Reminder to international students: producing online content in US to generate income requires employment authorization

We wish to remind F-1 international students that the terms and conditions of their F-1 status place strict limits on employment activities outside of pre-degree-completion Curricular Practical Training and post-completion Optional Practical Training. The US government will likely consider any work performed with the intent to general income (or volunteer work performed that would typically generate income) to require employment authorization.

For example, the US government recently warned internet influencers coming to the US to attend the World Cup that their B-1/B-2 tourist visas do not allow them to produce content that they intend to post on social media to generate income. This warning is directly applicable to F-1 students, as both the B-1/B-2 and F-1 nonimmigrant visa categories do not grant employment authorization.

We also point out that producing online content with the intent to generate income is particularly risky because platform visibility makes it quite easy for immigration officials to view their content, and that content then serves as evidence that the influencer violated the terms of their nonimmigrant status.

We encourage F-1 international students to speak with their Designated School Officials regarding any questions they have about their business activities in connection to their F-1 status.