This section provides F-1 students with
an understanding of (1) how "on-campus employment" is defined by the U.
S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), which is different in
some important respects from commonly-held definitions, (2) conditions
which must exist for employment to be lawful, and (3) employment
regulations which cover special circumstances. Please consult with
staff in your international student services office if you have
questions about this topic.
Eligibility Requirements
General. You may work on campus
provided (1) you are maintaining F-1 status, (2) you do not work more
than a total of 20 hours per week (including any off-campus work you
may have been authorized to perform) while school is in session and (3)
you do not displace a U. S. resident. You may be employed full time
during holidays and vacation periods, including summer vacations,
provided you are eligible and intend to register for the next school
term. The 20-hour-per-week limit on your employment while school is in
session applies to all types of on-campus employment discussed in this
handout. A 20-hour-per-week graduate assistantship, for example, would
exhaust your academic year on-campus (and off-campus) work eligibility.
Authorization of Eligibility.
If a particular on-campus job meets certain requirements which are
explained in this handout, work in that job is permissible and is
automatically authorized by INS regulations. However, you should
contact your international student adviser before beginning any
on-campus employment. Some schools have employment requirements and
procedures which are not mentioned in this handout.
Jobs Which Qualify as "On-Campus
Employment"
Employment by Your School. On-campus
work performed for your school is usually acceptable, whether it is
employment in the library, the computer center or the housing office,
or work required by a scholarship, fellowship or assistantship.
Other Employment on Your
School's Premises. Work performed on your school's grounds is
"on-campus employment" as long as the employer provides direct services
to students. Employment in your school bookstore or cafeteria, both of
which provide direct services to students, is acceptable even if the
bookstore or cafeteria is operated by a private, commercial firm. Work
for a construction company which is erecting a campus building is not
acceptable since the construction company does not provide direct
student services.
Work Off Campus Which
Qualifies as On-Campus Employment. Immigration regulations
allow you to work at an off-campus location provided (1) the location
is educationally affiliated with the school, (2) the educational
affiliation is associated with your school's established curriculum or
is related to a graduate level research project which your school has
contracted to perform, and (3) the work is an integral or important
part of your program of study. For example, if your field of study is
marine biology and your school has an off-campus marine biology
research facility, you may work there and that employment will be
defined as "on campus".
Note: You should
contact your international student adviser before beginning any
"on-campus" employment. While employment by your school is clearly
explained, the other two types of "on-campus" jobs described above are
more difficult to define.
On-Campus Employment, School Transfer
and Completion of Study
If you (1) are in lawful F-1 status,
(2) have received a Form I-20 from a new school where you wish to
continue study and (3) intend to enroll at the new school for the next
regular academic term or session, you may continue on-campus employment
at your first school until you move to your new school or you may begin
employment at your new school immediately even though you may not yet
be attending classes at that school. Please note that if you do not
intend to continue further study in the U. S., you may not be employed
on campus after you have completed a program of study unless you have
applied for and been granted written permission to engage in a type of
employment the INS calls "post-completion practical training".
Employment for F-2 Dependents
Immigration regulations prohibit all
employment for F-2 dependents (spouses and children of F-1 students).
Employment Eligibility Verification
When you begin work, you and your
employer must complete a form entitled "Employment Eligibility
Verification" (INS Form I-9), which the employer retains. The I-9 must
be updated each time you receive a renewal of your work permission.
While INS regulations provide a variety
of opportunities for you to be employed during your time in F-1 status,
working improperly or without authorization is a serious violation of
your status. You should therefore consult with your international
student adviser before taking up any employment. It is
yÝonsibility to comply with all Immigration regulations
which apply to F-1 students. Staff in the Center for International
Programs office have responsibility for advising and counseling you
regarding your responsibilities. If you fail to comply with your
responsibilities, you may not be eligible for benefits normally granted
to F-1 students.
Failure to Comply with Employment
Regulations
It is your responsibility to comply
with all Immigration regulations which apply to F-1 students. Staff in
the Center for International Programs office have responsibility for
advising and counseling you regarding your responsibilities. If you
fail to comply with your responsibilities, you may not be eligible for
benefits normally granted to F-1 students and, in some situations, you
may be subject to deportation.
Further Information
Additional information on employment is
available from the Center for International Programs office on your
campus. Staff of that office are pleased to offer information,
counseling and assistance on all federal regulations related to
maintaining your student status.
