On-campus employment is available for students to begin immediately upon enrollment
at Monroe Community College without special work authorization required. However,
students should seek guidance from International Services to ensure that the hiring
process with the college goes smoothly.
Off-campus employment is not permitted without first obtaining the required work authorization, either from International
Services or the United States government. Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an option for pursuing internships off-campus, while Optional Practical Training (OPT) is great for employment authorization after graduation.
Students must use caution when pursuing unpaid or volunteer "work" opportunities and should consult with International
Services before beginning.
Applying for a U.S. Social Security number (SSN) is an important part of the employment process, which International Services is here
to assist you with.
All international students are required to file U.S. tax forms each year. Tax reporting is required even if you have not worked, but it is especially
important if you have been employed.
Although there are limits, international students (F-1) in the United States have options for employment benefits in the United States.
International students are generally permitted to work on-campus at MCC. You must have a valid Form I-20 issued by MCC, enroll in a full course of study and otherwise maintain your F-1 status. Your I-20 is proof of work eligibility; no special work permission is required to begin, but there are certain regulations that must be followed:
CPT is a temporary authorization for off-campus work or "practical training" which is directly related to your major or field of study. Practical training can include employment, an internship experience, a cooperative (co-op) experience, or required practicum for your program. It can be paid or unpaid. CPT must be authorized by International Services. Please schedule an appointment with International Services if you are interested in pursuing CPT.
These are some regulations to keep in mind for CPT:
OPT provides F-1 students with an opportunity to apply for work or "practical training" authorization in the United States that is directly related to their academic field of study (major).
Post-completion OPT gives F-1 students the opportunity to work for up to 12 months in their field of study following completion of their degree program. Students on post-completion OPT must work full-time, more than 20 hours per week. There is no maximum for the number of hours a student can work on post-completion OPT.
Although pre-completion OPT is an option International Services recommends utilizing the CPT benefit (above) whenever possible for students wishing to pursue off-campus work while still pursuing their studies. If CPT is not possible, then pre-completion OPT can be considered for students still pursuing their academic program. Please note any pre-completion OPT time utilized will automatically deduct from post-completion OPT time in the future. For example, if a student uses 4 months of pre-completion OPT, they will only have 8 months of post-completion OPT remaining to work after graduation. Pre-completion OPT does not require a job offer to apply for work authorization, as CPT does. However, it is recommended to have a job offer to ensure that the work benefit is utilized. While on pre-completion OPT, work hours are limited. Students can work part-time only, a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic term. Students on pre-completion OPT may only increase work to more than 20 hours per week during the annual vacation period (summer term).
OPT authorization requires students to receive a recommendation from International Services And submit an I-765 application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). There is currently an application fee of $410 USD and applications take approximately 2+ months for USCIS to approve. It is highly recommended to file online due to better processing times.
You are eligible to apply for OPT if you meet the following criteria:
If you are interested in applying for OPT, please schedule an appointment with International Services to go over the OPT application process and regulations. For post-completion OPT, schedule your appointment in your final semester of study. For pre-completion OPT, you must be nearing completion of one academic year in F-1 status. In this OPT appointment, International Services will:
Please note that you are limited to a maximum of 90 days of unemployment while on your 12 months of approved OPT. This benefit is designed for students seeking bona fide employment in the United States. If you exceed 90 days of unemployment you will be required to depart the United States, transfer to another school or otherwise maintain status.
Students approved for OPT at the associate's degree level are not eligible to apply for the 24-month STEM Extension of OPT at this time.The STEM Extension is only available to students completing a degree at the bachelor’s degree level or higher.
This F-1 employment benefit is intended to address situations where severe financial need beyond the student's control arises, which was unforeseen at the time the student applied to the school he/she is currently attending, and after all other potential employment opportunities have proven to be insufficient. Examples include:
Like OPT, this employment authorization has an application fee and takes approximately 3 months or more to be reviewed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Students must have completed at least 1 year in F-1 status to apply. The application requires recommendation and assistance from International Services.
Approved applications are rare! Highly recommended to seek other financial options first. If approved, students are required to maintain full-time enrollment and can work up to 20 hours per week during the semesters and full-time during school breaks. Approved students can work anywhere; not limited to the student's field of study.
F-1 students may only obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) for employment purposes!
If you want the SSN in order to apply for a driver's license, it is not needed! Please see International Services for assistance with the process of obtaining a NYS driver's license.
You are not eligible to apply for SSN unless you have a job offer. The simplest way is to seek on-campus employment, but you can also apply for SSN if you have a job offer from CPT or have received your Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) for OPT. If you receive a job offer and apply for the SSN, you are required to fulfill your employment obligations to the employer!
First, request and receive an offer letter from the employer.
Next, schedule an appointment with International Services and bring the employment letter with you. International Services will provide you with an employment authorization letter at this appointment.
You must take the following original documents (no copies) to the Social Security Administration to apply for the SSN in person:
You must fill out the Social Security Card application online BEFORE visiting the Social Security Administration:
After you complete the application online, you will be directed to schedule an appointment online as well. We recommend scheduling an appointment to avoid long wait times when you arrive to the Social Security Administration office with your documents.
The Social Security Administration is located at: 200 E Main Street, Second Floor, Rochester NY 14604. They are open from 9:00am to 4:00pm on Monday through Fridayand are closed Saturday, Sunday, and on all U.S. federal holidays. This office is located about a 15-minute drive from the MCC Brighton campus. They strongly recommend calling ahead at (800) 772-1213 for assistance or to make an appointment.
You should receive your Social Security card in the mail within 1 to 2 weeks of applying. It will be printed on a blue card and you must sign your name on it. You must visit MCC Human Resources (Building 6, Room 301), or your hiring manager immediately upon receipt of your card to complete your employment paperwork. Failure to do so could result in loss of your job offer.
Keep your Social Security card in a safe place at home: Not in your wallet or backpack. Your SSN is very sensitive information and can be used to steal your identity. Do not give your SSN to anyone except for employment purposes or when absolutely necessary — such as banking, applying for housing, or purchasing a car.
All international students are required to file tax forms to the U.S. government (IRS) in the spring of each year, for the previous tax year. They are due by April 15.
You must file tax forms even if you did not work or earn income! You still must report your presence in the United States to the IRS.
International Services will send detailed information and instructions to you each spring semester by email about tax filing requirements. There is a tax preparation website you can use to help file your tax forms. The company is called Sprintax. It is especially for international students who are considered U.S. non-residents. In most cases, you cannot use tax preparation software meant for U.S. residents and citizens, like Turbo Tax.
