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In some cases, international students are eligible to apply for on-campus employment opportunities. There are only a limited number of these positions available each year and competition may be intense. Therefore, students should not rely upon obtaining part-time employment to fund college expenses, but rather they should have sufficient funds prior to their arrival at Lawrence Technological to support their educational objectives. To find out more about these opportunities, please visit the Career Services Office, C404. The Office of International Programs cannot help place you in an on campus job.
International students who are required by their degree program to obtain practical experience may be eligible for this type of training in a full-time or part-time capacity. To find out whether or not this is a requirement of your degree program, please check with your academic advisor or your department.
Please be advised to allow at least a one week notice for processing.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is an employment benefit which may be granted, under specific circumstances, to F-1 students to enable them to gain practical experience in their field of study by working off campus for a period of 1 year following completion of their studies.
This practical training lasts for a period of twelve months and starts when the international student receives permission from USCIS. Students do not need to have an employment offer to apply for this permission, however, per government regulations, only 90 days of unemployment are allowable during the 12-month OPT period.
Note: This work authorization is only available to F-1 students. If you are a J-1 student, please review the Academic Training information to learn about your work authorization.
You must apply for OPT at the International Programs Office no more than 90 days prior to your program end date, but it is recommended that you complete the OPT workshop requirement earlier in your last semester. To ensure that you can receive your employment authorization on time, you should complete the steps outlined below.
Photocopies of all prior I-20 forms
File your application online with USCIS and monitor your case status through your account.
Download the Guide to OPT for further detail on OPT. If you are ready for your appointment, please email international@ltu.edu for assistance.
OPT STEM is a 24-month extension of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment benefit which may be granted, under specific circumstances, to F-1 students who are currently engaged in OPT to enable them to continue their employment authorization so that they may continue to gain practical experience in their field of study.
Students must be recipients of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in certain STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields may be eligible for a one-time 24-month extension of post-completion OPT (for a total eligibility of up to 36 months). The 24-month Stem Extension OPT is adjudicated (approved) by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Download the Guide to OPT for further detail on STEM. If you would like to make an appointment, please email international@ltu.edu to request one. If you live out of state and need to do a STEM appointment, we can do the advising via email.
Academic Training is a period of authorized, off-campus employment (both paid & unpaid positions) that is directly related to a student’s field of study. J-1 students may participate in Academic Training either before or after graduation
The US Department of State Exchange Visitor Program regulations allow J-1 student visa holders to apply for Academic Training (AT) before and/or after completion of their program of studies.
Only students pursuing a degree are allowed to apply for Academic Training. Students become eligible for AT after they have been in lawful, full-time student status for one full academic year.
The cumulative period of Academic Training is 18 months, unless the student is pursuing a program that requires fewer than 18 months, in which case the period of Academic Training is shortened accordingly. The period of Academic Training cannot be longer than the period of time the student takes to complete his/her program of studies. For example, a student who completes a Master’s degree in one year is allowed only one year of Academic Training.
Student on academic training are allowed to work full-time during vacations, and up to 20 hours per week when school is in session. Remember that no student is allowed to work for more than 20 hours per week when school is in session. Therefore, if a student has an assistantship, she/he cannot be employed for Academic Training.
Download the J-1 Academic Training Guide for further details. Please email international@ltu.edu with questions regarding Academic Training.
In the United States, a Social Security Number (SSN) is a 9-digit number issued to citizens, permanent residents and temporary (working) non-residents by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Its primary purpose is to track individuals for taxation purposes; it is not intended to be used for identification purposes.
An SSN can only be issued to someone who is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or has a valid job offer and/or is eligible for legal employment
Currently, SSNs are only issued to non-residents who have an employment offer. In other words, you cannot get an SSN unless you have a job. If you get an on-campus job offer and do not have an SSN, you will need a verification letter from the Office of International Programs. You will need this letter in order to apply for an SSN. Your LTU supervisor will submit the SSN letter request to the Office of International Programs which will then generate the needed verification letter for you.
Some employers allow international students to start working once the application is filed although the number has not been assigned yet. Some employers do not allow this, so you must speak to your employer to find out their policy on SSNs.
Students do not need a SSN to register for classes at LTU, get a driver’s license in Michigan or open a bank account. However, landlords and utility, cable and cell phone companies may request an SSN to do a credit check to determine the amount of deposit they will require to secure housing or to activate services. Students without an SSN may be required to pay a higher deposit payment prior to receiving service.
Please remember that the Office of International Programs cannot issue an SSN or apply for an SSN on your behalf.
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