With US university costs continuing to rise, any financial assistance is crucial. That's why many students plan to supplement their income by working an on-campus or off-campus job during their tenure abroad.

Before you fill out any job applications, however, you should review the specific details for your student visa and make sure you're not violating any regulations.

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This article looks at three types of student visas: F-1 students, J-1 cultural exchange programme students / workers, and M-1 vocational students. 

Today, we'll provide a detailed look at F-1 student visas. 

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F-1 student visa

This is the most common visa for international students; most students going to study in American universities do so on the F-1 visa. Unlike the J-1 exchange visa, it denotes that you are not officially sponsored by a government or third party institution.

On-campus employment for the F-1 visa

This visa allows students to work an on-campus job upto, but not exceeding, 20 hours a week during their studies.

The job need not be related to your course of study, any on-campus job will do. These jobs include cyber caf� cleaning, library help, working in the physical education centre and many other options.

There is no wait period nor must you contact US Immigration Services; as soon as your classes begin, you can start working and earning money.

Also, an F-1 student visa allows you to continue working on-campus during the transition from a graduate to a post-graduate degree.

For example, if you finish your BA in Business Management and plan to pursue your MBA at the same university, you may keep your old job through the summer. It is necessary, however, for you to obtain a new I-20 authorisation and you must begin your new course of study in the next academic year.

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Off-campus employment for F-1 visa

In general, off-campus jobs for international students are discouraged by the United States government. Students, however, are allowed to hold off-campus jobs if it helps them earn professional skills in their field of study.

F-1 students are also eligible for off-campus employment in the form of Optional Practical Training. OPT allows students to work full-time for 12 months following graduation if the work relates to the students' degree specialisation.

For example, if a student graduated in May with a degree in finance, and has a full-time job lined up a bank or another finance-related institution, he or she is eligible to work for 12 months after graduation. After that, the student and the institution will need to pursue further visa options (H1B) in order for him/ her to continue his/ her employment.

There are a few rare situations, not involving Optional Practical Training, in which an F-1 student may be eligible for off-campus employment. The most frequently used option is the unforeseen economic necessity status.

Under this condition, which refers to severe economic hardship, the student must be in F-1 status for at least one full academic year prior to making the request. The student must prove to the USCIS that employment is necessary due to severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond his or her control.

An example is when a student was relying on financial support from a sponsor in his/ her native country and the sponsor is unable to continue to provide support because of illness, death or natural disaster. Authorisation is granted by the USCIS in one-year increments until the student finishes his/ her course.

The authorisation is for employment not to exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session, but can be full-time during school breaks. It does not have to be relate to the student's course of study.

Overview

Students on an F-1 visa have the option to work on-campus up to 20 hours a week; it needn't be in their field of study. To work off-campus, however, students must present evidence of unforeseen economic crisis. After graduation, they are able to work off-campus utilising Optional Practical Training, but only for 12 months and in their field of study.

Tomorrow: The J-1 and M-1 visas