International Student Services

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Employment

General Employment Information

Are nonimmigrant students allowed to work?

Non immigrant students are allowed to work in certain circumstances and with the approval of the Designated School Official's (DSO) permission. Working without permission violates student status.

F1 students, the following rules and regulations apply:

• Employment for F-1 Students is limited.  You must remain enrolled full-time while you are working.
• Students must hold a current/valid SEVIS I-20.
• Students have to be in status and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA for an undergraduate and a 3.0 GPA for a graduate student.
• Students may only work on campus.
• Students may not work more than 20 hours (while classes are in session).
• During breaks and summer, students may work 40 hours, but this must be on campus.

***NOTE: F2 dependents are not allowed to work in the United States.

J1 Students, Contact the ISS office for Employment Information.

Do You Plan to Work?

If you want to get a job on campus, contact your designated school official (DSO) for international students to see if you are eligible to work on campus. Look on UCCS Student Employment Office website (Sean's Place) for available UCCS on-campus jobs. If you are eligible to work and you have found a on-campus with a job offer letter in hand (or in the process) the next section will explain the next steps to start working.

For all Information about Social Security Numbers and International Students: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10181.html and http://www.ice.gov/sevis/faqs/f1_m1_ssa_tax_information.htm .

Please Refer to this PDF for more information: Social Security Packet.

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Social Security Card

In order to work in the United States you must have a social security card.

Applying for a Social Security number and card is free. When you apply for a Social Security number at a Social Security office, you must complete Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, and provide the necessary documents. All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Social Security Administration cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents.

Social Security numbers are generally assigned to people who are authorized to work in the United States. Social Security numbers are used to report your wages to the government and to determine eligibility for Social Security benefits. Social Security will not assign you a number just to enroll in college or school.

To Obtain a Social Security Card here are the following steps:

Before you can even apply for a card it must be at least 2 or 3 weeks after you have came to In-process! So the faster you in process the faster you can work.

Please Refer to this PDF for more information: Social Security Packet.

If you are an F-1 student and eligible to work on campus, you must provide a letter from your designated school official that identifies your employer and the type of work you are, or will be, doing, a letter from your employer and your current documents to be able apply for your Social Security Card.

1. Job Offer Letter must describe your job, your employment start date,  the number of hours  you are (or will be) working, and your supervisor’s name and telephone number. The letter must be signed by your supervisor and dated.  For a sample letter: Exhibit 2. Once you have received an offer letter from you supervisor or sponsor, Then you will come to ISS office with your letter and drop it off. You will then be notified by email if Irene has approved or denied the offer.

2. If your job offer is approved, Laura (student assistant) will make letters to Social Security Administration. You will be notified when these letters are ready for pick up by email. You will receive 3 envelopes: Social Security Administration, Student Employment Office, and one for your copy from the ISS office.

3. You will then visit Social Security Administration to apply for an Social Security Card. Bring all your documents (i.e. passport/ visa, I-20, I-94, Student Id), Social Security Application and the envelope labeled Social Security Administration from ISS .

4. At social security you will get a receipt, you will then distribute a copy goes to your supervisor, ISS Office and Student Employment Office.

Once you receive your card, a copy goes to ISS and Personnel Office. With your card, then you are eligible for a Colorado Driver’s License, Colorado ID Card, Purchase a Car, and Car Insurance.

Where can I find:
General Information on Social Security for Nonimmigrant Students	http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10181.html
Where to report changes of immigration status	http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html#immigration
What to do for Name Changes	http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html#identity
How to replace a lost or stolen card	http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html#lost

Directions to Social Security Administration:

1. From UCCS, EAST on Austin Bluffs Pkwy.
2. Turn Right on to N. Academy Blvd. / CO-83S.
3. Turn Left on to Galley Rd.
4. After on Galley Rd., there is a shopping center on your left, turn into the shopping center.
5. Social Security Administration is in that shopping center.

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Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) allows F-1 UCCS international students to obtain employment off-campus. This program provides the opportunity and experience to support their chosen field of study. Through this program, students will obtain offers of employment off-campus which is verified by their academic departments who provide practical training related to the student's declared major. USCIS defines CPT as employment which is an integral or important part of a student's curriculum, including: alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.

According to USCIS, the word "required" does not always limit this type of practical training to work experiences which are required parts of the curriculum.

(a) training which is required by your degree program always meets the requirements for CPT regardless whether or nor you receive academic credit for your work and

(b) training which is not required by your degree program may meet the requirements fore CPT if you receive academic credit for the employment experience of if it is offered by a sponsored employers through work/study, internships and cooperative education.

To qualify:

1. Undergraduates must hold at least a 2.5 GPA. Graduates must hold at least a 3.0 GPA.
2. A student must have a valid F1 visa status for one academic year (Fall and Spring Semester).
3. The student's internship (job) must be an integral part of the student's academic degree program.
4. The student cannot work more than 20 hours per week while school is in session.

The Process:

1. The student should first find a company that is willing to offer an internship to them. Then the company should then write up a "offer letter"  that includes the following:

   Job Offer Letter must describe your job, your employment start and end date,  the number of hours  you are (or will be) working, and your supervisor’s name and telephone number. The letter must be signed by your supervisor and dated.  For a sample letter: Exhibit 2.

2. Then the student should make an appointment with their academic advisor or sponsor to see if the internship is part of the student's academic degree.

3. If the advisor approves the internship,  the student and the advisor will complete a CPT packet and return it to ISS office. (The CPT packet is found on the Forms page.)

4. ISS Director will process the CPT Packet, which usually takes up to at least one week to process.

Notes:

1. If you receive more than 12 months of full-time CPT, please be aware you will then be ineligible for OPT.

2. If you change employers you will then need to reapply for CPT along with new letters from advisor and employer.

3. You must be authorized for paid employment by ISS office.

4. If you are employed somewhere else along with your CPT employment those hours count towards your maximum of 20 hours.

5. You may work more than 20 hours on school breaks ,i.e. winter break, summer break and spring break but you must have approved Full-Time CPT authorization.

6. Last, with F1 status you must be enrolled full-time during the fall and spring semesters to maintain status.

Please Refer to Forms page for CPT Packet paperwork with more requirements.

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Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is where students can use their degree in the workplace after they have completed all their coursework and/or plan to graduate at the end of the semester are eligible for OPT.

F-1 students who have maintained status for one year immediately prior to beginning of OPT may be granted up to twelve months of practical training employment authorization in their field of study. The following rules apply:

1. After Completion of course requirements or after completion of the course of study.
2. Your advisor must verify that you have completed your course work .
3. You must have been enrolled full time in an academic program for at least nine months.
4. You must apply for OPT, 3 months (90 days) before your graduation date.

To apply for OPT, sign up for OPT Sessions in March for May graduation and in October for December graduation or email iss@uccs.edu to set up an appointment.

When OPT sessions are schedule you will receive an email from the ISS office. You will need to sign up for an initial session. There are also Follow-up sessions, usually 2 weeks later, scheduled. Once you have attended your initial session,  later you will sign up for a Follow-up session.

For OPT Sessions, you will need to make 2 copy sets of the following:

•             I-20 (all that you have in your possession and all 3 pages)
•             Passport/Visa (all pages with stamps or writing)
•             I-94 card (Front and Back)
•             All Previous EAD Cards

You will also need to get 2 Passport style photos (2x2, according to USCIS requirements). Photos must be signed in pencil on the back also with your A# (I-94 number). You will need to make 2 copy sets of your signed photos also.

You will need to Download and fill out Form I-765. DO NOT SIGN OR DATE FORM until your 2nd Session. The Filling Fee for Form I-765 is now $340 (effective 7/30/2007).

Important Notes:

1. Employment through OPT will automatically be terminated if you transfer to another school .
2. If you have received 12 months or more of full time CPT, you are ineligible for OPT.
3. If you are applying for OPT after completing your course of study, you must have the following in your possession if you are traveling outside the United States and want to re-enter the US to start or resume your OPT: (a) a current Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) issued to you by the INS; (b) an I-20 signed for re-entry by the Director within the last six months, (c) a valid F-1 Visa. If you do not have these, you may not be allowed to enter the US in F-1 status and you may not start or continue OPT. Please make your travel plans carefully and consult with the Director of ISS well in advance of your departure from the US.
4. You must have an EAD card in your possession before beginning to work.

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Taxes

In general, as an F-1 or J-1 student, you will be exempt from Social Security (F.I.C.A.) taxes for your first five years in the United States, as long as you continue to declare non-resident status for tax purposes.

All international students who are not eligible to file the standard Internal Revenue Services form 1040 or 1040EZ must file IRS Form 8843, even if they have not earned in the U.S. during 2005. International Students who received U.S. source income in 2005 must also file federal and state tax returns. (Income includes wages as well as interest earned on U.S. bank accounts.)

You must file by April 15th of each year.

Your employer sends of W2 or 1042 forms (tax statements), telling you how much money has been held from their paycheck for taxes. These forms are used to file your taxes. If additional taxes are owed, the amount owed is submitted with the tax forms. If too much tax has been withheld, a refund check will be issued.

UCCS usually has a international tax workshop for any international students each year and there are other workshops off-campus for international students as well.

VITA services- Call (800) 829-1040 and for more information www.irs.gov

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Last Updated: 09/14/2007 01:56 PM

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