Employment

While in the United States, F-1 students are eligible for employment resulting in no more than 20 hours per week of on campus work. Students may also wish to take advantage of practical training opportunities afforded them through their visa status such as a practicum or an internship. International students must apply for a Social Security card before they are eligible to begin employment or can be paid. For more information regarding employment concerns, consult the International Student Handbook or contact the international counselor in the Office of Admissions.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is the opportunity to gain work experience that enhances the understanding of your degree program. OPT, as it applies to students at Davis & Elkins College, is divided into three categories:

(1) during the student's annual vacation or at other times when school is not in session

(2) while school is in session, provided that OPT does not exceed 20 hours per week

(3) full-time after completion of the degree.

To be eligible for any of the OPT options, a student must have completed one academic year as a full-time student. For the first two categories, applications may be submitted to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) no sooner than 120 days before employment begins. For the third category, the application can be submitted no later than the date of completion of the degree program and no sooner than one hundred and twenty days prior to the date of completion of the degree program.

Your lawful, F-1 student status expires sixty days after the date of which you complete your degree requirements. You are expected to leave the country by the date unless you have filed a timely application for Optional Practical Training or a status change which will allow you to remain in the U.S. Timely, in the case of OPT, is having your application filed (physically received by the USCIS by your date of completion of the degree, not during the sixty day grace period.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is designed to provide eligible students with an opportunity to gain actual employment experience that is "an integral part of an established curriculum." Such training is defined as "alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school." Training must be a requirement or an integral part of your degree.

In order to obtain employment authorization for Curricular Practical Training, you must have completed one academic year in lawful status and currently be in F-1 status. You will be required to complete an eligibility application providing information stating the actual dates of employment, with whom you will be employed along with the address of the company, whether the employment will be full-time or part-time, and that the training is part of your degree requirement. You will need to describe the work involved in the proposed employment as well. For students fulfilling a class/course requirement, the name of the course and course number must be indicated. If you are determined to be eligible your CPT will be authorized. With this authorization you can begin your employment. No other authorization is required for CPT. You are not limited in the amount of Curricular Practical Training you may utilize. However, students who have engaged in one (1) year or more of full-time CPT are ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

While on CPT you are still in F-1 status. Do not forget to send us notification of any changes of address within 10 days. You can travel in and out of the United States while on CPT provided you get your I-20 signed by a Designated School Official (DSO).

How to obtain a social security cardSocial Security Number: Applications must be submitted in person to the Social Security Office, located in the Federal Office Building(Post Office), Elkins Necessary Items: Passport, I-94, I-20 or DS-2019, letter confirming your status and the location of your employment, and an original letter from the hiring department on campus confirming their job offer and the nature of the on-campus employment. The wait time can be between 2 weeks to 45 days. You may begin working before you receive your Social Security Number if you have the receipt issued to you by the Social Security Office that accepted your application.

IMPORTANT:

You MUST provide the required evidence before we can process the application. Follow the instructions below to provide the information and evidence we need.

USE THIS APPLICATION TO APPLY FOR: Social Security Card
Applying for a Social Security Card is free!
You may locate the nearest Social Security office on the Internet at http://www.socialsecurity.gov.

Banks in the Elkins Area

Citizens National Bank
214 Third Street
Elkins, WV 26241
(304) 636-4095

Davis Trust Company
214 Third Street
Third Street & Davis Ave.
(304) 636-0991

Huntington Bank of W. Va.
Davis Ave. & Fifth St.
Elkins, WV 26241
(304) 636-3400

Mountain Valley Bank
317 Davis Ave.
Elkins, WV 26241
(304) 637-2265

Freedom Bank
Routes 219-250, South
Elkins, WV 26241
(304) 636-2311

Opening a Bank Account

As you begin to settle in to life in Elkins, WV, and begin your academic life at Davis & Elkins College, you may wish to open a bank account. Before you go to the bank, you need to be familiar with the basic customer identification programs that financial institutions must follow in opening any new accounts.

Click here for instructions on Opening a Bank Account

Obtaining a West Virginia Drivers' License

Click here for instructions on obtaining a W.V. Driver License