International Student Services

In order to maintain F1 status, you must do the following:

• Enroll in the required number of credit hours each semester, which is 12 credits.
• Ensure your I-20 form has a current travel signature and reflects any changes to your program or status.
• Maintain good academic standing
• Report any addresses changes promptly to your P/DSO
• Follow work authorization rules
• Obtain proper authorization for off-campus work
  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an internship related to yoru major.
  • Optional Practical Training (OPT) is working post graduation in a field related to your major.
• Communicate with your P/DSO about any concerns or changes impacting your F1 status.
• Understand the “five-month rule”
  • Generally, you can temporarily leave the US for up to five months without jeopardizing your F1 status. Speak to your P/DSO if this might pertain to your specific situation.

In general, on-campus employment for international students means that you are working:

• On Nichols campus;

• For a Nichols property or department and are on payroll such as The Bison Den, Golf Course or Nichols Consulting Group;

• Are working for a student facing third party vendor such as American Dining or Barnes and Noble.

If these conditions are not met–for example, you would be working on campus but a professor or organization other than NIchols College would be paying you, please speak with the Director of International Programs or your P/DSO.

As an F-1 student, you can work up to 20 hours per week on campus without separate employment authorization, but you’ll need to get a social security number. 

• When you first enter the country in F-1 status, your first day of employment should be no earlier than 30 days before classes start.

• While school is in session, you can’t work more than 20 hours per week. During the summer and other breaks, you can work full time.

• You can’t continue employment after you’ve finished your program of study, unless you have a new I-20 for a new program of study.

• You can only work at the school that controls your SEVIS record. If you are attending 2 intuitions at the same time, you can only work on the campus that issued your I-20.

• F-1 students CANNOT work off campus without specific authorization.  Please see the Director of International Programs or your P/DSO to your advisor first. 

Tips

• You can search for on-campus jobs through Handshake.

• Look for the career fair held on campus at the beginning of each semester.

• Visit Nichols’ Career and Professional Development Center.

• International students aren’t eligible for Federal Work Study positions.

1. Make an appointment to get started:
   Kristen Malinowski-Paine, PDSO
   Director, Academic Center for Excellence and Support
   International Programs
   Located on the main floor of the library, 306
   kristen.malinowski-paine@nichols.edu

2. ---

   Complete the SSA application here: https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf
   ➢ For more information, visit: https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm (choose “Adult Original” and “Noncitizen”)

3. ---

   Gather Supporting documents:

   1. Your passport
   2. Current electronic 1-94 (you retrieve this online here: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/)
   3. Current I-20 form (no copies – you must bring the most up-to-date signed original document)
   4. Proof of employment and work authorization letters (2) from PDSO (See Kristen Malinowski-Paine inACES) that prove your eligibility for On-Campus Employment; letters must be dated within 30 days of your visit to SS Administration.
   5. WORK AUTHORIZATION LETTER: For on-campus employment, we will provide you with a letter from a designated school official that identifies you, confirms your current school status; and identifies your employer and the type of work you are, or will be, doing.
   6. PROOF OF EMPLOYMENT LETTER: For on-campus employment, we also help you get evidence of the employment offer through a document letter from your Nichols supervisor. These will describe your job; an employment start date; the estimated number of hours you will be working; your weekly estimated pay total, and your supervisor’s name and telephone number.

4. ---

   Go with all your documents in-person to the SSN office in Worcester.

51 Myrtle Street, Worcester, MA 866-331-9069

Check website for hours accuracy

Upon visiting the Social Security office, you will be given a receipt letter to show that you have submitted the application. Your Social Security Card will then be sent to you in the mail. Most of the time, the Social Security Administration can verify your documents quickly on-line through the Department of Homeland Security, however if your documents cannot be verified on-line, it may take DHS longer than normal to respond to the request.

1. Students can only be authorized for CPT during their degree program: F-1 students interested in working in the US after graduation may apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

2. Exception to one academic year requirement: The one academic year waiting period can be waived for students enrolled in a graduate program that requires a practicum during their first year. Or, transfers that have completed one academic year in the same degree level.  Therefore, if you are an undergraduate who transferred after one year in undergraduate studies in the US, you are eligible for CPT.

3. Leave of Absences and Other SEVIS Terminations: Students who have re-entered the US using a new SEVIS record after a previous record was terminated/completed will need to complete one academic year of full-time study under their new SEVIS record before becoming eligible for CPT. This rule applies to a student who was given an authorized early withdrawal for a leave of absence (gap semester/year) and returned to the US with a new SEVIS record.

4. Unpaid Internships: Financial compensation is not the only indicator of employment in the US. We recommend that students obtain work authorization for any activities with non-Nichols organizations. In the case of unpaid internships, the student should also obtain written verification from the organization’s Human Resources confirming the position does not violate any labor laws. 

5. Part-time or Full-time

• Part-time CPT is 20 hours a week or less

  • Students can participate in part-time CPT when school is in session. 

  • If the CPT will take place during your final semester, only part-time CPT is allowed.  

• Full-time is 20+ hours a week

  • A student may participate in full-time CPT during the summer or breaks unless the student is in their first or last term.

  • **Any student who is authorized for one full year or more (365+ days) of full-time CPT loses eligibility for OPT at their degree level.**

6. Employment Dates: If the CPT eligibility is based on enrollment in a course (option #2), the CPT authorization must fall within the semester dates as listed on the College’s Academic Calendar. 

• There are circumstances when employment dates can fall outside the academic calendar. These instances will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 

  • Students requesting an exception should be prepared to provide documentation that explains the reason the position must start before the “classes begin” date and/or after the “end of Term” date as listed on the calendar.

Documentation may include:

• An offer letter, supplemental offer letter, email from the hiring manager proving the start/end date.
• Official job posting that states the required start and end date for interns accepted into the program
• Other documentation explaining the medical or other extenuating circumstance
• CPT may not overlap semesters. 
• Please contact your P/DSO to discuss your situation if you have questions.

7. Multiple CPT authorizations with the same employer: For CPTs that are not required by a degree program, students may not receive multiple CPT authorizations for the same experience.

• In rare cases, a student may be eligible for a second CPT authorization with the same employer, provided that the experience is significantly different from the first CPT authorization. (ex. Student receives a CPT authorization for an internship in marketing with Company A, and then submits a CPT request for a second internship with Company A in the field of Accounting).

• A student may not receive a second CPT authorization to extend a practical training experience. If a student wishes to gain additional practical training in the same position, the student would need to apply for pre-completion OPT.

F-1 students engaged in paid internships must have CPT or another form of employment authorization. However, even for unpaid internships, we strongly recommend students to apply for CPT. By obtaining CPT authorization even for unpaid training or internship activities, a student:

• is able to demonstrate to US immigration authorities that the activities were reviewed and approved by the student’s academic department and the International Programs department, and certified as integral and appropriate to their academic program

• is given the flexibility to accept compensation or payment or other forms of material benefits that would not otherwise be approvable or allowed without CPT authorization

• will have reassurance that any activities carried out that could be considered employment under US labor definitions were authorized

**Note that in many cases internship providers will also require students to obtain CPT approval as a condition of participating in the unpaid internship, to demonstrate that the interns are engaged in academic activities rather than employment. **

Unpaid Internships Defined: It is also important to realize that the US Department of Labor has set out several criteria that identify when an internship may be legitimately unpaid. Employers who fail to meet the criteria for unpaid internships may be expected to offer paid employment instead, and the interns may be expected to have appropriate authorization. Because an unpaid internship may actually be employment under Department of Labor guidelines, CPT authorization is strongly recommended for the purposes as well. The main criteria that determine whether an internship may be unpaid include the following factors:

• The internship, even though it includes actual operations on the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment;

• The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern;

• The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff;

• The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded;

• The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and

• The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship

If all of the criteria are satisfied then the internship may be considered a legitimate unpaid internship. However, in the event of any uncertainty, then obtaining authorization is recommended.

If you are planning to include an unpaid internship experience as a part of your employment history (i.e., on your resume or CV), then we strongly recommend obtaining a letter from your internship provider that verifies the dates and location of your internship, that your internship was unpaid, and a brief description of the duties and objectives associated with the internship. This information may be useful in the event that you are ever asked to document that the activities were appropriately structured as an unpaid internship.

CPT is authorized on a term-by-term basis and cannot extend past the start of a new term. Any practical training experience that extends into a new term will require a new CPT application and authorization. Exception: graduate students who have a multi-term internship or practicum requirement, or who are approved for CPT for research activities that are deemed integral to an approved thesis or dissertation requirement, can be authorized for CPT that extends beyond one term. However, students in this situation are obligated to continue to register for internship or research credits and maintain full-time enrollment each term.

• You cannot begin or continue CPT unless you have a Form I-20 from the International Center with CPT approval with active dates

• Retroactive CPT authorizations cannot be issued, i.e., the International Programs Center cannot approve CPT that has already started and/or completed. If CPT has already started and you have not alerted your P/DSO and it is not on your I-20, your work is UNAUTHORIZED and cannot be back dated. 

• If you start CPT without getting International Center approval first, you may be considered to be working without authorization.

You can be authorized to engage in CPT in your final term as long as the following requirements are met:

• You must still be working toward your degree requirements in your final term.

• Your CPT experience must either be required or optional training in your major (if the experience is optional, you must do the CPT for internship credit).

• CPT is limited to part-time (20 hours or less) if taking place during the fall or spring semesters.

  • For certain graduate programs full-time CPT may be permitted; see the section above on Part-time versus Full-time CPT.

Some students who are considering CPT may want to think about pre-completion OPT instead. Like CPT, pre-completion OPT allows for work related to your major. However, there some advantages and disadvantages, depending on each student’s plans. See the table below. While pre-completion OPT requires preparation well in advance, it does not need a job offer to get started and does not require registration for internship credit, which is a typical requirement for most CPT requests. 

CPT VS OPT

Step 1: Obtain an offer letter

To qualify for CPT, you must have a job offer from an internship provider. The internship site should provide a letter written on company letterhead that provides the following information:

1. 1. Name of the company or internship site

   2. Address where your training will take place (internship site address)

   3. Supervisor name and contact information

   4. Detailed description of internship or job duties

   5. Start and end dates of your internship

   6. Expected hours per week

   7. Salary information, if paid

   8. A statement from the employer declaring their support and cooperation to fulfill the curricular purposes of the employment/training

Step 2: Meet with your advisor and register through Handshake

Once you have an internship offer, it must be reviewed by an academic advisor or faculty member in your department. 

The academic advisor must determine if the training provides an appropriate learning experience in your major. If your department approves of the experience, they will assist you in registering for internship credit. If you are engaging in experiential learning and will not obtain credit, you still need approval from your advisor. 

You NEED to register for your experience through Handshake. Please contact CPDC if you are unsure how to do this. cpdc@nichols.edu or stop by the office on the 2nd floor of FELS.

Step 3: Submit CPT request to International Programs Office

You will need to use your Nichols email to complete the form.

You can also scan the QR code below to complete the form.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is meant to give F-1 students practical experience in their major field of study, and students can apply for it either during their program of study or after graduation. OPT generally lasts up to 12 months.

Before you can participate in OPT, you’ll need to get approval from US Citizenship and Immigration Services, which usually takes around 90-100 days, but processing times may vary. Students should plan ahead, attend a workshop in a timely manner, and apply as early as possible.

You do not need to have a job offer when you apply, but you are required to begin working on post-completion OPT within 90 days of the start date on your OPT EAD card in order to maintain valid F-1 status.

When classes are in session, pre-completion OPT can only be part-time (up to 20 hours per week). It can be full-time during the summer and other breaks.

During Post-completion OPT, you must work 20 hours or more per week. You can work with multiple organizations, as long as each position is directly related to your major field of study and cumulatively add up to at least 20 hours per week.

If you are considering an unpaid internship or position, you may do so during the regular post-completion OPT period, but you should get written verification that your position does not violate any local, state, and federal labor laws from an HR representative at your organization. Financial compensation is not the only indicator of employment.  

You can apply for OPT if: 

• You currently hold F-1 status.

• You have finished at least one academic year as a full-time student at a US institution.

• You have not participated in full-time CPT for 12 months or more at your degree level.

If you re-enter the US using a new SEVIS record after your previous record was terminated, you need to complete another academic year of full-time study before you can apply for OPT.

Below is an overview of the steps for applying for OPT. See OPT Frequently Asked Questions for additional details about these steps.

1. Sign up and participate in a virtual OPT workshop.

2. Prepare documents for the I-765. You can access a draft form here.

3. Address in the US. 

*The local US Postal Service will not deliver US government mail if they are not completely certain that the individual lives at the address.  The address you supply must be a valid address that you will have for at least four months and your name must be on the mailbox. Also  note, the USPS will not forward US government mail. If you move subsequent to your filing the application and do not notify the SErvice  Center, the card will be returned to the Center by the post office. It is your responsibility to notify the USPS in the event of an address  change. 

4. Schedule an OPT Review Appointment.

During your meeting, you will be issued a NEW I-20 with OPT requested, which you must have BEFORE filing USCIS petition for work authorization. If you file for OPT without your new I-20 with OPT requested, you will be denied. 

OPT Planning Tool

Driver’s License and State ID Guide

As of July 2023, eligible residents in Massachusetts can obtain a standard driver’s license or State ID, regardless of immigration status, under the Work and Family Mobility Act. 

Please note that this information is provided for general guidance only. It is your responsibility to consult official Massachusetts State RMV information and to abide by all applicable state and federal laws. 

International students who have an F-1 or J-1 visa are eligible to apply for a driver’s license at the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), Class D License. 

1. Getting a Learner’s Permit

The learner’s permit written test fee covers the cost of processing your application and administering your test. If you fail the test or your permit expires, you will be charged this fee again for another test. You’ll need to study the Driver’s Manual in order to prepare for the written test.  

2. Driving Lessons and School

If you don’t know how to drive, you will need to contact a local driving school and arrange to take driving lessons.The closest driving schools to campus are LaPorte’s Driving School and AAA of Worcester.

A state ID card would provide you with another form of identification rather than relying on your passport. 

How to Apply

Begin online at the MA state Apply for a Massachusetts Identification Card (MASS ID) page, which will outline application steps. 

Depending on your situation, you may need to go to a Registry of Motor Vehicles location in Massachusetts to complete your application. Locations closest to us are Webster, Southbridge, Auburn and Worcester.

Please note that all services are not necessarily available at all locations. It is important to check with the individual branch ahead of time.

DOCUMENTATION YOU MAY NEED TO APPLY

• A completed application form

• Proof of identity (passport, foreign national ID card, etc.)

• Your social security card (you must have a card; knowing the number will not be enough), OR a social security administration form indicating that your application for a social security number was denied.

  • To request a “Social Security Denial Letter,” visit the Social Security Office in persona and you will be presented a denial letter the same day of your request. 

• Proof of Massachusetts residency: To obtain a letter confirming your Massachusetts residency, please email the office at ip@nichols.edu.

• For REAL ID

  • Your most recent I-94 (to prove your visa status)

  • Your current I-20

  • Your SSN card