Resources for International Students

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) requires that non-immigrants entry documents (I-20/DS-2019) be valid for at least one year into the future in order to apply for a Pennsylvania State ID or a driver's license. Therefore, those approaching the end of their program will need to wait for OPT approval or until they have new I-20s for continued education before applying/renewing a license. 

New students must wait 14 days from their SEVIS registration before they are eligible to apply for a driver's license or state ID. More information is available on the DMV website.

If you have never driven a vehicle in PA, you will first apply for a Learner’s Permit and take a written test. After learning how to drive, applicants then take a road test to obtain a driver’s license. The driver’s license application also includes a physical exam that can be conducted at a doctor’s office.

Students must bring the following items when applying:

• Social Security Card or letter of ineligibility from the Social Security Administration (see above)
• Two proofs of residency (lease agreement, utility bill, phone bill, W-2, tax records, bank statement, package address with your name on it, etc.)
• Check or money order for $45.50
• I-20/DS-2019
• Most recent I-94
• Passport
• Visa
• EAD (if applicable)

Students must apply in person at any DMV that offers Driver’s License/Learner’s Permit Services. Locations and operating hours can be found online. 

International students are only eligible for a Social Security Number (SSN) once they have secured employment in the U.S. Students are not eligible for an SSN if they are not working. New students must wait 14 days after SEVIS Registration is complete in order to apply for an SSN. 

After you receive an SSN, it is important to remember that you will need to pay taxes, this happens every April. It is also very important to keep your SSN safe. DO NOT carry your social security card with you. It is best to memorize your SSN and leave it in a safe place. Once you obtain an SSN, it is yours for life. If you lose your Social Security Card, you will need to contact the Social Security Administration for a replacement. 

Application Procedure

1. Obtain an offer letter from your employer.
2. Submit your offer letter to your International Student Advisor so we can issue you a support letter for your SSN application. 
3. Once you have your offer letter and support letter from your DSO, you will take those items as well as the following documents to the Social Security Administration:
   • Complete the application form, Form SS-5
   • Passport
   • Visa
   • Arcadia ID
   • A copy of your most recent I-94 
   • Your most recent I-20/DS-2019
   • Employer letter
   • DSO support letter

The Social Security Administration has two offices near campus:

701 E Chelten Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19144

2 Penn Center Suite 2000B
1500 John F. Kennedy Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19102

The Social Security Office is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 3:30 p.m.

If you are looking to apply for a credit card or driver's license but do not qualify for an SSN, you will need to obtain a Letter of Ineligibility from the Social Security Administration. To obtain this, you will bring your passport, visa, I-20/DS-2019, and most recent I-94 to the Social Security Administration's office listed above and request a 'Letter of Ineligibility'. 

With an F-1 visa, international students can obtain authorization for the following types of work: Pre-Completion OPT, Optional Practical Training (OPT), STEM OPT, Curricular Practical Training (CPT), and on-campus positions. Students are not permitted to work off-campus unless it is authorized. Please discuss your options with your DSO before starting any sort of work. 

Undergraduates

Students do not need any work authorization to work on Arcadia's campus. Undergraduates looking to work on campus should talk to staff in the Office of Career Education. They will help you find a placement. Once you have secured work, please check in with advisor to review regulations. If you need to obtain an SSN, please see the section above with details on how to apply.  It is important to note that international students are not eligible for positions categorized as "work-study". 

Graduates

Graduates can work on campus as Graduate Assistants. Graduate Assistants are considered contractors and work on personal projects that a department will identify. If you are interested in being a Graduate Assistant, please contact the Office of Career Education at StudentEmployment@arcadia.edu. Note you will need a SSN: If you need to obtain an SSN, please see the section detailing how to apply for one below.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is intended to provide F-1 students the opportunity to obtain work experience in the U.S. where it serves as an integral part of a student's academic program and established curriculum, prior to the completion of that program. CPT includes internships, practicum, research, and clinical rotations.  If a student engages in unlawful employment, they are no longer eligible for practical training and it may affect their visa status. CPT is regulated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 

Eligibility for CPT/Internships

• Student has been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for a minimum of one academic year. 
• Practical training must directly relate to a students program of study/major
• CPT must be an integral and required part of an established curriculum. The internship/practical training must be required by your major for the awarding of a degree. 
• Student must be enrolled in a credit bearing course that directly oversees the internship. This includes summer sessions.

Requirements for authorization

• Student meets all above criteria for application
• CPT requires a job offer before authorization.
• CPT must be authorized and completed prior to graduation.
• CPT can be paid or unpaid but students must apply for a Social Security Number if it is paid. 
• CPT can be authorized for up to 12 months.  However, students who work full-time for 365 days become ineligible for OPT.

Approved Working Hours
Part-Time Training

• While classes are in session, you can engage in CPT on a part-time basis, limited to no more than 20 hours per week.

Full-Time Training

• You may engage in full-time CPT during official University breaks and vacation.
• Full-time CPT allows the student to work more than 20 hours per week.
• If you participate in 12 months or more of full-time curricular practical training, you will not be eligible for post-completion optional practical training (OPT). Part-time CPT hours have no effect on post-Graduation OPT.
• A PhD student can also engage in full-time CPT during his /her dissertation and CPT authorization ends when the student defends the dissertation.

Application Procedures
It is important to note that students must apply for CPT prior to starting work. Working without authorization is a violation of the F-1 visa and may affect a students immigration status.

1. Enroll in the course that corresponds with the work experience you are requesting.
2. Obtain a job offer letter from employer (Use this template) and include: 
1. Start and end date of employment (must overlap with academic course)
2. Number of intended hours per week
3. Name and contact information for supervisor
4. Address/location of employment
5. Job description 
3. Complete the CPT Application with your academic advisor or professor leading the course. 

Send the offer letter and completed application to Jessica Doyle doylej@arcadia.edu or deliver to the Office of Civic and Global Engagement at 6 Royal Ave. Incomplete paperwork will not be accepted.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is available to an F-1 student who has been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for a minimum of one academic year.  If a student has engaged in unlawful employment, they are no longer eligible for practical training.  OPT allows a student who has successfully completed their degree to participate in one year of work authorization directly related to their major. There are several different kinds of OPT. Pre-Completion, Post-Completion, and STEM. 

• Pre-Completion OPT: If a student wishes to work in a field related to their major but their program does not allow for CPT, they can apply for Pre-Completion OPT. This allows students to work on for a limited amount of time prior to graduation. Pre-completion OPT deducts from the available 12 months of post completion OPT.
• Post-Completion OPT: This is the most common type of OPT and allows students to work for up to 12 months after degree completion in their field of study. 
• STEM OPT: This is permissible who have specific STEM degrees. Students can check this by cross-referencing the CIP code listed on the I-20 with the government-approved list of STEM degrees here. STEM OPT allows students to work for an additional 24 months after their initial year of Post-Completion OPT. 

In order to be eligible for OPT, students must: 

• Have been lawfully enrolled as a full-time student for at least one academic year (2 semesters).
• Have less than 365 days of CPT at the same school and educational level. 
• Be in valid F-1 status.
• Have met program/degree requirements and therefore, are graduating.

The application process can be daunting, but your International Student Advisor is here to help. The earliest a student can apply for OPT is around 3 months prior to degree completion. Application for OPT can take up to 90 days.  Students can apply up to 90 days before the end date of the I-20 or up to 60 days after the end date of the I-20.  Most students apply for OPT to begin after degree completion, but it is possible to begin before graduation. However, students can only work up to 20 hours per week while classes are in session but can work full-time during school breaks.

When students are ready to apply for OPT, collect the following document:

• A copy of your passport for at least 6-months into the future
• A copy of the F-1 visa
  • It is okay if this is expired
• Copies of all previously issued I-20s from Arcadia University
  • You need to make copies of all pages of the I-20, if you attended another institution in the U.S., you do not need copies of those I-20s. 
• A check or money order payable to the 'U.S. Department of Homeland Security' for $470.00.
• Two passport-sized photos
  • We encourage students to obtain these from a local CVS or Walgreen to ensure they meet the requirements. 
• A completed Form I-765
  • It is okay if you're unsure how to complete this form. We will work with you to complete this during your appointment.

Application Procedure

• Gather all documents listed above
• Make an appointment with your International Student Advisor
• Receive an I-20 from your Advisor endorsing your request for work authorization
• Create an account on the USCIS website
• Once logged in, select I-765 Form. You will find this on the forms list near the borrom
• Complete form and follow the instructions for the remainder of the steps. Utilize this helpful guide for more details: OPT Filling Guide

STEM Optional Practical Training

Students who obtain a degree in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) as defined by STEM Designated Degree List, are employed by employers enrolled in the E-Verify system, and have received initial approval of Post-OPT, can apply for a 24-month STEM OPT Extension. Students should check the code listed under "Primary Major" on their I-20 and cross-reference it with the STEM Designated Degree List to ensure eligibility.

Students must apply for STEM OPT prior to the end of their Post-OPT end date. USCIS accepts applications 90-days prior to the end date of Post-OPT. Applications must be received by USCIS prior to the OPT end date. 

When students are ready to apply for STEM OPT, collect the following document:

• A copy of your passport for at least 6-months into the future
• A copy of the F-1 visa
  • It is okay if this is expired
• Copies of all previously issued I-20s from Arcadia University
  • You need to make copies of all pages of the I-20, if you attended another institution in the U.S., you do not need copies of those I-20s. 
• A check or money order payable to the 'U.S. Department of Homeland Security' for $470.00.
• A copy of your EAD (employment authorization document).
• Two passport-sized photos
  • We encourage students to obtain these from a local CVS or Walgreen to ensure they meet the requirements. 
• A completed Form I-765
  • It is okay if you're unsure how to complete this form. We will work with you to complete this during your appointment.
• A completed Form I-983
  • This form must be completed with your supervisor or HR department. Who completes this form is up to the discretion of your employer. 

The start date of STEM OPT is automatically set to the day after your Post-OPT ends. The end date will be 24 months later and it is not possible to shorten or extend this. 

After Application is Submitted

On average, it takes 90 days for USCIS to review OPT petitions and make a decision. Only the applicant will be notified of the decision made by USCIS; the Global Engagement team will not be notified. When the petition has been approved, the applicant will receive notice in the mail in addition to the Employment Authorization Document, or EAD. Students cannot begin working until they received the EAD and on or after the start date listed on the card. It is extremely important that students keep their official documents, including the EAD in a secure place.  

Once a student secures work, they should submit their offer letter to their DSO so the information can be input in SEVIS. This will stop the unemployment calculator. Students will also receive an email from SEVP to activate a student SEVIS account so they can input the information themselves. 

During OPT, students are permitted 90 days of unemployment. After 90 days of unemployment, the student’s SEVIS record and F-1 status will auto-terminate. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate any questions about positions that satisfy the “employment” criteria to their DSO. We will then issue a new I-20 that details the employer's information.