Students will not be approved for an F-1 or M-1 visa unless the students can prove that they can financially provide for themselves and their education without needing to work. If you're an F-1 or M-1 student, you are limited in the type of work you can legally do. You may not work if you're an M-1 student unless you are participating in practical training, and have the approval of the I-N-S. F-1 students, however, can not only work in practical training but may also have off-campus part-time employment after 9 months of F-1 status. You are not permitted to work the first 9 months of your stay as a foreign student. To apply for employment authorization, both F-1 and M-1 students need to provide recommendations from school officials on form I-2-O-1-D (eye-two-oh-one-d) as well as form I-7-65, the application for employment authorization. The I-7-65 form gives additional information, in addition to fee amounts and places to submit the forms. While your forms are being processed, you're not allowed to accept any off-campus or practical training employment until you receive authorization. If you're found working before you've been approved, you could be deported.
