Guidance On Determining “Directly Related” Employment For F-1 Off-Campus Work/Employment Authorizations
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Guidance On Determining “Directly Related” Employment For F-1 Off-Campus Work/Employment Authorizations
F-1 student U.S. federal immigration regulations [8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)] mandate that all off-campus work/employment must be DIRECTLY RELATED to a student’s major degree field of study at MIT. This includes all Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (Pre-OPT and Post-OPT), and the STEM OPT Extension.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have issued Policy Guidance emphasizing the importance of clearly demonstrating the connection between work/employment and a student’s major degree field of study. There is increased scrutiny surrounding this requirement, as they often issue Requests for Evidence (RFEs) for pending OPT, STEM OPT, and H-1B petitions, requiring proof that a student’s work/employment responsibilities, duties, and activities align with their MIT major degree field of study.
To ensure compliance, the ISO strongly recommends that students carefully evaluate whether their work/employment is directly related to their MIT major degree field of study. Considering the following key questions:
- How does the work/employment responsibilities, duties, and activities require the knowledge/skills obtained by your MIT academic degree program?
- In what ways are you applying for your MIT degree to the off-campus work/employment (CPT/OPT)?
- Did the employer specifically require candidates with your MIT degree field rather than just a related subject or general field? For example, if you hold a Mechanical Engineering degree, why does this position specifically require Mechanical Engineering rather than a general engineering or mathematical background?
All students interested in applying for CPT, Pre-Completion OPT, Post-Completion OPT, and the STEM OPT Extension must follow the instructions on those ISO web pages before being eligible to apply for those F-1 off-campus work/employment benefits.
Disclaimer: The information on this webpage is for MIT students only. For additional questions, students should email their ISO Advisor directly.
