Work authorization for on-campus employment is a benefit of maintaining your F-1 status. You are eligible to start on-campus employment in your first semester at RPI.

You are able to work for 20 hours or less per week during the semester per federal regulations. You are able to work for more than 20 hours during the summer.

You cannot work after the Program End Date on your I-20. You are responsible for making sure that you update Glacier (Payroll system) in your final semester with your Program End Date to ensure that Payroll is informed of the last day you can be employed as a student at RPI.

Assistantships (RA/TA)

• Research assistantships or teaching assistantships are awarded to you by your academic department. ISSS is not involved in this process. Your assistantship should be reflected on your I-20 in the Financial section. If it is not, please request a new I-20 from ISSS to update the finances.
• New students: You can begin working in your position as a RA/TA as of the first day of classes in your first semester. You do not need authorization from ISSS to begin employment. You must apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) if you do not already have one. Please see the SSN section for details on how to apply.

Other On-Campus Employment

• RPI offers on-campus employment that is not through a RA/TA position. To see the Student Employment website, click here.
  • Under "Job Postings and Research and Teaching Assistantships", click the link for Handshake.
• New students: You can begin working in your on-campus position as of the first day of classes in your first semester. You do not need authorization from ISSS to begin employment.
• You must apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) if you do not already have one. Please see the SSN section for details on how to apply.

Work authorization for off-campus employment is a benefit of maintaining your F-1 status. You are eligible to request off-campus employment that can start after you have completed one full academic year. Working without proper authorization will negatively impact your F-1 status.

Work authorization can only be issued for employment that is related to your major(s) at RPI.

Work can be paid, unpaid, or "volunteer" work. Work may be called "volunteering" by an employer, but is really unpaid work.

Actual volunteering is considered altruistic. Examples of this include feeding the homeless at a soup kitchen or walking the dogs at an animal shelter. If you have questions about what is volunteering, please schedule an appointment to meet with ISSS.

Off-campus employment requires work authorization before you begin working. There are two types of work authorization:

1. Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
2. Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Most students at RPI use CPT for work authorization while they are a student, and then use OPT for work authorization to work after graduation.

To learn more about each type of work authorization, expand the sections below on CPT and OPT.

International students are eligible to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) only if they have employment or work authorization (via EAD card from USCIS or CPT from ISSS). If you do not meet these criteria, you are not eligible to apply for a SSN.

The process to apply for a SSN is different depending on the type of employment you have: RA/TA, other on-campus employment, CPT, or OPT. Please see the appropriate sub-section that applies to you.

Note that for ALL first semester students, you must complete ISSS Electronic Check-In before we can complete your registration in SEVIS and write your SSN application letter, which is required to apply for a SSN. ISSS will complete your SEVIS registration by the 4th week of semester. In order to expedite processing, please do not contact ISSS prior to the 4th week of the semester.

• If you are an RA/TA
  1. Submit a copy of your RA/TA award letter to ISSS in the Social Security Number (SSN) Letter Request online: https://bit.ly/SSN-letter
  2. Create/update your Glacier account with Payroll, then schedule an appointment to submit your documentation to Payroll.
  3. ISSS will send you an email when the SSN application letter is issued, and provide guidance on the next steps.
• If you hold Other On-Campus Employment
  1. Complete the Social Security Number (SSN) Letter Request online: https://bit.ly/SSN-letter
     • In the request, y​​​​​​ou will be provided a form that your supervisor must complete.
  2. Create/update your Glacier account with Payroll, then schedule an appointment to submit your documentation to Payroll.
  3. ISSS will send you an email when the SSN application letter is issued, and provide guidance on the next steps.
• If you are on CPT
  1. First apply for CPT through ISSS. After you have received your new I-20 with the work authorization, then gather your new I-20 and CPT letter from your employer, and see this link for the next steps to apply for your SSN: https://rpi.box.com/v/SSNinstructionsF1
  2. You do not need a letter from ISSS to apply for your SSN, as the I-20 states we have issued you work authorization.
  • ** Note that you must apply for your SSN during the period of time when you have work authorization. You will be denied if you apply outside of the time period listed on your I-20.
• If you are on OPT
  1. First apply for OPT through ISSS. After you have received your EAD Card from USCIS with proof of your work authorization, then take your new EAD card and see this link for the next steps to apply for your SSN: https://rpi.box.com/v/SSNinstructionsF1
  2. You do not need a letter from ISSS to apply for your SSN, as the EAD card states USCIS has issued you work authorization.
  • ** Note that you must apply for your SSN during the period of time when you have work authorization. You will be denied if you apply outside of the time period listed on your EAD card.

What is my SSN commonly used for?

• Your SSN is commonly used when you file tax documents, start employment, open a bank account, open a credit card, open a cell phone account and apply for an apartment. You should not be asked for your SSN over the phone, and if you are, that is a sign that it might be a scam.
• Do not provide it over the phone or email to anyone!

What if someone asks me for my SSN?

• Your SSN is a unique number and it is something you must keep safe. It is what identifies you in many different government systems, and it is important to report if there is any fraud with your SSN. Your employer will always ask you for your SSN, and this is normal to provide it to them by showing your card in person to Human Resources.
• For security reasons, you should never provide your SSN over the phone or via email.

What if I already have a SSN?

• You only get one SSN. The number will never change. If you have a SSN, you do not need to apply for a new one.

Students are often asked to obtain a SSN for opening a bank account or renting an apartment. If you do not have employment, you cannot get a SSN. So what can you do instead?

If you do not qualify for a Social Security Number, you should complete the Form SS-5 (https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf) and submit this to the Social Security Administration (SSA) along with photocopies of your passport and visa. You can submit your documents by going in-person to 120 Hoosick St, Suite 12A-1, Troy, NY 12180. This letter can often be used in lieu of obtaining a SSN because you are not eligible to get one.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) offers F-1 students an opportunity for off-campus work experience where the employment is an integral part of the student's degree program. This means work must be related to the degree at RPI.

All off-campus employment (paid, unpaid, or "volunteer") requires students to obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization from ISSS before they start. CPT is issued by ISSS.

Types of CPT

• There are two types of CPT: part-time CPT and full-time CPT.
  • Part-time CPT occurs when you work for 20 hours or less per week. Part-time CPT does not have any impact on your ability to get Optional Practical Training (OPT).
  • Full-time CPT occurs when you work for more than 20 hours per week. Full-time CPT may impact your ability to get OPT. If you use 365 days of full-time CPT, you will lose the ability to get OPT. If you use 364 days or less of full-time CPT, you should be eligible to obtain OPT.

Am I eligible to apply for CPT?

• To be eligible for CPT, you must have been enrolled full-time for one full academic year in a status that permits work (usually F-1).
  • This means a fall and a spring semester or a spring and a fall semester must be completed before the CPT can start.
  • You can apply for CPT before the end of the second semester of the full academic year, but it cannot start until that semester is finished.
• You must be enrolled in a class for academic credit during the semester you intend to use CPT. For more details on this, see the next question.

How do I apply for CPT?

There are two ways you can get CPT at RPI: Co-op or Alternate CPT Approval. See each section below for details. ISSS recommends you work with CCPD to check if you are eligible for Co-op, as that is the preferred option for CPT.

To see a visual overview of the differences between these two processes, click this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/CPTprocessoptions

• RPI Co-op
  • RPI has a Cooperative Education Program managed by the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) called Co-op. Students can opt to participate in the Co-op program to obtain CPT authorization from ISSS.
  • Co-op has specific requirements set by CCPD, so plan at least 2 months in advance of when you wish to start working and connect with CCPD to learn more about the Co-op requirements.
  • A co-op is the quickest and easiest way to get Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work authorization.
  • Co-op requires four approvals: CCPD, your academic advisor, Graduate Program Director, and ISSS. You obtain these approvals by getting signatures on the Graduate Co-op Work Plan document provided to you by CCPD after you meet with them to determine your Co-op eligibility.
  • After you are approved for Co-op by all other offices, then you must submit your paperwork to ISSS to request CPT (and ISSS Co-op approval).
  • There is an online request for students to submit the co-op paperwork they receive from CCPD, available here: https://bit.ly/COOPapplication
• Alternate CPT Approval
  • Students may be permitted to participate in CPT with departmental approval and OGE approval through a process called Alternate CPT Approval.
  • There is an online request for students to request Alternate CPT Approval, available here: https://bit.ly/CPTrequest
    • For summer only positions, graduate students requesting Alternate CPT Approval use a different process, available here: https://bit.ly/CPTrequest-SUMMERONLY
  • The Alternate CPT Approval process in fall and spring requires four documents:
    • A form signed by your Academic Advisor and OGE (form available inside the online request)
    • Proof of registration in an internship course (many departments do not have an existing course, so you need to work with them to determine if there is a course or if an Independent Study will work). You cannot use a course being taken for a different purpose, such as Dissertation, to fulfill this requirement.
    • Copy of course syllabus
    • Offer letter from employer with specific information (details available inside the online request)
  • The Alternate CPT Approval process in summer requires two documents:
    • A form signed by your Academic Advisor and OGE (form available inside the online request)
    • Offer letter from employer with specific information (details available inside the online request)
    • OGE enrolls you in 1 credit summer ADMN course and you are responsible for paying tuition and fees for this one credit course You will be added to LMS where you can view syllabus and required deliverables. This is a graded S/U course and you must submit the work.

How long does it take to get CPT?

• The documentation processes for Co-op or Alternate CPT Approval can take anywhere from four to eight weeks.
• It takes ISSS at least 5 business days to process the documents after you submit them to our office. Plan in advance and get your documentation in to the appropriate offices!

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) offers F-1 students an opportunity for off-campus work experience where the employment is an integral part of the student's degree program. This means work must be related to the degree at RPI.

All off-campus employment (paid, unpaid, or "volunteer") requires students to obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization from ISSS before they start. CPT is issued by ISSS.

Types of CPT

• There are two types of CPT: part-time CPT and full-time CPT.
  • Part-time CPT occurs when you work for 20 hours or less per week. Part-time CPT does not have any impact on your ability to get Optional Practical Training (OPT).
  • Full-time CPT occurs when you work for more than 20 hours per week. Full-time CPT may impact your ability to get OPT. If you use 365 days of full-time CPT, you will lose the ability to get OPT. If you use 364 days or less of full-time CPT, you should be eligible to obtain OPT.

Am I eligible to apply for CPT?

• To be eligible for CPT, you must have been enrolled full-time for one full academic year in a status that permits work (usually F-1).
  • This means a fall and a spring semester or a spring and a fall semester must be completed before the CPT can start.
  • You can apply for CPT before the end of the second semester of the full academic year, but it cannot start until that semester is finished.
• You must be enrolled in a class for academic credit during the semester you intend to use CPT. For more details on this, see the next question.

How do I apply for CPT?

There are three ways you can get CPT at RPI: Co-op, Alternate CPT Approval, or Arch Semester Away CPT. See each section below for details. ISSS recommends you work with CCPD to check if you are eligible for Co-op, as that is the preferred option for CPT unless you are in your Semester Away.

To see a visual overview of the differences between these two processes, click this link: https://rpi.box.com/v/CPTprocessoptions

• RPI Co-op
  • RPI has a Cooperative Education Program managed by the Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) called Co-op. Students can opt to participate in the Co-op program to obtain CPT authorization from ISSS.
  • Co-op has specific requirements set by CCPD, so plan at least 2 months in advance of when you wish to start working and connect with CCPD to learn more about the Co-op requirements.
  • A co-op is the quickest and easiest way to get Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work authorization.
  • Co-op requires three approvals: CCPD, your academic advisor, and ISSS. You obtain these approvals by getting signatures on the Undergraduate Co-op Work Plan document provided to you by CCPD after you meet with them to determine your Co-op eligibility.
  • After you are approved for Co-op by all other offices, then you must submit your paperwork to ISSS to request CPT (and ISSS Co-op approval).
  • There is an online request for students to submit the co-op paperwork they receive from CCPD, available here: https://bit.ly/COOPapplication
  • DO NOT use this option if you are doing a position to fulfill your Arch Semester Away requirement. Instead, see the section “Arch Semester Away CPT”.
• Alternate CPT Approval
  • Students may be permitted to participate in CPT with departmental approval through a process called Alternate CPT Approval.
  • There is an online request for students to request Alternate CPT Approval, available here: https://bit.ly/CPTrequest
  • The Alternate CPT Approval process requires four documents:
    • A form signed by your Academic Advisor (form available inside the online request)
    • Proof of registration in an internship course (many departments do not have an existing course, so you need to work with them to determine if there is a course or if an Independent Study will work). You cannot use a course being taken for a different purpose, such as a free elective, to fulfill this requirement.
    • Copy of course syllabus
    • Offer letter from employer with specific information (details available inside the online request)
  • DO NOT use this option if you are doing a position to fulfill your Arch Semester Away requirement. Instead, see the section “Arch Semester Away CPT”.
• Arch Semester Away CPT
  • Students must complete a Semester Away to graduate from RPI. To learn about the options available to you during the Semester Away, click here: https://the-arch.rpi.edu/semester-away-opportunities.
  • Four of the options during the Semester Away may require Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work authorization before starting a position: Civic Engagement, Co-op/Internship, Research*, and Self-Design.
  • CPT is required if a student is physically inside of the U.S. OR if they are outside of the U.S. working remotely for a U.S. company. All work must be directly related to the student’s major at RPI.
  • To learn about the steps to get CPT for each experience, click the link then expand the appropriate section: https://info.rpi.edu/international-services-students-and-scholars/current-students-arch/#SemesterAwayExperienceOptions.
  • *For Research positions, if you are performing research at RPI, CPT is not required because this falls under on-campus employment.

How long does it take to get CPT?

• The documentation processes for Co-op, Alternate CPT Approval, and Arch Semester Away CPT can take anywhere from four weeks to eight weeks.
• It takes ISSS at least 5 business days to process the documents after you submit them to our office. Plan in advance and get your documentation in to the appropriate offices!

Students in their final semester are eligible to apply for OPT to work after graduation. For an overview, see this infographic: https://rpi.box.com/v/OPTApplicationProcess.

Have questions about OPT? View our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document: https://rpi.box.com/v/OPTfrequentquestions

Follow these steps:

1. Complete the OPT Workshop to learn about OPT requirements: https://bit.ly/RPIOPTWorkshop
   • This workshop is mandatory, and must be completed for you to apply for OPT.
2. Submit completed OPT application to ISSS: https://bit.ly/RPIOPTApplication
   • Allow 5 business days for processing and review of the OPT application
   • After the application is processed, you will receive an email with instructions on how to get the new I-20.
3. After you receive the new I-20 with the OPT recommendation, you will apply for OPT with USCIS.

Pre-Completion OPT is a work authorization option available to students before graduation. For more information on this option, please meet with an ISSS advisor.

The STEM OPT Extension is a 24-month work authorization for students who completed a STEM degree. TYou must first be in an approved period of Post-Completion OPT before you are eligible to apply for STEM OPT.

For more information, see the Alumni page in the Employment section - Applying for STEM OPT.