Navigating Handshake as an F-1 International Student

Handshake can help you identify employers that are open to hiring international students. However, the work-authorization information in a posting should be treated as a helpful starting point—not a guarantee of eligibility or an automatic reason to rule yourself out.

Your eligibility to work depends on your F-1 status, the position, and whether you receive the required authorization before beginning employment. Always consult Amherst College’s Office of Immigration Services before accepting employment or making decisions about CPT or OPT.

Work-Authorization Questions

Employers commonly ask applicants:

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?
Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship?

These questions address two different issues.

U.S. Work Authorization

Work authorization is legal permission to work in the United States.

For most F-1 students seeking off-campus employment, work authorization takes the form of:

Curricular Practical Training (CPT): Employment or training that is an integral part of your curriculum. CPT must be authorized by your Designated School Official (DSO) and recorded on your Form I-20 before you begin working.
Optional Practical Training (OPT): Temporary employment directly related to your major field of study. You must receive authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), including an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), before beginning OPT employment.

F-1 students may also be eligible for certain on-campus employment, subject to federal requirements and institutional policies.

Visa Sponsorship

Visa sponsorship usually refers to an employer’s involvement in obtaining an employment-based immigration status—such as H-1B status—that would allow someone to continue working after their F-1 practical-training authorization ends.

CPT and standard OPT are not employer-sponsored visas. However:

CPT authorization is specific to the employer, position, location, and approved dates.
OPT must be authorized by USCIS, and the employment must relate directly to your major.
The STEM OPT extension requires an eligible employer that participates in E-Verify and completes required portions of Form I-983.

If you intend to continue working in the United States after your available practical training ends, you may eventually require employer sponsorship.

How Should I Answer These Questions?

There is no single answer that applies to every F-1 student or every opportunity.

Your response may depend on:

whether you are applying for an internship or ongoing employment;
whether you currently have—or will be eligible to obtain—CPT or OPT for the position and start date;
whether the employment will continue beyond your authorized practical-training period; and
how the employer defines “now or in the future.”

For many F-1 students seeking long-term U.S. employment beyond OPT or STEM OPT, the truthful answer to the future-sponsorship question will generally be yes. The answer may require more context for a short-term internship that will be completed entirely under CPT or OPT.

Answer all application questions truthfully. If you are uncertain, consult the Office of Immigration Services before responding.

Work Authorization in Handshake

Handshake asks students:

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?
Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship?

You may answer both questions or select “Prefer not to answer these questions.” If you choose not to answer, employers will see your work-authorization status as “unknown,” and Handshake may recommend opportunities that are less relevant to you. You can update your answers at any time under Settings → Work Authorization.

Employers may indicate that a position is:

open to U.S. visa sponsorship;
open to Optional Practical Training (OPT);
open to Curricular Practical Training (CPT);
not subject to a U.S. work-authorization requirement; or
unknown because the employer did not provide this information.

To search using these criteria, select All filters → Work authorization.

Important Things to Keep in Mind

CPT and OPT are forms of temporary work authorization—not employer-sponsored visas.
Authorization is not automatic. You must receive the appropriate authorization before beginning any off-campus employment.
Your work must meet the requirements of your authorization. OPT employment must be directly related to your major, while CPT must satisfy curricular requirements and be authorized for the specific position.
A missing OPT/CPT notation does not necessarily mean you are ineligible. An employer may have omitted the information or may not fully understand CPT and OPT.
A Handshake warning does not always prevent you from applying. Students who do not match an employer’s preferences may still apply to a job through Handshake. However, an employer’s external application system may have additional requirements.
Virtual-fair sessions work differently. If an employer establishes work-authorization requirements for a one-on-one virtual-fair session, students who do not match those requirements may be unable to view or register for it.
An employer may still decide that it cannot accommodate your authorization. Consider contacting the recruiter with a concise question if the posting is unclear.
Never begin working while authorization is pending. For CPT, your DSO must authorize the employment before your start date. For OPT, you generally must have USCIS approval, your EAD, and have reached the authorized start date.

If an Employer Is Unfamiliar with CPT or OPT

You might say:

I am an F-1 student and may be eligible to work in this position through CPT/OPT authorization. This authorization is processed through my college and/or USCIS and does not require the employer to sponsor a work visa. Would your organization be willing to consider a candidate using this form of temporary work authorization?

Before making this statement, confirm your potential eligibility with the Office of Immigration Services.

Get Guidance

Immigration regulations and individual circumstances vary. For questions about F-1 status, CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, or employment eligibility, contact Amherst College’s Office of Immigration Services.

For assistance identifying international-student-friendly employers, interpreting job postings, or preparing to discuss work authorization professionally, schedule an appointment with the Loeb Center.

This page provides general educational information and is not legal advice.

Official references: Handshake Work Authorization Overview, USCIS OPT guidance, and DHS Study in the States.