International students enrolled full-time with an F-1 or J-1 Visa are eligible to work in on-campus jobs for 20 hours per week (and up to 40 hours per week in scheduled academic breaks). International students with other Visa types should consult their advisor in the International Student Center (ISC) to verify work authorization.
Before beginning their job, international student employees must have a SEVIS record and a valid I-20. Incoming international students who will start their program in the Fall, should plan for a start date of no sooner than September 30 to ensure the SEVIS record is active when applying for an SSN - if you have questions about this or would like to inquire about an earlier start date, please contact your ISC Advisor.
To find an on-campus job, follow steps one to three in Getting Hired On Campus. If you have an SSN, you can follow steps four to seven as well.
Upon receiving an offer for an on-campus jobs, international students who do not yet have a social security number should complete the following steps in the hiring process. You can read more about obtaining an SSN on the ISC website.
1. Obtain an offer letter from your supervisor/on-campus employer which includes the following. The letter must be on must be on letterhead and be signed with a wet signature.
2. Request a letter from the ISC.
3. Apply for a Social Security Number. You can apply as early as 30 days before your employment start date but no sooner. You can begin your application online. Then, you will need to go to a local Social Security office to provide your documentation. You will need to bring the following items with you to a Social Security Office:
4. Once your application is filed with the Social Security office, they will give you a receipt.
5. Schedule an appointment for your first day of work or sooner to complete your new hire paperwork.
6. Prior to your appointment, please complete the following online forms:
7. Bring the following original documents to your appointment:
8. After your appointment is complete, you are authorized to begin work on your start date. However, we cannot pay you until we receive your Social Security Number. This typically takes 2 weeks but can take up to 6 weeks during busy periods such as the Fall - this is why it is critical that you apply as you as you receive your job offer. Keep track of your days/hours worked on a document/spreadsheet until your timesheet is ready, and share it with your Supervisor. If you have been waiting for longer than six weeks for your SSN, please contact Student Employment.
9. When you receive your Social Security Card, schedule an appointment to bring in your card and complete your W-4.
10. Upon receiving your W-4, we will process your SEAF and Payroll will set up your time entry. Your supervisor will need to submit a Pay Period Adjustment Form to pay you for any time worked in past pay periods.