What qualifies as on-campus employment for an F-1 student?
The definition for on-campus employment is in 8 CFR 214.2(9)(i).
There are two types of limits on the employment. The work must take place either at your 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 your school location could be for an on-campus commercial business, like a bookstore or cafeteria, as long as the work directly provides services for 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 your school).
On-campus employment must not displace a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR).
What are the basic guidelines for on-campus employment?
An F-1 student has three main employment-related guidelines:
- May work at any qualifying on-campus job that does not displace a U.S. citizen or LPR.
- May work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session ( full-time during those periods when school is not in session or during the annual vacation)
- Should report their work to you and receive a certification letter to present to the Social Security Administration in order to be able to receive a Social Security number.
Not complying with these guidelines for on-campus employment may be a violation of status that could result in the F-1 student having to leave the United States.
What are a designated school official’s (DSO) responsibilities for on-campus employment?
The questions above on "What qualifies as on-campus employment for an F-1 student? and What are the basic guidelines for on-campus employment? define the parameters for on-campus employment.
As the DSO, you have certain responsibilities:
- Counsel the student concerning the following:
- Number of hours the F-1 student may work
- Type of employment
- Need to maintain F-1 status
- Tax and Social Security implications
- Reporting changes in employment and hours worked
- Have a letter from each employer concerning the nature of the job and the work hours
- Give the F-1 student a letter for Social Security purposes certifying that the job qualifies as on-campus employment and that the student is in F-1 status
- Keep records on the F-1 student’s employment in the school files
- Terminate the F-1 student’s SEVIS record if you know the student is engage d in any unauthorized employment or works hours in excess of those allowed by regulation
When does an F-1 student become eligible for on-campus employment?
An F-1 student may begin working as much as 30 days before the start of a program of study. They should inform the DSO before they begin work.
If an F-1 student finishes a program (such as a bachelor’s degree) and starts another program of study at the same campus, the student may continue on-campus employment as long as the student plans to enroll in the new program of study for the next term. If otherwise eligible, an F-1 student may continue to work on-campus with a pending application for reinstatement or change of status.
Where can on-campus jobs be located?
The job must be physically located on the school’s campus or off-campus at the site of an educationally affiliated organization.
What are the restrictions for students under on-campus employment?
Employment on-campus has to be for the school or for a company that contracts with the school to serve students directly.
For example, if your school contracts with a food service company, an F-1 student can work for the company at school facilities but not for the same company at any off-campus locations.
- An F-1 student cannot work for a company contracting with the school for something other than student services
- An F-1 student cannot work for a company that does not contract with the school, even if the work location is physically located on school property.
For example, an F-1 student cannot work for a construction company, even if the job site is on the campus.
However, an F-1 student may work for a contractually affiliated company such as a school bookstore, because it provides services to students.
What does educationally affiliated mean?
In the case of off-campus locations, educational affiliation means the location meets one of two important criteria:
- Associated with the school's established curriculum
- Related to contractually funded research projects at the post-graduate level
In the case of on-campus locations, educational affiliation means the location meets the following criteria:
- Included in a financial aid package
- Scholarship
- Fellowship or assistantship
May an F-1 student work on-campus after enrolling in a new program of study?
Yes. If an F-1 student finishes one program of study at one educational level (such as a bachelor’s degree) and starts another program of study at the same campus, the student may continue on-campus employment as long as the student plans to enroll for the next term.
If otherwise eligible, may an F-1 student continue to work on-campus with a pending application for a change of status?
For how long may an F-1 student continue to work on campus?
An F-1 student who is enrolled in school, maintains status and follows the guidelines for on-campus employment may continue to work. The F-1 student should keep a DSO informed of any changes in employer and hours, however.
An F-1 student may only work on-campus after the program end date if continuing the education at the next program level at the same school.
Must an F-1 student wait one academic year before starting to work on campus?
May an F-1 student work at more than one on-campus job?
Yes. However, the F-1 student’s total work hours for all jobs cannot exceed 20 hours during the school term. The F-1 student may work full-time during those periods when school is not in session or during the student’s annual break.
May an F-1 student work on campus during the 60-day grace period after the program end date?
No. The 60-day "grace" period after graduation or post-completion OPT is for an F-1 student to prepare to leave the United States, unless the student is beginning a new program of study. An F-1 student may consider applying for post-completion OPT to continue working after graduation.
What are the requirements for an F-1 student who transfers?
When an F-1 student transfers to a new school, on-campus employment is available to the student only at that school after the record release date. The F-1 student cannot work at the prior school after that date.
Is an F border commuter student eligible for on-campus employment?
No. Per 8 CFR 214.2(f)(18), the only employment in which an F-1 border commuter student may engage is CPT and post-completion OPT.
How does an F-1 student get permission to work on-campus?
An F-1 student automatically has permission to work on campus (unless he or she is a border commuter) but still needs to work with a DSO to ensure the job offered qualifies as on-campus employment.
An F-1 student will need certification letters from the DSO and the employer. The student must present these letters to officials at the local Social Security Administration office to get a Social Security number.
What employment information must a DSO enter into SEVIS?
If the F-1 student intends to list on-campus employment as a means of financial support, the DSO should enter the dollar amount of the anticipated income in the on-campus employment field in SEVIS when they create the student's initial Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record.
If the student's means of support changes and the student now wants to list on-campus employment, a DSO must update the student's record accordingly.
DSOs may include on-campus employment information in the SEVIS remarks section even if the student does not intend to list this work as a means of support.
DSOs should terminate the student's SEVIS record for unauthorized employment if the student engages in any unauthorized employment or works hours in excess of those allowed.
What employment records a DSO keep?
SEVP recommends that a DSO keep a copy of the letter from each employer that describes the type of work, the affiliation to the school (if needed), and the number of hours the student will work per week.
DSOs should keep a copy of their letters to the Social Security Administration certifying that the student may work on-campus.
If a school has several campuses in the local area, may an F-1 student work at a different campus?
F-1 students may work at a campus other than the one at which they attend classes if the other campus meets the following criteria:
What does an F-1 student need to do to change on-campus jobs?
An F-1 student needs to talk to their DSO before changing jobs. This will allow the DSO to ensure that the new position qualifies as on-campus employment and to ensure the DSO has the correct employment information in the student's SEVIS record.