BWI: Facts on Part Time Jobs in US and Canada by Lufthansa Student Centre

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: Lufthansa Student Centre
Monday, May 24, 2010 05:09 PM IST (11:39 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Consumer interest, Travel & tourism; Business: Accounting & management consultancy services, Business services, Education & training, Media & entertainment, Travel & tourism
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Facts on Part Time Jobs in US and Canada by Lufthansa Student Centre


New Delhi, Delhi, India, Monday, May 24, 2010 -- (Business Wire India) -- You've probably heard stories of international students financing their education through working at part time jobs. While it seems like the perfect way, take a moment to study the law about employment for international students in the country you want to study in.

If you are headed to North America for instance, there are strict regulations on employment for international students.

In the US, F-1 students are not allowed to work off-campus during the first academic year. So that restricts you to only on-campus employment, that too subject to certain conditions and limitations. For instance, even on campus, students can work only part-time - up to 20 hours per week - during their first year of study. The kinds of jobs that are available are basic ones like working at the university library, bookstore, cafeteria, health club or maybe within the university's administrative offices. These are not very high paying jobs and there is intense competition for them. If you do manage to get work for an average of 10 to 15 hours a week, you can expect to earn enough to pay for incidentals like books, clothing, or personal expenses, but it will not be enough to pay for your major expenses like tuition or room and board.

After the first year, it gets a little better, but you still have several limitations. You can apply for employment as a resident assistant (RA) in a university dormitory. RAs serve as the first point of contact for students needing assistance or who have queries regarding dorm life. In return, RAs receive free accommodation and sometimes a small salary and/or meal plan.

There are also various programs available for F-1 students to seek off-campus employment after the first academic year. There are mainly three types of off-campus employment available after the first year of study. These three types of employment are: Curricular Practical Training (CPT); Optional Practical Training (OPT) (pre-completion or post-completion); and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training Extension (OPT). M-1 students may engage in practical training only after they have completed their studies. For both F-1 and M-1 students any off-campus employment must be related to their area of study and must be authorized by the Designated School Official (the person authorized to maintain the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)) and USCIS.

Unlike the US, Canada has a new official 'Off-Campus Work Permit Program' under which international students have wider options for working during their period of education. You can work on campus and off campus as long as you meet the necessary eligibility conditions outlined for international students. There are some other terms and conditions of the study permit and work permit that need to be fulfilled while participating in the program.

However, in either country, you should always check with your International Student Advisor before considering any form of employment. Keep in mind, university education is no fun and games. It requires serious and long hours of study. So, beyond regulation and availability, the main focus of your study period abroad is exactly that - to study - which might be cause enough to limit your expectations from a job.

About Lufthansa in India

49 weekly flights to seven Indian destinations make Lufthansa the Number One European carrier in India. The carrier completed 50 years of operations in the country in Nov 2009 and was voted "Best International Airline in India" at the CNBC Awaaz Travel Awards 2009.

The Lufthansa Group airlines - Austrian Airlines, bmi, Brussels Airlines and SWISS together with Lufthansa - serve 274 destinations in 104 countries on four continents in the current summer schedule from their hubs at Brussels, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, London-Heathrow, Munich and Zurich.

Lufthansa German Airlines is a founding member of Star Alliance and has developed one of the most comprehensive alliance networks in the industry.


CONTACT DETAILS
Ketika Manohar, CNC - Communications & Network Consulting India Pvt. Ltd., +91 99 53684264/ +91 (11) 43590429, Ketika.Manohar@cnc-communications.com

KEYWORDS
CONSUMER, TOURISM, CONSULTANCY SERVICES, BUSINESS SERVICES, EDUCATION, MEDIA, TRAVEL

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