Yes, but you are required to be enrolled full-time and have a valid I-20 from an accredited school at all times while in the United States.

The process to obtain a Student Visa is quick compared to other Visa options. Once you have enrolled in your program and obtained the I-20 form, you will need at least 2 months to apply for and be granted the Visa, and you cannot begin the process more than 4 months in advance. Actual times may vary, primarily based on how many Visa applications and interviews your Embassy is processing at the time. After your application is submitted the wait for an interview could be a few days or a few weeks. On some occasions, the application is processed prior to the interview and you can be told after your interview if the Visa will be granted.

While the F Visa is considered a "Nonimmigrant Visa" it does allow for the possibility of adjusting your status after your course of study. An employer who has made you an offer can sponsor your application for an H1B, or if you are married to a US Citizen or permanent resident while you are in school they can Sponsor your petition.

Alternatively, the F-1 visa is one of the few visas where you can “self-petition” your visa to become a permanent resident. Although the process is complicated, it is possible to apply for a green card as an F-1 student visa holder. Some students choose to self-petition for an O Visa as a “person with extraordinary abilities”. You can also become a green card holder (i.e. a lawful permanent resident) if you can prove that you will invest $500,000 in the U.S. economy.

The F-1 visa is for students, and the American government recognizes that some students need to work to support their studies.

With that in mind, you are permitted to work as an F-1 visa holder. However, there are restrictions on your work. You are only allowed to work part-time on campus while your program is in session, for example, and full-time during breaks.

There are also two circumstances where you can work outside of campus, including Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT):

Curriculum Practical Training (CPT)

If your educational institution requires you to work as part of the curriculum, and you need to complete practical training in order to graduate, then you may be allowed to work in Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) under your F-1 student visa. With this work, the training or practical work must be in your field study. The work also needs to be approved by your Designated School Official (DSO). CPT can begin after a minimum of 9 months of training in your degree. There is no limit on how long CPT can last, although if you have a CPT position for more than 12 months, then it prohibits you from applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is different from CPT. OPT is not required by your degree, but it is intended to give you work experience in the United States near the conclusion of your program. You can start OPT before or after you graduate. The main restriction is that the work has to be related to your field of study. You also cannot work in OPT positions for more than 12 months (although students in STEM-related subjects can file for an OPT extension of up to 24 additional months). Your OPT position can start after you and your Designated School Official (DSO) file for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), If your OPT position goes successfully, then your employer may sponsor you for an H-1B visa.