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Internships & Employment

Step 1

On-Campus Employment

As an F-1 or J-1 international student, you may work up to 20 hours per week on campus. During the summer and winter breaks, you may work up to 40 hours per week on campus. On-campus employment opportunities are plentiful, and many students do undertake employment while they study. To locate an on-campus job, please ask your advisor, read the Campus E-Update emails, and check out the Career Development Page. Here are steps for this process here:

Step 1.

Conduct your job search and get a job offer. Use BHSU’s Career Services Office to help!

Step 2.

BHSU Human Resources Office will write you a job offer letter and request for you to do “New Hire Paperwork” Please ask your new supervisor to inform HR of your new position so they can begin this paperwork.

Step 3.

Provide the offer letter from step two to the International Office, then your DSO will provide you an employment support letter.

Step 4.

Then you need to go to Rapid City to apply for a Social Security Card in the Rapid City Social Security Card Office. Before you go, be sure to gather copies of all the below required documents:

  • A job offer letter from Human Resources (HR) for your new position. HR office is Woodburn Hall 202
  • A support letter from your DSO, Woodburn 115
  • Your current I-20 (F-1) or DS2019 (J-1)
  • Your passport (and visa)
  • Your I-94 arrival record: (given to you at orientation or obtain here: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home)
  •  The application:

We recommend one of the following transportation options. Be sure to check the Social Security Office hours if they are open prior to driving to Rapid City:  

Once you have applied for your SSN, show the HR Office your receipt and then you may begin working. You don't have to wait for your social security card to be mailed to you to start work. Once your SSN card arrives, you must bring a copy of it immediately to the HR Office. For more information about working on-campus schedule an advising appointment or email International@BHSU.edu.

Step 2

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

After completing one year of study (two semesters) at BHSU, you may be eligible to undertake an on or off-campus internship or employment opportunity under the CPT benefit for F-1 international students. You must receive approval from the DSO in the International Relations and Global Engagement office BEFORE beginning to work under CPT.

If you are interested in CPT, please schedule an advising appointment with us by emailing International@BHSU.edu. You may also complete the CPT Request Form and submit it to our office for review two weeks prior to your anticipated start date. DO NOT begin work until you have received approval. 

Step 3

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

F-1 international students have the benefit of work authorization upon completing their studies. This is called Optional Practical Training, or OPT. OPT is something for which you as the F-1 student must request through the International Relations and Global Engagement office, and then apply to US Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS). The approval time for OPT is approximately 90 days, and once approval is received, you may undertake employment anywhere in the United States for up to 12 months in a job that relates to your academic field of study. Certain fields of study, called STEM fields, may qualify for up to an additional 24 months of work authorization, for a total of 36 months.

If you plan to take advantage of this benefit, you should learn about the process to obtain OPT at least one year prior to your expected graduation. Our office offers OPT workshops and advice to help you prepare your OPT application, but you can also use these resources to inform yourself about the process:


 

Contact Info

Kaitlin Palmer
International@bhsu.edu
Phone: 605-642-6942
Fax: 605-642-6254

International Relations & Global Engagement
Black Hills State University
1200 University St. Unit 9519
Spearfish, SD, USA 57799-9519