Can I work in the USA while studying on an F-1 visa?

F-1 students have limited but meaningful work rights in the USA:

On-campus employment (permitted immediately):
- Up to 20 hours/week during the semester
- Full-time (40 hours) during official school breaks
- Work must be on the school's campus or at an off-campus location educationally affiliated with the school
- No authorisation required beyond your F-1 status

Off-campus employment (CPT — Curricular Practical Training):
- Part-time or full-time work that is an integral part of your programme (internship for class credit)
- Must be authorised by your DSO
- You must have been enrolled for at least one full academic year before applying (some programmes waive this)
- Using 12+ months of full-time CPT before graduation eliminates your OPT eligibility — use carefully

Off-campus employment (OPT — Optional Practical Training):
- Pre-completion: available during school with DSO authorisation (counts toward 12-month OPT limit)
- Post-completion: 12 months after graduation + 24-month STEM extension

Economic hardship authorisation (rare):
If you face severe economic hardship after unforeseen circumstances (currency devaluation, family emergency), you can apply to USCIS for off-campus work authorisation (Form I-765). Difficult to obtain.

Unauthorised work: Working without proper authorisation is a serious immigration violation — it can result in F-1 status termination and bars from future US visas. Do not risk it.

Minimum wage: Federal minimum wage applies, currently $7.25/hour (many states have higher minimums). Check your state.