How many jobs can I work under CPT? Can I do two jobs, one full time and one part time?
Technically, CPT is employer-specific, which means:
You can only work for the job(s) listed on your I-20.
If you want to work two jobs, both must be approved by your DSO and clearly tied to your degree program.
Doing one full-time and one part-time CPT? Possible—but only if both are authorized and your school allows it. Some schools won’t permit multiple CPT employers, even if the hours are legal.
Best move: talk to your DSO and get everything in writing. Don’t risk your status on assumptions—USCIS definitely won’t care that you were “just trying to make ends meet.”
We’ve got to play by the rules, even when the game feels rigged.
— Jill
Well I have friends enrolled in different schools. I think your question really depends on which university are you going for
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Hi, JilWilliams
Thank you so much!
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I think one full time and one part time is the safe maximum
I’m not sure… I’ve only seen my friends do two part-time jobs. Can you really handle 40 + 20 hours a week? That’s a lot!
the most important distinction is full-time vs part-time…other than that sometimes schools don’t care
If you work two jobs you will need two CPT authorizations on your I-20, better be safe
It depends on your school’s CPT policy — some only allow one job at a time, while others may approve multiple positions if both are related to your program of study and properly documented.
But keep in mind:
Full-time CPT usually means 20+ hours/week, so if you’re already on full-time CPT, adding another job may not be allowed.
You’ll need separate CPT authorizations for each job — just having one I-20 isn’t enough.
Best bet: talk to your DSO before taking on a second job. Schools can be pretty strict about this.
As far as i know about westcliff, they allow one ft paid job plus a part time paid job, so technically you can do a side hustle while h1b doesn’t allow that