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International students are eligible to participate in SURF on the Caltech campus; however, only U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents are eligible for SURFs at JPL.
Once a SURF award is made, the international student will be given instructions on how to apply for an F-1 or J-1 student visa abroad prior to participation in SURF.
Special Note: Caltech international students are not required to secure special employment authorization.
International students currently attending a college or university in the U.S. must secure special off-campus employment authorization prior to participation in SURF. F-1 students must apply for either Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT); J-1 students must apply for Academic Training. Please consult an International Student Advisor at your current U.S. institution as soon as you apply for SURF to understand your school’s requirements and deadlines for authorizing off-campus work authorization. CPT, OPT, or Academic Training must be approved by your home institution prior to beginning your SURF placement. OPT approval may take in excess of three months!
CPT can be granted through a student’s current academic institution and does not require an application to Immigration. Each college or university in the U.S. has established specific guidelines and procedures for authorizing Curricular Practical Training. Students should consult their current international advisor as soon as the SURF application process begins.
OPT requires the student to submit an employment authorization application directly to Immigration. The application process requires a new I-20, endorsed by the student’s current international advisor, for OPT. When the application is approved, Immigration will send the student an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Students may NOT begin SURF until the EAD is received. Because Immigration can take more than three months to process an OPT application, students are encouraged to consult their current international advisor as soon as the SURF application process begins.
Academic Training is granted through a student’s home institution and does not require an application to Immigration. Each college or university in the U.S. has established specific guidelines and procedures for authorizing Academic Training. To find out the specific qualifications for this type of employment authorization, students should consult their current international advisor as soon as the SURF application process begins.
If, after consulting with the current international advisor, a SURF applicant has questions about securing employment authorization, he or she may contact International Student Programs (ISP) at Caltech for additional guidance and information. ISP can be reached by phone at
626-395-6330 or by email at isp@caltech.edu.
