Can I Work If I Have an American Student Visa?

 Posted on September 21, 2022 in Immigration

Students coming to study in the United States are often excited at the prospect of many years of hard work and preparation finally coming to fruition. If you are attending an Illinois university this fall, you may have many questions about what your student visa allows you to do now that you are here. If you have not yet applied to an Illinois university, you likely have questions about student visas and perhaps even what your options may be once your studies are through. Whatever your situation may be, you can get help from an Illinois immigration attorney who knows the law and can answer your questions.

F-1 and M-1 Student Visas

An F-1 student visa allows a student to come to the U.S. and attend an accredited college or training program and work towards a degree or certificate. An M-1 student visa is similar to an F-1 student visa, except that it allows students to attend non-academic programs, such as vocational training in mechanics, cosmetology, or a similar non-academic field.

F-1 student visa holders can usually only work for their university during the first year. Even with on-campus work, not any job will do; the job must generally be located on the university’s campus and the student must be paid from their university’s payroll. Students cannot work more than 20 hours per week during the school year, but they may work more than 20 hours between semesters or during summer vacation. Any off-campus work must usually be related to the student’s area of study and needs to be authorized beforehand.

M-1 student visa holders usually cannot seek employment at all and need to prove before beginning their studies that they have enough money at home to cover their entire stay in the U.S without supplementary income from a job. Any employment must be temporary and for the purposes of practical training to assist in the student’s course of study. There are additional work authorization documents that must be authorized by both the government and the school and any employment authorization is subject to time limitations.

What Could Happen If I Have a Student Visa and Work Without Permission?

Living and going to school in the U.S. can be very expensive and may present significant challenges, especially to students whose families are unable to cover their expenses. You may understandably be tempted to try to find off-campus work that allows you to get paid “under the table,” or without paying taxes or submitted formal paperwork.

Doing this, however, can have serious consequences that could impact your long-term goals. Getting caught committing an employment violation can cause automatic loss of your student visa status and you will need to apply for reinstatement. If your employment is serious enough, you could even lose your student visa altogether and face deportation.

Schedule a Free Consultation with an Illinois Immigration Lawyer

Whether you need help understanding your limitations and rights with a student visa or are hoping to apply for one with the help of an experienced and knowledgeable Illinois immigration attorney, the team of Illinois immigrations attorneys with Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices are here for you. We offer free consultations and are here to help students, employees, and hopeful immigrants meet their goals and make their dreams come true here in America. Call us today at 630-932-9100 to learn more.

Source:

https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/students-and-exchange-visitors/students-and-employment