This page is designed for F-1 students. It should provide you with an understanding of:

1. how "on-campus employment" is defined by the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), 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.

Eligibility Requirements

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. ALTHOUGH FEDERAL REGULATIONS ALLOW FOR FULL TIME ON-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT DURING VACATIONS, YOUR PROGRAM OR DEPARTMENT MAY HAVE OTHER RESTRICTIONS AND POLICIES THAT LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF ON-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT DURING VACATION PERIODS. IF THIS IS THE CASE THEN THESE POLICIES TAKE PRECEDENCE.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.

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WARNING: Students on fellowships and assistantships will not qualify for on-campus employment. Click here for more information.

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Students Attending Schools on the Quarter or Trimester System

If you attend a school which is on a quarter or trimester academic calendar and have completed an academic year (usually eight to nine months), you are eligible to take any one of the subsequent quarters or trimesters as your vacation term instead of taking a summer vacation. Students who do this may work full time during that vacation period. If you qualify for and wish to do this, please contact the Bechtel International Center before you do so.

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 USCIS regulations. However, you should contact the Bechtel International Center before beginning any on-campus employment.

Jobs Which Qualify as "On-Campus Employment"

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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 the Bechtel International Center 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.

4. 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, then 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 USCIS 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" (USCIS Form I-9). The I-9 must be updated each time you renew your work permission.If you are currently working on-campus and the program end date of your new I-20 has been extended beyond the program end date of your old I-20, you must immediately take a copy of your new I-20 to the Payroll Office at 655 Serra Street so that your I-9 form can be updated. Your failure to do this immediately will result in an interruption of your pay.

Social Security Taxes

In general, F-1 students who have been in the U. S. less than five years are exempt from Social Security (F.I.C.A.) withholding. Further information may be found in a booklet entitled "Social Security Coverage for Foreign Students & Exchange Visitors", available from your local Social Security Administration office.
Federal, State and Local Taxes.
The earnings of F-1 students are subject to applicable federal, state and local taxes, and these amounts should be withheld from paychecks. You must file an income tax return on or before April 15 of each year, which will determine if any of the withheld taxes can be reclaimed.

A Note of Caution

While USCIS 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 foreign student adviser before taking up any employment.

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 Bechtel International Center 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 Bechtel International Center. Staff there are pleased to offer information, counseling and assistance on all federal regulations related to maintaining your student status. Please check our website for weekly employment presentations.