<p>Do any of you guys know about the employment situation for people studying in the States on Student Visas? </p>
<p>I know that you have to still attend college full time if you want to work, but (for example) in the Summer are you allowed to stay in the country and work? Or, do you have to head back home to work a summer job? </p>
<p>I get a feeling that this is another of those massive 'It depends...' questions that you get with applying to go to school in the States!</p>
<p>you can’t work any job off-campus without an SSN. you could always take the risk, but you’re gonna get deported if you get caught.</p>
<p>In the summer you can do a paid internship that’s related to your schoolwork, under the Curricular Practical Training allotment. However you can’t be a dishwasher or waitress, cos that’s not related.</p>
<p>
Yes, you are allowed to work during the summer. You have the following options:</p>
<ul>
<li>On-campus jobs with no limitations.</li>
<li>“Curricular Practical Training”: If you get academic credit for an off-campus internship (e.g. for nursing, teaching, engineering degrees), you can get a CPT work permit.</li>
<li>“Optional Practical Training”: You can apply for a total of 12 months of other work permits over the course of your college career. You can use OPT for part-time internships during the school year, for full-time internships during the summer or for a first job after you graduate from college. If you would like to stay in the US after graduation, you should manage your OPT time wisely because you might need it to bridge the gap between graduation and your work visa.</li>
</ul>
<p>There are a lot of technical details that you should become familiar with before you apply for your first job, but the bottom line is: Yes, you are allowed to stay in the States and work during the summer.</p>
<p>^ I thought the only limitation to working on Campus was that you are not allowed to work more than 40 hours? Or did this change? (Or maybe I remember it wrong)</p>
<p>^ its 20 hours per week or sth iirc ?</p>
<p>btw what do internationals do with regards to lodgings ? i mean, the schools dorms are closed during summer right ?? do you guys pick something off-campus for a few months ?</p>
<p>When I said there were no limitations to on-campus work, I was thinking of work permits and restrictions like the 12 month-cap for OPT. Of course there are rules governing on-campus work - thank you for pointing that out! </p>
<p>As far as I know, F-1/J-1 students are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week while classes are in session and 40 hours a week during breaks. And students need to apply for a social security number before starting to work and… That’s the “technical details” I was refering to earlier.</p>
<p>depr91, it depends on the college. My own college offers summer housing to students, which of course we have to pay for. If you need temporary housing off campus, Craigslist is your friend :)</p>