Qualifying Employment
During OPT all employment must be directly related to your major and level of study. OPT employment cannot be solely related to a minor or certificate.
Employment during OPT is flexible. During OPT, the following forms of employment is permitted:
- Paid or unpaid work
- Multiple employers
- Remote positions
- Short-term employers
- Work for hire
- Self-employed business owner
- Employment through an agency or consulting firm
Students who will be engaging in remote work from outside of the U.S. are advised to consult with an International Student Advisor beforehand.
To count towards employment, you must engage in a minimum of 20 hours of work per week. Working below 20 hours per week will count towards OPT unemployment.
Ineligible Employment
During OPT, the following forms of employment is NOT permitted:
- Employment unrelated to education major and level listed on OPT Recommendation I-20
- Employment based off of minor
- Unpaid position that violates U.S. labor laws
Finding OPT Employment
The job search process can seem long and tedious, and it can be challenging to know where to begin. ISSO recommends reviewing the following university resources for additional support:
- ISSO Job Search webpage (including a list of previous CPT and OPT employers)
- Career Services
- CyHire