F-1 Employment

Students in valid F-1 status may seek employment on-grounds for UVA for up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters and full-time while not in session. A Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) or Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) counts for 20 hours per week.

F-1 students may not provide goods or services beyond the above-described on-grounds employment without the expressed permission of the ISO, and, in some instances, U.S. immigration. If there is any question about whether or not a particular endeavour qualifies as employment, students should inform the ISO before undertaking it. Note that unlawful employment can also be unpaid work.

Students wishing to engage in employment beyond on-grounds for UVA may be eligible for "practical training". In general, no student is eligible for any type of practical training until completion of one full academic year.

As outlined in the below links, there are two types of practical training employment authorization: optional and curricular.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Additionally, you may be eligible for employment authorization based on severe economic hardship or by working for a specific type of international organization.