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Employment

On-campus Employment

Requires no authorization from ISO.  Limited to 20 hours/week in the Fall and Winter semesters; more than 20 hours/week is allowed during the Summer semester (as long as summer is not your first semester at Detroit Mercy).

Practical Training (CPT, OPT, STEM OPT Extension)

Any work that occurs off-campus that requires authorization from a Designated School Official (DSO) or the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  All work must be directly related to your current degree of study at Detroit Mercy. 

Type of Practical Training

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    CPT

    ​All students who plan to engage in CPT are required to have authorization on the second page of their I-20 before they begin employment. ISO will no longer be able to back-date any employment, which means that any work done without previous authorization can be deemed unlawful to USCIS. This could potentially affect any future change of status applications.
    • Length of Approval:  One Semester 
    • Allowed number of hours/week: 20 hrs/week or less (Fall and Winter; full-time available in Summer) 
    • Cost: Number of credits assigned; determined by academic college 
    • When to apply: Before your anticipated start date 
    • Processing Time: 1-3 business days 
    • Who authorizes the employment?: ISO 
    • Form Authorization/Approval: Notation on second page of I-20
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    OPT (post-completion)

    • Length of Approval: 12 consecutive months 
    • Allowed number of hours/week: 20 hrs/week or less (part-time) OR more than 20 hrs/week (full-time) 
    • Cost: $470* 
    • When to apply: No more than 90 days before the end of your graduating semester and no later than 60 days after the end date of the semester.
    • Processing Time: An average of 90 days after USCIS receives your application 
    • Who authorizes the employment?: USCIS 
    • Form Authorization/Approval: Notation on second page of I-20 and EAD (Employment Authorization Document)

    *Fees subject to change

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    STEM OPT Extension (only for qualifying degrees)**

    • Length of Approval:  24 consecutive months 
    • Allowed number of hours/week: 20 hrs/week or more (full-time) 
    • Cost: $470* 
    • When to apply: No more than 120 days before the end of your OPT 
    • Processing Time: An average of 90 days after USCIS receives your application
    • Who authorizes the employment?: USCIS 
    • Form Authorization/Approval: Notation on second page of I-20 and EAD (Employment Authorization Document)

    *Fees subject to change

    **For the most updated and approved STEM List: