EPCS has compiled the following information about options for international students to get work experience in the U.S. This is only an overview. Please contact UW-Madison's International Student Services (ISS) office for more detailed information and advising about student visas and employment for international students.

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Visas and Work Options

• F-1 Visas
  • Optional Practical Training
  • Curricular Practical Training
• J-1 Visas
  • Academic Training

F-1 Visas

The F-1 Visa is the most common visa issued to students. It is used for individuals who want to study at an accredited U.S. college or university or to study English at a university or intensive English language institute. Students are issued a visa that is limited to the length of their course of study plus a short grace period (60 days) to allow them to prepare to return to their home country.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) :

Students on an F-1 visa are given the opportunity to gain practical work experience in a position that is directly related to their field of study for up to 12 months total either during or after completion of their program of study (or a combination). If they choose to undertake OPT during their course of study, they must have completed one year of academic coursework (at their U.S. institution) and are limited to working 20 hours per week when school is in session and 40 hours per week during holiday periods. Regardless of how many hours an individual works per week, the OPT time limit is 12 months. It is NOT required that an OPT position be a paid position, however, for post-completion OPT, the individual will be required to show proof of personal or family funds which cover their living expenses during that period.

Students who have a STEM degree may be eligible to request a 17-month extension beyond their initial 12-month OPT. They must be in their initial period of post-completion OPT to apply for the extension. The STEM degrees include degrees in the following areas: Computer Science Applications, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Actuarial Science, Mathematics and Statistics, Engineering, Military Technologies, Engineering Technologies, Physical Sciences, Science Technologies, Medical Scientist.

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Curricular Practical Training (CPT) :

It should be noted that OPT is separate from CPT. CPT allows an international student who is enrolled in academic study full-time to participate in an off-campus internship or in other practical training “that is an integral part of an established curriculum” (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Students must take CPT for graded academic credit. As long as CPT is part time or is full time for 364 days or fewer, it does not impact the student’s OPT eligibility. However, if a student is in CPT full time for 12 months or longer, he/she forfeits OPT.

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J-1 Visas

The J-1 visa is an exchange visitor visa and may be issued to students who enter the U.S. under an educational exchange program (more than half their funding must come from sources other than family or personal funds). For example, students who are funded by their home government, by a scholarship program such as Fulbright, or by their university may be issued a J-1 visa. As with F-1 visas, students are issued a visa that is limited to the length of their course of study plus a short grace period (60 days) to allow them to prepare to return to their home country. In addition, some J-1 visas and their funding sources include the stipulation that the student must return to their home country for a minimum of two years upon completion of their studies. This is often referred to as a post-study residency requirement.

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Academic Training (AT):

Students on a J-1 visa are typically allowed to undertake a period of “academic training” (AT) in order to allow them to gain practical work experience off campus in their field of study.

Undergraduate and Master’s students are allowed to work for a maximum of 18 months, inclusive of any prior AT in the U.S. as an exchange visitor. However, for degree programs that are less than 18 months, the AT period cannot exceed the length of the degree (e.g. a student completing a nine-month LLM is allowed only nine months of academic training). AT may be undertaken during the course of study, after degree completion, or in combination.

Ph.D. students are permitted an initial 18-month period of AT and may request one 18-month, post-completion extension, for a total of 36 months of AT. However, their total period of AT must not exceed the total length of their doctorate program.

Post-completion AT must be paid employment. Graduates must have a firm offer of paid employment and must request approval for AT within 30 days of completing their degree requirements or they lose their eligibility. The 18-month AT period begins upon degree completion regardless of when employment begins. Therefore, if a graduate begins their AT employment 30 days after completing their degree requirements, they are only allowed to work for 17 months.

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