Franklin & Marshall College

There are three types of employment that F-1 students may pursue:

On Campus

You are permitted to work up to 10 hours per week without affecting your F&M Financial Aid package. While F-1 regulations allow you to work up to 20 hours of work per week on campus while classes are in session, the College is only able to provide you with ten hours of campus employment per week, unless otherwise authorized. You may, however, work on campus full-time during Winter Break, Spring Break, and Summer Break.

Please note that you may not work off-campus even if positions are offered through F&M.  Examples include the College Hill Children's Center, and the Ware Institute's Public Service Summer Internships (PSSI's) as well as Manheim Summer Mentoring Program.

Furthermore, you would not be permitted to accept a clerical office worker position at College Row in exchange for free housing.  This would qualify as employment, and does not fall into campus employment.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

You may complete a paid internship for credit providing that the internship is directly related to your major. While you are on CPT, you are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week total while classes are in session including campus employment. You may work full-time during vacation periods including summer. This means that you may complete a paid full-time internship for credit during the summer. Check with the Office of Financial Aid regarding how this might affect your Financial Aid package.

Please note that you would need CPT in order to do a Ware Institute Public Service Summer Internship (PSSI) or their Manheim Summer Mentoring Program.

The CPT application must be completed and submitted with all necessary documents one week prior to the start of your internship. You must be authorized for CPT by Dean Haring prior to the start of your paid internship for credit. This process will produce a new I-20 in SEVIS. Please note that you can complete 364 days of full-time CPT before it affects your OPT eligibility.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

For each higher level of study you complete (i.e, Bachelor’s, Master’s), you are entitled to one year of full-time work authorization in your major field of study. You do not have to have a job before applying for this benefit. You may fill out the OPT application and submit it up to three months in advance of your graduation date. Please note that these applications must be sent to USCIS via the Texas Lockbox. See Dean Haring for details.  

Processing of OPT applications usually takes three months so apply early. Most applications are complied and submitted in February, March, or April.  You may also submit the application after graduation during your 60 day grace period, if it becomes necessary.  However, applying after graduation is not recommended.  Please check with the Office of International Programs about your timeline for applying if it's after graduation.  These summer applications can take some time due to staff vacations  and the needs of the incoming class.  In some cases your authorized time to work can actually be less than 12 months due to processing.

If you are completing your studies in December, please contact Dean Haring in October or November about OPT.