Employment & Tax | NYU School of Global Public Health (2024)

Off-Campus Employment

Interested in working in the U.S. during or after your program?

There are multiple types of work authorizations available to F-1 and J-1 international students. Each type of work authorization has different rules, application processes, and timelines. Some are authorized by NYU Office of Global Services in just a few days and others must be approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and take a few months.

Off-Campus Employment for F-1 Students

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a 12-month work authorization available to F-1 international students who have been full-time students for at least two consecutive semesters and plan to seek employment in the United States in their fields of study.

You can get a maximum of 12 months of OPT for each degree level you complete.

You cannot begin work on OPT until you receive your approval in the form of an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and it is within the dates listed on your EAD.

Eligibility:

• You do NOT need to have a job offer in order to apply for OPT.
• You must have been a full-time student for at least one academic year in the US.
• You must currently be in F-1 status.
• You must be in good academic standing and be making normal progress toward finishing your degree.
• You must not have used more than 12 months of OPT in the past at your current degree level.
• If you complete your academic program and travel internationally BEFORE applying for OPT, the OGS is not able to provide you with an OPT recommended I-20 (a necessary part of your OPT application).
• If you are finished with your academic program, you can still apply for OPT as long as the government receives your application within 60 days of the date you finished your studies at NYU AND you have not left the US since completing your program.

☛IMPORTANT |It takes around 4-6 months to get approved for OPT so please plan ahead. It takes this long because:

1. Your academic department signs off on a request form (1-2 weeks).
2. The OGS prepares your new I-20 (up to 1 week).
3. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) evaluates your application (up to 5 months).

You can use your OPT:

• before you finish your studies (this is called Pre-Completion OPT)
• after you finish your studies (this is called Post-Completion OPT)
• or a combination of the two, as long as the total amount of OPT does not exceed 12 months.

➪ Pre-completion OPT

Pre-completion OPT is Optional Practical Training you use before finishing your program of study. Remember, OPT is employment that is directly related to your major field of study and is only for students in F-1 status.

☛IMPORTANT| Refer to the OGS Pre-completion OPT page to learn when to apply, understand the process and prepare the needed documents.

➪ Post-completion OPT

Post-completion OPT is Optional Practical Training you use AFTER finishing your program of study. Remember, OPT is employment that is directly related to your major field of study and is only for students in F-1 status. Please see more information on post-completion OPT employment types for questions on the kinds of employment you can have while on post-completion OPT.

☛IMPORTANT| Refer to the OGS Post-completion OPT page to learn when to apply, understand the process and prepare the needed documents. The NYU OGS website provides a useful When to Apply Calculator that will help you calculating the earliest date to apply, and choosing your start and end date.

Review the OPT Frequently Asked Questions and additional information related to OPT below:

• I-765 Explained
• Check and Money Order Explained
• Replace a Lost or Stolen Employment Document (EAD Card)
• Post-Completion OPT Employment Types
• Report Updates while on OPT
• Find Health Insurance while on OPT
• Correct EAD Error Made by USCIS

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of off-campus work permission for F-1 international students who are currently pursuing study programs in the United States and want to gain experience in their fields of study.

CPT allows you, as an F-1 student, to accept off-campus employment as part of the curriculum of your degree program. CPT employment MUST be directly related to your major area of study.

CPT is not available after a student completes a degree program.

CPT is an academic experience, and is not intended to be used for regular on-going off-campus work. Students should be mindful to keep all records of CPT and the academic work related to CPT, and how that employment is integral to the degree program. Students will need to retain copies of all previous CPT I-20s when applying later for OPT.

CPT is typically done on a part-time basis (up to 20 hrs/wk) during the school year and on a full-time basis during vacation periods.

To qualify for CPT, your program must have an internship elective or fieldwork/practicum requirement as part of the curriculum. Otherwise, read our instructions on Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Eligibility:

• have a job offer directly related to your program of study.
• have been a full-time student in the US for at least one academic year.
• be in valid F-1 status.
• be making normal progress toward degree completion and be in good academic standing.

In general, please note the following guidelines regarding CPT:

• CPT cannot be used merely to facilitate F-1 student employment.
• Any activity authorized as CPT is subject to audit or review by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Labor.
• CPT must be directly related to the major area of study.
• CPT requests must clearly show that it is curricular in nature and tied to a requirement to graduate from a program.
• International students cannot begin working until they have received written CPT authorization from OGS.

☛IMPORTANT |Refer to the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) page to learn when to apply, understand the process and prepare the needed documents.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for MPH Students

At the NYU School of Global Public Health every student pursuing a Master in Public Health is required to complete the Applied Practice Experience (APE) which includes 180-hours of hands-on public health practice.

The 180-hours should be completed in the Summer and after you have earned a minimum of 23 credits towards the MPH degree.

MPH students should use CPT in the summer in between their first and second year with the option of renewal during the Fall in their second year. Remember, CPT is strictly tied to the Applied Practice Experience (APE).

MPH Students interested in obtaining the CPT need to submit Online Request to the OGS for an I-20 Authorizing You for CPT | Note: in this online form you will need to provide the name and email address of Dr.Kayleigh Blaney,Interim Director, Public Health Practice.

Dr.Kayleigh Blaney,Interim Director, Public Health Practice (kayleigh.blaney@nyu.edu) is theGPH point personthat verifies that your CPT is tied to the curriculum and approves the CPT requests on behalf of the NYU GPH School of Global Public Health.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for MS StudentsMS students are encouragedto conduct internships off-campus in the summer in between their first and second year with the option of renewal during the Fall in their second year.This will best prepare students for their thesis, which is a required component of our MS program. Whensearching and applying forinternships, be sure to take into consideration how your experience will relate to your coursework and the aspects of your public health designation.

MS Students interested in obtaining the CPT must follow this process:

1. Contact your GPH Faculty Mentor | Send an email including all the relevant information and description about the off-campus internship to your GPH Faculty Mentor in the Department and copy in the email Dr.Kayleigh Blaney,Interim Director, Public Health Practice(kayleigh.blaney@nyu.edu). The GPH Faculty Mentors will ensure that the internship is providing you with the skills associated with your Department. Your Faculty Mentor will communicate their initial approval to Dr.Kayleigh Blaney.
2. Submit Online Request to the OGS for an I-20 Authorizing You for CPT | Note: in this online form you will need to provide the name and email address of Dr.Kayleigh Blaney (not your GPH Faculty Mentor).
3. Receive the approval from Dr.Kayleigh Blaney | Dr.Kayleigh Blaneyis Interim Director, Public Health Practice. She will verify that your CPT is tied to the curriculum and approves the CPT requests on behalf of the NYU GPH School of Global Public Health.

OPT vs CPT

Review the main differences between CPT and OPT: