's, Master's and Non-Degree Students are a maximum of 18 months or the length of the program; whichever is shorter. 

If you are considering academic training at the end of your program, your authorization must be processed before your official academic program completion date. In addition, the academic training/employment must begin within the first 30 days after the official academic program completion date.

Bard College
Campus Road, PO Box 5000
Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 12504-5000
Phone: 800-BARDCOL
Admission Phone: 845-758-7472
Admission E-mail: [email protected]
©2020 Bard College
Follow Us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Follow Us on Instagram
You Tube
Information For:
Prospective Students
Current Employees
Alumni/ae 
Families
Quick Links
Employment
Travel to Bard
Site Search
Support Bard