OFFCAMPUS EMPLOYMENT
CPT
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) allows students who have internship or research courses to obtain part-time or full-time paid work experience outside the classroom. Because it works like a lab, CPT employment dates are synchronized with a specific CPT course. Employment cannot begin before or extend beyond the dates of the course. CPT must be authorized BEFORE employment can begin. To be eligible for CPT, students must be enrolled for one academic year (fall, spring or spring fall) unless the CPT is mandatory in the first semester of enrollment. Students applying for CPT employment must attend the CPT application appointment in person. For full details, see the CPT webpage.
OPT
Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows students to gain part-time or full-time paid work experience in their degree field for up to one year. Students applying for 12-month OPT must attend the OPT appointment in person. Students who began their academic program in Fall 2008 at TAMU-C will be required to attend an OPT workshop before they can apply for 12-month OPT.
12-Month OPT Information:
17-Month OPT Information:
Economic Hardship
Students who have been in status for at least one academic year and who have faced extreme financial hardship due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control may be eligible to apply for an economic hardship work authorization. Authorization allows a student to work part-time off-campus while maintaining his or her full course load. Applications are expensive, take several months to process and are often denied so this is not a viable option for most students. To determine if you are eligible for this authorization, please speak with an international student advisor.
Taxes
The American tax system is very complex. ISSO advisers are not professionally qualified to provide tax advice. For assistance with the preparation of tax forms, students should seek professional assistance from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), tax accountants, tax attorneys or a licensed tax preparation service.
The tax year in the U.S. goes from January 1 to December 31 each year. In January and February of each year, employers prepare a W-2 tax form regarding their employees’ wages from the previous year and mail the W-2 to these employees. It is very important that students keep their address up to date with the university and with the ISSO. Financial institutions and other business entities also prepare different forms to send out to their customers for tax purposes. Taxes are due each year by April 15, and failure to file by this date may result in penalties.
The University of Texas- Austin’s international office has created a wonderful tax website for international students and scholars. Also, you may go to the IRS’s website for international students and scholars at or call 1-800-829-1040. You may also hire a tax service in the yellow pages to assist with your taxes.
