On Campus Employment for F-1 Students
Primary Purpose of Your Visa:
Your main purpose in the U.S. is full-time study. Employment is secondary. When applying for a visa, you must show that you have enough financial support without relying on work.
Employment for F-1 Visa Holders:
General Work Authorization:
- F-1 students may work on campus only (Exceptions: CPT and OPT)
- You must:
- Attend the school that issued your I-20
- Maintain valid F-1 status
Work Hour Limits:
- During Fall & Spring:
- Maximum:
- 20 hours per week (assistantships)
- 19 hours per week (direct wage jobs)
- Important:
- You cannot exceed the weekly limit at any time
- You cannot average hours across weeks
- Example: 15 hours one week + 25 the next = NOT allowed
- Maximum:
- During Summer & Vacation Periods:
- You may work full-time (21–40 hours/week)
- You do NOT have to enroll in summer classes
- However, if your job requires enrollment, you must enroll
- To work in summer:
- You must be enrolled for the next Fall semester
- You must maintain good academic standing
First Semester Rule:
- Undergraduate students:
- Cannot work during their first semester
- Graduate students:
- May work during their first semester
Status Violations:
- If you violate F-1 rules:
- You must fix your status before working again
- This may require leaving and re-entering the U.S. with a new I-20.
Finding a Job:
Important Notes:
ISS does not provide job listings. You are responsible for finding your own job. As an international student:
- You are NOT eligible for work-study jobs
- You may only work direct wage jobs
- You are limited to on-campus employment
Job Search Tips:
International students may find it challenging to find jobs on campus. To start your job search we recommend that you visit the Career Services Office. It's imperative that they know that you are an international student and that you do not qualify for “work-study." Things to remember as an international student:
- ISS does not have a listing of employment opportunities
- You do not qualify for “Work-Study” employment due to government funding involved
- You can only work “Direct Wage” jobs
- You are limited to on-campus employment only
- You are limited to 20 hours maximum per week except during winter and summer vacation
- Your best source of employment is normally the department of your major
- Ask friends if they know of openings
- Always tell any interested employer:
- That you are an international student
- That you cannot work off-campus
- And that you cannot work more than 20 hours a week
- Since job hunting is your responsibility
- It is recommended to present a one-page resume where you seek employment.
After You Get a Job, Follow the Following Steps:
1. Social Security Number (SSN)
If you do not have a Social Security Number (SSN):
- You must go to a Social Security Administration office in McAllen or Brownsville.
- You will need to bring:
- A letter from the UTRGV department confirming that you have been offered employment.
- And a letter from the Office of International Student Services (ISS).
- You cannot apply for a Social Security Number until you have been offered a job.
- You will need to wait at least 10 days after arriving in the U.S. before applying for an SSN
- With new security procedures, your Social Security Number may take 2-6 weeks to be issued.
- Some have taken 4 months.
- Please refer to the handout “Applying for A U.S. Social Security Number” for details on how to format letters
2. On-Campus Employment Authorization Form
You must complete the On-Campus Employment Authorization Form. The form will be sent to your email after your hiring request is submitted
Employment of International Students for Hiring Departments
Hiring an international student is similar to hiring any student. The main difference is immigration regulations. ISS will:
- Review the hiring request
- Confirm the student is eligible to work
It is the responsibility of each international student to adhere to the regulations and maintain their immigration status. If you have any questions, please contact our office at (956)665-2922 or (956)882-7092.