F-1 International Student Job Opportunities

The employment guidelines for F-1 students are set down by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) & the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Designated School Official (DSO) is responsible oversee the F-1 visa students, to be familiar with the laws international students must abide by and report any violations of these laws.

There are limited work opportunities available in the United States for F-1 students. These students must prove they have the financial ability to pay for tuition and living expenses while studying before getting an F-1 visa.

There are 3 employment options:

1. On-campus employment as credit applied toward the student’s balance

• More like a scholarship where no money changes hands
• Government doesn’t need to approve the employment
• 20 hours a week while school is in session/40 hours a week when on break
• Job supervisor must contact the DSO with a job description & receive the DSO’s approval before the student starts to work.
• DSO will walk the student & supervisor through the process, including how to obtain a Social Security number so that the HR department can properly onboard the student for tax purposes.

2. On-campus employment with Sodexo or ACU for a paycheck

• Government doesn’t need to approve the employment
• 20 hours a week while school is in session/40 hours a week when on break
• Job supervisor must contact the DSO with a job description & receive the DSO’s approval before the student starts to work.
• DSO will walk the student & supervisor through the process, including how to obtain a Social Security number so that the HR department can properly onboard the student for tax purposes.

3. Off-campus employment for severe temporary economic hardship

• Student is eligible after completing a full year of academic studies.
• The DSO will guide the student with their government application process & supporting documentation.
• There is a $410 fee for this application
• Both the application and application fee go to the US Customs & Immigration Services office and requires their approval, not the DSO.
• The student cannot start working until they have received their authorization documents from the government.
• This form of employment is good for one year and must be renewed yearly as needed.

Baby sitting, house cleaning, dog walking, car washing, tutoring, etc. for cash payments are considered illegal and strictly forbidden.

Consequences of illegal work

• DSO must report the illegal employment to ICE and terminate the student’s I-20.
• The student must leave the United States immediately without a grace period.
• The student may not be allowed to return to the United States
• ACU could lose our SEVP certification for failing to report illegal employment
• All other F-1 students would have to return to their home country
• ACU might never be approved for SEVP certification again

When in doubt please reach out to the Designated School Official.

SEVIS on Employment