Passive Income for F1 Students: Can You Legally Earn Money in the US?
Can F1 Students Legally Earn Money in the US? Many F1 students in the US wonder if they can earn money legally and often get confused about which types of employment are permitted.
It is crucial to adhere to F1 visa rules. Any violation can be considered immigration fraud and negatively impact your future in the US.
In this blog, we will explore the types of employment allowed for F1 students and discuss strategies for earning passive income for F1 students. Let’s get started!
Types of Jobs F1 Students Can Pursue During Their Studies
As an F1 student, you can earn money only two ways during your studies.
1. On-Campus employment:
While you are in school, you can work up to 20 hours a week at jobs on campus. It’s a fantastic way to gain experience, meet new people, and earn some extra cash without stepping outside the university.
2. Off-Campus employment (CPT):
With CPT, you can work either full-time or part-time in off-campus internships or jobs during your studies. You are eligible for CPT only when the work is an integral part of your curriculum.
If you work full-time for 12 months or more on CPT, you won’t be eligible for OPT at the same academic level. Part-time CPT, on the other hand, doesn’t affect your OPT eligibility.
Beyond this, passive income for F1 students is possible but comes with restrictions.
Can You Work on an F-1 Visa After Graduation?
Yes, as an F-1 visa holder, you can work in the US under Optional Practical Training (OPT) after you graduate.
OPT (Optional Practical Training):
OPT permits you to work in your field of study for up to 12 months.
During your studies, you can apply for Pre-completion OPT, which allows you to work part-time or full-time during breaks. However, this option is not commonly used. After graduation, you can use Post-completion OPT to work full-time.
Note that any time spent on Pre-completion OPT will be subtracted from your Post-completion OPT period.
STEM OPT Extension:
If you graduate with a degree in a STEM field, you can apply for a STEM OPT extension. This extension allows you to work for an additional 24 months beyond your initial OPT period, providing more time to gain experience and potentially secure a longer-term work visa.
Apart from this, generating passive income for F1 students is possible.
Passive Income for F1 Students: Opportunities and Challenges
Passive income is earning money with little to no active involvement, even while you sleep.
F1 students can explore some passive income opportunities, but there are restrictions:
1.Investments
Investing in stocks is considered passive income. However, daily or high-frequency trading is classified as active income and is not permitted on an F1 visa.
2.Competitions
Participating in competitions outside your university and winning cash prizes qualify as passive income.
3.Renting a Room
If you own or co-own a property, you can rent it out, but you must hire a property management company to handle the services. Managing the rental yourself, such as through Airbnb, is considered active income and is not allowed on an F1 visa.
Can F1 Students Earn Income Through Social Media Platforms?
You can create content on social media platforms but if you earn money through monetization, such as affiliate marketing, ads, or sponsorships, it is not allowed on an F1 visa.
For example, you can post videos on YouTube as long as you don’t monetize them. Once you enable monetization, it becomes active income, which is not permitted on an F1 visa.
Conclusion
Passive income for F1 students is permitted, but if it even slightly crosses into active income, it can be considered immigration fraud, potentially resulting in a permanent ban from entering the US. Therefore, always consult an attorney before you start earning money on an F1 visa.
For F1 students, you can now bypass the H1B lottery with the EB1A green card. The good news is that as you prepare for the EB1A green card, your profile may also meet the criteria for the O-1A visa.
To make the most of your student opportunities and build a compelling EB1A profile, check out
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