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Overview
Student Immigration Definitions
Obtaining
F-1 Student Status at Columbia
Important Information for Students Fully Funded
by Columbia University
Transfer
of F-1 Supervision
Change
of Status to F-1
Message
for Canadian Students
Potential
Delays in Visa Issuance
Dependents
Student Tax
Information
Maintaining
F-1 Status
I-20 Recertification
Academic Certification for Travel
F-1
Travel Information
Govt Q &
A for F-1 Travel
DHS Information on Arrival Problems
F-1
Extension of Stay (Current Program)
F-1
Extension of Stay to Begin New Program
F-1
Reinstatement
F-1
Work Opportunities
F-1
Practical Training (PT) Overview
F-1
Curricular Practical Training
F-1
Optional PT Before Degree Completion
F-1
Optional PT After Degree Completion
STEM 17-month OPT extension
F-1
Internship with an International Organization
F-1
Leave of Absence, Suspension or Withdrawal
Student Departure Information
F-1
Last Term Authorization
Inviting Relatives/Friends to Visit You
Address
Change Form
Applying
for a Social Security Number
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Practical Training Overview for Students in F-1 Status
One of the important benefits of the F-1 student status is practical
training (PT), which allows you to apply for temporary employment in your
field of study. Practical Training is a privilege of F-1 status for which
some F-1 students may qualify; it is not an entitlement of F-1 status.
It may be available to F-1 students both before and after completing a
course of study. The objective of practical training employment is not
financial—rather, it is to provide the opportunity for the practical
application of your academic studies. There are three other types of employment
under F-1 immigration status which allow for employment of up to a total
of 20 hours per week during the academic term and fulltime during the
summers which may be more appropriate for you. If you find that practical
training does not apply to your circumstances, please refer to International
Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) information on F-1 on-campus employment and F-1 off-campus employment based on financial need.
Getting permission to work is only one part of the process - to engage
in practical training, you will need to find a job related to your field
of study. If you need help in your job search, take advantage of all the
resources available to you: the Center for Career Education or your school's placement office,
your faculty adviser, other faculty and friends in your division or department,
newspapers or professional journals, and so on.
Practical Training Information will detail the following categories of
practical training:
- Curricular practical training (before completion of your studies)
- Optional practical training, available in the following variations:
- optional
practical training before completion of your studies:
- practical training during the annual vacation
- practical training after completion of all course requirements
for the degree except the thesis or equivalent, or
- practical training while school is in session, provided that
employment does not exceed 20 hours per week
- optional
practical training after completion of your studies
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) 17-month extension of optional practical
training after the initial period of authorized post-completion OPT.
This information should answer most of your questions on practical training.
If you have additional questions regarding PT, you may wish to attend
the F-1 Employment Information Sessions offered by the ISSO. Naturally,
if you still have questions about practical training - or you need the
information before the seminars are offered - you may drop by the ISSO.
Students whose immigration documents were processed by the International Affairs Office at the Medical Center should
contact the IAO for specific procedures.
Last Reviewed: 17 February 2011 Last modified: 17 February 2011
International Students and Scholars Office
Columbia University
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