On-Campus Student Employment for International Students

F-1 Visa Students

On-campus employment is inherent to F-1 status and does not require special permission. So long as you remain in valid F-1 status, you may work on campus. However, new regulations require you to have a job offer prior to applying for your social security number. Download that form here.

Once you have brought the completed form and other required paperwork to a local social security office you must then bring your receipt to the Student Employment Office and they will issue you the remaining required paperwork, all of this paperwork must be complete prior to you starting your on campus position. Once you have received your social security card bring it to the Student Employment Office immediately.

Please note that here is a waiting period of two weeks after you arrive in the U.S. before you can apply for a social security card.

For on-campus employment, you do not need to demonstrate unforeseen economic necessity.

Limitations to on-campus employment

On-campus employment is limited to 20 hours/week while school is in session and 40 hours/week during vacations, semester break, and summer.  On-campus employment can take the form of a job in an academic or administrative department (undergraduates or graduate students) and graduate assistantships. International students (F-1, J-1, etc.) are not eligible for on-campus "work-study" employment, which is sponsored by the U.S. Federal Government.

Employment Eligibility for Dependents

Dependents of F-1 visa holders, who hold the F-2 visa, may not work.

Last Modified: January 28, 2008