• 3. Maintain a full course of study (minimum of 12

  units) each quarter and make normal academic

  progress towards completion of program. Nine of

  the 12 units must be in the classroom (not online),

  unless approved under a specific exception, in

  advance (before dropping a class), by the FIDM

  International Students Office.

• 4. Transfer or extend program in a timely manner

  or file timely requests for extension of stay,

  change of status, transfer, optional practical

  training, and other benefits.

  • 2. INTERNSHIP/APPRENTICESHIP/CURRICULUM PRACTICAL TRAINING (CPT)

• 5. Keep continuity in program of study

  (absence from the U.S. or any other academic break of more than five months terminates F-1 status).

• 6. Refrain from unauthorized work or illegal activity.

• 7. When traveling abroad, always return in proper

  F-1 status.

• 8. Keep the passport valid for six months into the future.

• 9. Report any changes of address to FIDM’s

  Designated School Official within 10 days of the change.

• 10. Abide by the aggregate unemployment rules while on post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

At normal conclusion of studies or practical training, F-1 students usually have 60 days (grace period) in which to prepare to leave the U.S., to move to a new academic program, or to transfer to another institution. However, certain factors may reduce that grace period.

EMPLOYMENT IN F-1 STATUS

An F-1 student may only work under the following conditions (any work not authorized by this section will violate F-1 status and serve as grounds for cancellation).

• 3. OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT)

  • – On-campus employment: Must be performed on campus, and is limited to 20 hours a week while school is in session.

  • – Off-campus work authorization: In general if an F-1 student wishes to work off-cam-pus before graduation, one of the following circumstances must exist:

    1. ECONOMIC HARDSHIP

    Student must have been in F-1 status for at least

    one full academic year. The student must prove

    to U.S. Citizens and Immigration Service (USCIS)

    that employment is necessary due to severe

    economic hardship caused by circumstances

    beyond their control that arose after obtain-

    ing F-1 status. It is designed for off-campus

    employment, but there is no specific prohibition

    against it being used on-campus. It is granted

    by USCIS in increments of one year at a time, or

  until the program end-date, whichever is shorter. Authorization ends if a student transfers schools. It is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session; can be full-time during official school breaks. The work can be in any job; it does not have to be related to the course of study. The student must apply for Employment Application Document (EAD) from USCIS, and receive EAD before employment begins.

• Student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis at a Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-approved school for one full academic year before being eligible for CPT. Additional requirements per FIDM policy are:

  • – Student may only be authorized for CPT during their last or second-to-last quarter of their program and must maintain a 3.0 grade point average or higher to be eligible.

  • – Student may engage in CPT only for the specific employer, location, and period approved and recorded by FIDM’s Interna-tional Students Office in SEVIS. CPT must be an integral part of student’s established curriculum to qualify.

  • – Student must first receive an offer letter from their potential employer specifying the job title, job duties, days and hours of employment, and the company’s Employment Identification Number.

  • – The potential CPT must be approved by both FIDM’s Career Center and the Education Department/Office of Academic Support prior to being submitted to FIDM’s International Students Office for processing.

• To qualify, an F-1 student must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis at a DHS-approved school for one full academic year before being eligible for OPT. Students may engage in OPT for any employer for the duration of their OPT au-thorization, as long as the employment qualifies under OPT standards. Standard, post-completion OPT is authorized for a maximum of 12 months (no FIDM major qualifies for a STEM extension). OPT must be directly related to the student’s course of study. Students on post-completion OPT are limited to a maximum of 90 days of unem-ployment. Student files I-765 application for EAD with USCIS. Work can begin only after receiving EAD issued by USCIS. F-1 International Students may apply for OPT as early as 90 days before their program end date, the application must be RE-CEIVED by the USCIS no later than 60 days after student’s program end date. OPT must start and end within a 14-month period.