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Academic Affairs
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

On-Campus Employment

F-1 students are allowed to work on campus as long as they maintain immigration status.

On-campus employment must take place either at the school or at an educationally affiliated (associated with the school’s established curriculum or part of contractually funded research projects at the postgraduate level) off-campus location.

  • On the school premises
    • Work that takes place at the school location could be for an on-campus department, office, or commercial business such as a bookstore or cafeteria. These work must directly provide services to students.
    • Employment located on-campus that does not directly involve services to students (such as construction work) does not qualify as on-campus employment.
  • Educationally affiliated off-campus location
    • Work with an employer that is contractually affiliated with the school is on-campus employment even if the work site is not located on the campus (such as a research lab affiliated with the school).

For more information, review: 8 CFR 214.2(9)(i)

Basic Guidelines for On-Campus Employment

  • Must maintain immigration status and be enrolled full-time (undergraduate students 12 hours/ graduate students 9 hours) or received an approved Reduced Course Load to be enrolled less than full-time
  • May work on campus only at the school listed on the I-20
  • May only work in student employee or graduate student employee positions
  • May work up to 20 hours per week when school is in session, and full-time (over 20 hours per week) when school is not in session (i.e. spring break) or during annual vacation (summer)
  • May not work after graduation date or completion of studies
  • For work hour allowance while enrolled refer to the Hourly Student Employment UPPS.
  • Graduate students with assistantships should contact the Graduate College regarding allowable work hours before working during the summer.

On-campus employment is contingent on maintaining your full-time student status. For example, if you drop below full-time hours without authorization from ISSS, your permission to work on-campus is immediately canceled. F-1 students who continue to work are violating the US law and will be considered "unlawfully present". Not complying with on-campus employment guidelines may be a violation of status that could result in the F-1 student having to leave the US.

For more information, review Basic Guidelines on F-1 Student On-Campus Employment

Quick-reference: Characteristics of F-1 On-Campus Employment

Characteristic Note
Preconditions Eligible immediately upon obtaining F-1 status; no waiting period. In transfer scenarios, can begin at the transfer-in school after the transfer release date, but no sooner than 30 days before the program start date on the transfer-in school's I-20.
Location Must be considered "on-campus"
Duration Can be used throughout period student is pursuing a full course of study. Cannot be used after a student completes the course of study.
Hours per week Limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session; can be full-time during official school breaks.
Field/level of work Can be in any on-campus position that does not displace a U.S. worker; does not have to be related to course of study.
Offer of employment Not required as a condition of eligibility.
Effect on other work on campus All 214.2(f)(9)(i) on-campus work is treated the same for the 20 hour per week limit; e.g., a teaching assistant working 15 hours per week can only work 5 additional hours per week in another on-campus job
Approval process Employment is "incident to status," and does not require DSO or DHS approval.
Miscellaneous Employment must not displace a U.S. resident [8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(i)].

Steps on On-Campus Employment

Frequently Asked Questions:

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