Off-Campus Work Permissions

International students may not work off campus unless they are authorized to do so through either Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

F-1 students are eligible for 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT), which is off-campus paid employment or internships in their major or field of study. It may be done during summer breaks or following graduation. OPT can occur in various increments of time for a total of 12 months.

International students are also eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), an option for off-campus employment during the summer after a student's sophomore and junior years. CPT authorization is free, but approval requires an academic component, usually the completion of a Special Studies course.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Students are eligible for 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT), which is off-campus paid employment or internships for F-1 students in their major or field of study. It may be done during summer breaks or following graduation.

OPT can occur in various increments of time for a total of 12 months. However, any OPT that is authorized prior to completion of studies will be deducted from the total 12-month allotment for Postcompletion Practical Training. This means that if you used Precompletion OPT during the summer, those months will be deducted from the 12-month total.

You may apply for both types of practical training programs up to 90 days before the end of classes or graduation. You can apply for postgraduate OPT up to 60 days after graduation.

An application for this program must relate to your major, but it does not require course credit. OPT is only allowed under certain circumstances, which can be used as precompletion practical training or postcompletion practical training (see below).

Although rarely used, this option would be during summer vacation, provided that you intend to continue your full-time studies the following semester. This is for first-year, sophomore and junior students. Generally at Smith we use Curricular Practical Training (CPT) instead, since it's faster and less costly. You must have a job offer at the time of application.

This option, available for seniors, American Studies Diploma students and graduate students, occurs after completion of your studies for a period of up to one year. No job offer is necessary at the time of application.

Additional STEM Extension

Students majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields may apply for a 17-month extension during their initial period of Postcompletion OPT if they have a new job or an extended contract. More information >

OPT requires a lengthy application, and the approval process can take as long as 90 days. Please check with the Office of International Students & Scholars before engaging in any off-campus employment to make sure you have the proper authorization in place; it's important to inquire as early as possible.

Application Fee

There is a $380 application fee. Because this program is optional, aid is not available.

How to Apply

To start the application process, make an appointment with our office and bring:

  1. Complete form I-765 (PDF)—to be sent to USCIS
    • Check off "Permission to accept employment"
    • Question 3: If you have a reliable U.S. address that will remain after graduation, use it. If not, feel free to use the office as your U.S. mailing address: Office of International Students & Scholars, Smith College, Wright Hall 125, Northampton, MA 01063
    • Question 11: Check "No," unless you have had OPT before. If no, then all other parts of this question are blank.
    • Question 16: For Postcompletion OPT: (c)(3)(B)
    • Question 17: For Postcompletion OPT: leave blank.
    • Question 18: Leave blank.
    • Sign in BLUE ink, and make sure to stay within the white space!
  2. Complete Smith OPT Request Form (PDF)—to stay with our office.

    You will need:

    • Two passport-size color photos (2x2 inches)
    • Letter of employment (if applicable)
    • Check or money order for $380, made out to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security" (from a U.S. bank account)
    • Your most recent I-94 (available online here)
    • All your past and current I-20s
    • E-Notification Request (optional): Form G-1145. This will mean that you receive an email notification for any actions taken on your case.

We will then issue a new SEVIS I-20, make copies of your passport and other documents, and give you a completed packet to send to:

Via Express Mail (any courier service requiring a signature)

USCIS ATTN: AOS
2501 S. State Hwy
121 Business Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067

Regular Mail (United States Postal Service)

USCIS
P.O. Box 660867
Dallas, TX 75266
Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

You will be notified once your petition has been approved (six to eight weeks) by USCIS. Then they will send an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card directly to your mailing address.

You cannot begin to work under an OPT program until you receive the EAD card AND you are within your authorization dates. Once you have been approved for Postcompletion OPT, you have 90 days from the start date to find a job or find a volunteer position in your field, otherwise your OPT will be cancelled. It is your duty to report your new employer and your most current address to USCIS. Please send us the information and we will update your SEVIS record.

We recommend that you do not leave the United States after graduation, unless you have received the EAD card, have found a job and have a letter of employment.

Once you have started working, if you wish to travel outside the United States, we will endorse your I-20. Please send your most recent Smith I-20 and a copy of the EAD card to our office for endorsement. We will sign and return the I-20 to you for travel. Remember, you are still under a Smith College F-1 visa during your OPT.

In order to maintain your F-1 visa status while completing an OPT program, you must report any employer and/or address changes to the Office for International Students & Scholars within 10 days of the change or move.

OPT STEM Extension

Students majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields may apply for a 17-month extension during their initial period of Postcompletion OPT if they have a new job or an extended contract.

The procedure for applying for the STEM extension is similar to the original OPT application. The STEM extension must be received by USCIS before your current OPT expires. You may continue to work up to 180 days while waiting for your new STEM-approved EAD card.

If your current employer is going to extend you, they must be an E-Verify company (check with their human resources office for the E-Verify number) and should give you a new letter of employment that says they are extending your employment until a particular date. If you are going to work for a different employer, then you will need a letter of employment and their E-Verify number so that you can complete the application.

  • Use OPT Form I-765, and fill out the additional information requested in item 17, with the E-Verify number of your employer. Send it to the Office for International Students & Scholars with a new letter of employment or extension of the same job with the same employer. We will then issue you a new I-20.
  • A $380 check, made out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • Two passport-size color photos (2x2 inches). LIGHTLY write your name and I-94 number on the back in pencil. Just make sure it doesn't indent the front of your photo!
  • Check off "Renewal of my permission to accept employment."
  • Question 11: Check "Yes"; USCIS office: "Vermont Service Center"; Dates: Your dates of authorization on your EAD; Results: Hopefully "Granted!"
  • Question 16: For STEM extension: (c)(3)(C)
  • Question 17: Your employer's E-Verify number should come from their human resources or legal office.
  • Copy of signed new STEM I-20 (use blue ink)
  • Copy of current passport photo page
  • Copy of F-1 entry visa page from passport
  • Copy of most recent I-94 (can be printed online)
  • Copy of current and all previous EAD cards
  • Copy of your Smith transcript showing the STEM major
  • Letter from your employer, indicating new dates of employment

Attach all papers and forms by a single paper clip to the I-765, which should be on top. Make copies of all documents you submit for travel purposes.

Mail everything to:

Via Express Mail (any courier service requiring a signature)

USCIS ATTN: AOS
2501 S. State Hwy
121 Business Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067

Regular Mail (United States Postal Service)

USCIS
P.O. Box 660867
Dallas, TX 75266

You will be notified once your petition has been approved (six to eight weeks) by USCIS. They will send an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card directly to your mailing address. Once you have your receipt number from USCIS, you can check the status of your case.

You have reporting responsibilities once you have received your new STEM card and are working in a STEM field.

Please note: You must validate your employment every six months from the start date of STEM OPT and until the end of the 17-month STEM extension. Please report the date you started working, as well as the name and address of current employer and your current and residential address to the Office of International Students & Scholars. We are required by SEVIS to update your record; failure to report will terminate your OPT STEM status.

Please notify the Office for International Students & Scholars, at interstu@smith.edu or through our OPT Update Form, within 10 days of any change of the following:

  • Legal name change
  • Residential or mailing address change
  • Employer name change
  • Employer address change
  • Loss of employment

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

International students are eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), an option for off-campus employment, during the summer after their sophomore and junior years. CPT authorization is free, but approval requires an academic component, usually the completion of a Special Studies course.

The time you spend working on CPT is not deducted from your 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.

CPT permission is granted by the Office for International Students & Scholars. To qualify you must:

  • have had F-1 student status for nine months or longer
  • have a declared major
  • have a job offer and a letter from an employer in a field related to your major (not minor)
  • register for Special Studies in the department of your major for which you will receive at least 1 credit sponsored by a Smith faculty member. This will be taken in the fall semester following your summer CPT internship.*
  • complete a short application form

*Special Studies may be an independent study with a practical component, or a course in your department that already has a variable credit given for independent research or study.

CPT Application (DOC)

The employment authorization page of your I-20 will specify the permission granted for CPT, as well as the authorized period during which you can work. It will also have the name and address of your employer.

International Students & Scholars

Lewis Global Studies Center
Wright Hall 124
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063

interstu@smith.edu

Phone: 413-585-4905
Fax: 413-585-4982