F-1
- Enrolled as a full-time student or Employed on F-1 Optional Practical Training*
- Eligible to work on campus | No separate work permission required
- Maximum 20 hours per week when school is in session, up to full-time during vacation periods when not enrolled
- Off campus work with authorization only.
- Maximum 20 hours per week when school is in session, up to full-time during vacation periods when not enrolled
*F-1 Optional Practical Training
- An international student in F-1 status may apply for temporary employment authorization to be used upon the completion of degree program course requirements.
- Once the authorization has been approved by USCIS, an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is issued.
- Departments at UNT may employ F-1 OPT students for a period of time within the validity of the EAD.
F-2
- Dependent spouse or child under 21 of F-1
- Eligible for avocational or recreational courses. Ex. pottery in a community program
- Not eligible to be a full-time student (less than full time enrollment is allowed)
- Not eligible for any kind of work authorization
J-1 Student
- Enrolled as full-time student or employed in academic training
- May not be supported by personal funds
- Students must be enrolled full-time
- Students are eligible to work on campus only with permission of sponsor
- Maximum 20 hours per week when school is in session
- Up to full-time during vacation periods when not enrolled
- Off-campus work with authorization from sponsor only
J-1 Academic Training
- Student in J-1 status may apply for a temporary employment authorization known as Academic Training (A/T) to be used during a degree program or after the completion of course requirements.
- Once the authorization has been approved by the student’s J program sponsor, the J-1 receives a Letter of Authorization and extended DS-2019.
- Departments at UNT may employ J-1 A/T students for a period of time within the 18-36 month validity of the Letter of Authorization.
J-1 Student Intern
- Not enrolled at UNT
- Minimum 32 hours per week internship | Maximum 12 months
- UNT Departments must consult International Student and Scholar Services about process
J-1 Scholar (Exchange Visitor)
- Post Bachelor's degree, Master's or PhD
- Research and/or Teaching
- Categories Include:
- Short Term - 6 months maximum
- Research - 3 weeks minimum to 5 year maximum
- Professor - 3 weeks minimum to 5 year maximum
- May be supported by private or other funds
- May only be employed by employer listed on DS-2019
- The majority of temporary visiting researchers and scholars come to lecture or conduct research as J-1 Exchange Visitors
- Short-Term scholars are allowed to remain in the U.S. up to six months
- Scholar/Researchers can be extended to up to five years.
- UNT Departments must consult International Student and Scholar Services about process
J-2
- Dependent spouse and children under 21 of J-1
- May attend school part-time or full-time if desired
- May apply for work permission from USCIS
J-1 Au Pair
- May be employed ONLY by the host family
- May attend school
- Required to take a certain number of classes
H-1B
- Visa status for employment in specialty occupation
- Minimum Bachelor's degree
- Approval process includes Department of Labor and USCIS
- Employment only allowed for employer listed on I-129 form
- Approval for up to 3 years, extendable to 6 years
- May attend school only as incident to employment
- Employees in certain non-tenured faculty titles and researchers
- Tenure-track faculty members and permanent researchers
- H-1B petitions require approximately six to eight months to process
- UNT Departments must consult International Student and Scholar Services about process
H-4
- Dependent spouse and children under 21 of H-1B
- May attend school part-time or full-time
- May not be employed. Work permission only available through application to USCIS once H1B visa holder has an approved I-140.
Visa Waiver (WB or WT)
- Visitor for tourism or business
- 90 days maximum
- Must leave U.S. at 90 days. Cannot extend or change status inside U.S.
- No employment
- Some expenses may be reimbursed. Consult Payroll Office.
- As of summer 2010, will not have I-94 card
B-1 or B-2
- B-1 is for Business | B-2 is for Tourism
- I-94 indicates length of allowed stay
- No employment
- Use form I-539 to apply for extension of stay
- Some expenses may be reimbursed for B-1. Consult Payroll.
A
- Diplomatic visa for employees of recognized foreign governments on official business
- Dependents may study
- Work permission may be granted in certain cases by USCIS to A-1 and A-2 dependents
E
- E-1 Trader
- E-2 Investor
- E-3 Australian work visa
- One year validity; renewable for two years at a time
- Spouse may apply for work permission from USCIS
- Dependent children may not be employed | Dependents may attend school
K
- Fiancé(e) of American citizen
- 90 day admission for purpose of marriage to American | No extension
- Must apply for permanent residency within 90 day period
- May attend school | May apply for USCIS work permission
L
- Employees of multinational companies
- Length of validity and extension varies
- May study only as incident to employment
- Dependents may study
- Spouses may apply for work permission from USCIS
- Children may not work
O
- O-1 Extraordinary ability in the Sciences, Arts, Education, Business, or Athletics; Motion Picture or Television industries
- Certain outstanding employees that have received and sustained national and international acclaim may qualify for an O-1 visa
- Up to 3 year validity with one year extensions
- Employer specific
- Dependents may not work
- Dependents may attend schools as long as no paid research assistantship, etc, is involved.
P
- Performance artists and athletes
- Holder may study only incident to work.
- Dependents may study full or part-time
- Holder may be employed only as approved on petition
- Dependents would need independent employment authorization
R
- Religious Worker
- Visa holder may work only for the employer listed on the petition
- Visa holder may attend school only as incident to the employment
- Dependents may attend school full or part-time, dependents may not work
TN
- NAFTA Treaty - employment from Canada or Mexico to work in certain fields
- Example professions: accountants, engineers, lawyers, pharmacists, scientists, and teachers
- Comprehensive list here: https://www.nafsa.org/_/file/_/amresource/8cfr2146.htm
- 3 year duration
- Canadians apply at port of entry; do not need visa stamp
- Mexicans apply at consulate for visa
- Employment only for employer listed
- May attend school incident to employment
- Dependents may attend school, dependents cannot work
U
- Victims of crime and family members
- All can attend school
- All can apply to USCIS for work permission
V
- LIFE Act dependents of non-immigrants: spouses and minor children of legal permanent residents (LPRs) who are the beneficiaries of a family-based second preference (2A only) immigrant visa petition filed on or before December 21, 2000, and who have been waiting for immigrant status for 3 years or more.
- May study full or part-time
- May apply to USCIS for work permission
Spring 2023 International Students Not in F/J Status Newsletter
Fall 2022 International Students Not in F/J Status Newsletter