Employment

On-Campus Employment 

F-1/J-1 students are eligible to work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during the academic year and full-time (more than 20 hours per week) during winter and summer vacation. On-campus employment may include teaching assistantships, research assistantships, student positions at the campus library, food/dining services, etc. Students are not eligible to work on-campus after the completion of their degree unless they have work authorization in the form of an Employment Authorization Document (EAD Card). If an F-1 or J-1 visa holder works over their allowed period of on-campus employment even by minutes, it is a serious violation of immigration status that will result in termination of status. J-1 students will need written approval from ISO before being able to start any position on-campus. Please note that on-campus employment is competitive and there are limited job opportunities.

Students can work on-campus while doing Curricular Practical Training (see below for more information on CPT). Not every student will need to do CPT, but if they do, students can work a combination of on-campus and off-campus (CPT) for a maximum time of 20 hours per week, during the Fall and Spring semesters. During the Summer vacation, students can work more than 20 hours on-campus, if students are not required to be enrolled by their program. If students are required to be enrolled for the Summer semester, then they can work up to 20 hours per week on-campus and may fulfill any CPT obligations in addition.

ALL OFF-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION BY THE INTERNATIONAL SERVICES OFFICE. Any participation in off-campus employment without the required authorization is a serious violation of immigration status that will result in termination of status. Please see the information below on how to obtain off-campus employment authorization.

If you are suffering severe economic hardship due to unforeseen changes in your financial circumstances, you may apply to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for authorization to work off-campus. To apply for economic hardship you must prove to USCIS that employment is necessary due to severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond your control that arose after obtaining F-1 status. Economic hardship does not alleviate you from the full-time enrollment requirement!  You must continue to maintain F-1 status.

• Loss of financial support
• Substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rate
• Inordinate increases in tuition and/or living costs
• Unexpected changes in the financial condition of your source of support, such as a loss of a family business
• Excessive medical bills

The employment authorization is granted by USCIS in increments of one year at a time. You must have other income as the authorization allows for only 19 hours per week of work while full-time enrolled. You may work 20 hours or more per week during semester breaks and your annual vacation.  This employment does not affect your eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Employment authorization is automatically terminated if you graduate, fail to maintain status, or transfer to another school.

If you would like to apply for economic hardship, please contact the International Services Office to check for eligibility and the application requirements.