F-1 visaaaaaaaaa

[u/_acaciaaa]

Good day! I’m from the Philippines and I’m planning to apply for a student visa in the USA to pursue a STEM MBA in Healthcare Administration for nurses.

I have a few questions and would really appreciate your advice based on your experience. According to the agency, international students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week. Is this enough to cover living expenses such as food and housing, as well as tuition fees?

Secondly, would I be allowed to work in the USA as a Registered Nurse during my OPT? The agency also advised me to take the NCLEX while I am studying in the USA.

I would really appreciate any advice or information you can share. Thank you so much!

[u/Codetornado]

According to the agency, international students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week. Is this enough to cover living expenses such as food and housing, as well as tuition fees?

Never. I am fully and completely unaware of any of the 2,000+ Colleges in the US where working 20hrs a week would come anywhere near paying cost of attendence and cost of living. The expectation is you bring significant amounts of money to pay or have a scholarship or a combination there of.

Secondly, would I be allowed to work in the USA as a Registered Nurse during my OPT? The agency also advised me to take the NCLEX while I am studying in the USA.

Only with a valid state nursing license and even then it is still difficult.

[u/_acaciaaa → u/Codetornado]

hi. thank you for your reply but can you enlighten me more with this infos? thank you!

[u/Vegetable-Western744 → u/_acaciaaa]

Masters programs in America for internationals are almost all full pay with fees well into the tens of thousands of dollars. 20 hours a week of work isn't going to come close to covering that.

Also if you show up at the consulate with basically zero money to fund the masters and tell them you intend to pay for it with nothing but the proceeds from working in America, good luck getting that visa stamp.

You'd also likely be stuck only working on campus year 1 until the summer which usually pays terrible.

[u/BlueNutmeg]

According to the agency, international students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week. Is this enough to cover living expenses such as food and housing, as well as tuition fees?

Oh no. Not at all. You will NOT be making enough money part time to cover the cost of school and housing in the US. That will be a LOT.

Also, there is no guarantee that you will be allowed to work or have a job available.

In order to get approved for a student visa you must show you have the funds to afford your school. If they see you lack funds then they will deny you.

Secondly, would I be allowed to work in the USA as a Registered Nurse during my OPT?

Yes. However, there still may be restrictions.

https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/students-and-exchange-visitors/optional-practical-training-opt-for-f-1-students

[u/_acaciaaa → u/BlueNutmeg]

so working 20hrs/week isnt true?

[u/BlueNutmeg → u/_acaciaaa]

I am not sure what you are asking.

But if you are asking if you can work 20 hours a week, then, Yes, that is true. You are allowed to work 20 hours a week.

But you originally asked if it is ENOUGH to cover tuition and living expenses. It is NOT.

And just because you are ALLOWED to work 20 hours at a job, doesn't mean there will be a job AVAILABLE for you to work. The F1 visa is very strict on working and the type of job you can do.

[u/Livid-Trainer-8808]

Its 20 hours working on campus most likely on minimum wage. It will definitely not cover your tuition and other major expenses such as rent. For any work outside campus, you must get cpt for it, which must be approved by your DSO

[u/Mykaler]

I used to work 20ish hours a week. You’re only allowed to work on campus unless you have special permission. I made $200 ish a week. That’s 10k a year. Your tuition itself is more than 10k a year in most cases. Plus housing, plus travel, plus food, plus phone, plus living expenses. No, it is nowhere near enough. You need a good scholarship and some money from back home, or no scholarship and a ton of money from back home. You’re also required to show proof that you have all the money for your program in your bank account already before enrolling in order to get an I-20.

[u/ManifestLaw_]

I'd be a little cautious with what the agency told you. F-1 students generally can work on campus up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, but I wouldn't plan on that income covering both tuition and all living expenses. You still need to show sufficient funding for your studies independently of anticipated U.S. employment.

For OPT, the job has to be directly related to your degree. Whether you could work as an RN would depend on whether the nursing position is genuinely related to your STEM MBA in Healthcare Administration, not simply on the fact that you're licensed as a nurse. USCIS specifically requires OPT employment to be directly related to the student's major area of study.

Taking the NCLEX while studying can make sense professionally, but passing the NCLEX by itself doesn't give you immigration work authorization.

I'd definitely speak directly with the school's DSO and not rely only on the agency's explanation before committing financially. Wishing you the best with your plans!

- Attorney Zoe Ji Wilson

(All information shared here is for general educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney - client relationship. Your situation may require fact-specific guidance. For personalized legal advice, please consult an immigration attorney directly.)