Ibrahim Gardner
International students in the US on an F-1 visa have limited rights to work and strict rules govern their employment. F-1 students cannot work more than 20 hours per week during the school term and can work up to 40 hours per week during breaks and annual vacation. Working more than 20 hours per week can violate their F-1 status, and they may have to apply for reinstatement. To work off-campus, F-1 students must meet eligibility requirements and obtain official authorization.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Student visa type | F-1 |
| Maximum working hours | 20 hours per week during the school term |
| Maximum working hours during breaks | 40 hours per week |
| Work location | On-campus |
| Off-campus work | Only in cases of severe economic hardship or emergent circumstances as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) |
| Off-campus work eligibility | Must have completed at least one full academic year |
| Application process for off-campus work | Submit Form I-20 and Form I-765 to USCIS |
| Application process for on-campus work | Talk to Designated School Official (DSO) and obtain a letter of approval |
| Social Security Number (SSN) requirement | All students who wish to work must apply for an SSN |
| Consequences of working more than 20 hours | Violation of F-1 status, possible termination of SEVIS record, and risk of losing F-1 student status |
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What You'll Learn
On-campus employment
International students in the United States with an F-1 visa are permitted to work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, and up to 40 hours per week during school breaks. This type of employment is considered "incident to status" and does not require additional authorisation from a Designated School Official (DSO) or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). However, students must ensure they are maintaining their F-1 status and complying with their study permit conditions.
To be eligible for on-campus employment, students must be enrolled full-time and maintain their F-1 status. They can work in any on-campus position that does not displace a US citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR).
Students must be mindful of their total work hours, as exceeding 20 hours during the school term can result in losing their F-1 status and having their visa revoked. While the number of hours worked is not reported on official government documents, students are directly responsible for knowing and meeting their F-1 status responsibilities.
In addition to on-campus employment, F-1 students experiencing "severe economic hardship" may be eligible for off-campus work for up to 20 hours per week during the school term and full-time during breaks. This eligibility is determined by unforeseen circumstances and the inability to find sufficient on-campus employment.
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Off-campus employment
International students in the United States on an F-1 visa have strict limitations on their ability to work off-campus. During their first academic year, F-1 students may not work off-campus, but they may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions.
After the first academic year, F-1 students may engage in three types of off-campus employment:
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT): CPT is employment that trains you in your field of study and for which you fulfil academic credit or part of your degree requirement. CPT may be a paid or unpaid internship, a cooperative education job, a practicum, or another experience related to your field of study. CPT is usually part-time (20 hours per week or less) but can be full-time (more than 20 hours per week) in some cases.
- Optional Practical Training (OPT): OPT is work authorization that allows students to work in areas related to their major for up to one year before or after graduation. OPT must be full-time (40 hours/week) and must be completed within 14 months after completing a degree.
- Severe Economic Hardship: F-1 students experiencing severe economic hardship may be eligible to work off-campus for up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and full-time during breaks. To qualify, students must demonstrate that on-campus employment is unavailable or insufficient and provide evidence of economic hardship due to unforeseen circumstances.
It is important to note that off-campus employment for F-1 students is generally limited to 20 hours per week during the school term. Working more than this limit without authorization can result in losing F-1 student status and having the F-1 visa revoked.
In Canada, international students can work off-campus for up to 24 hours per week without a work permit, as long as they meet certain requirements, including being a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI) and having a valid study permit. Working more than 24 hours per week is a violation of the study permit conditions and can result in losing student status and future permit approvals.
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F-1 student status
International students with F-1 status are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week on-campus when school is in session, and up to 40 hours per week during breaks and annual vacations. F-1 students can only work on-campus after their program's end date if they are continuing their education at the next program level at the same school.
To work on-campus, F-1 students must maintain their student status and follow the guidelines for on-campus employment. They should also keep a Designated School Official (DSO) informed of any changes in employer and hours. Working more than 20 hours per week is a violation of F-1 Visa Limitations, and students found working illegally risk losing their F-1 status and having their F-1 visa revoked.
Off-campus employment for F-1 students is generally not allowed unless it is for economic need. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will only authorize off-campus employment in cases of severe economic hardship after a student has been enrolled in an academic program and has been in F-1 status for at least one full academic year, or in emergency circumstances as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
F-1 students can also participate in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). CPT is paid or unpaid employment that trains the student in their field of study and fulfills academic credit or part of their degree requirement. OPT allows students to work in areas related to their major for up to one year before or after graduation. To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled for at least one academic year and have active F-1 student status.
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Social Security Number
International students in the US with an F-1 visa are generally limited to working on-campus for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year. However, during breaks and annual vacations, they may exceed this limit. Off-campus employment is only permitted in specific circumstances, such as economic hardship or emergent circumstances as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Now, let's focus on Social Security Numbers (SSN) for international students in the US:
A Social Security Number (SSN) is a unique, 9-digit identifier issued by the US Social Security Administration (SSA). Its primary purpose is to track individuals' earnings over their lifetimes for taxation purposes. It is important for both employment and tax-related matters.
Eligibility for a Social Security Number
International students in the US are eligible to apply for an SSN if they have secured a job or internship and obtained an employment verification letter from their institution. This can include on-campus employment, Curricular Practical Training (CPT), or Optional Practical Training (OPT). CPT refers to paid or unpaid internships, cooperative education jobs, or other experiences related to an individual's field of study. OPT allows individuals to work in areas related to their major for up to one year before or after graduation.
It is important to note that an SSN alone does not confer work authorization. International students must ensure they have proper authorization to work in the US before applying for an SSN.
Applying for a Social Security Number
To apply for an SSN, international students can follow these steps:
- Complete the online application: Visit the Social Security Administration website at www.ssa.gov/number-card or www.ssa.gov/ssnumber to initiate the process.
- Gather required documents: Within 45 days of submitting the online application, applicants must present their original proof of identity, age, and lawful resident status, as well as any applicable letters from their Designated School Official (DSO) and employer.
- Visit a local Social Security Administration office: Bring all the required documents to your nearest Social Security Administration office to complete the application process.
- Receive your Social Security Number: Once your immigration information has been verified, the Social Security Administration will mail your SSN and card. This process typically takes two to four weeks, but it can sometimes take longer.
It is recommended that international students initiate the SSN application process well in advance of their intended job start date to ensure they receive their SSN in a timely manner. Additionally, students who are not currently employed but receive a taxable scholarship should apply for an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) for tax purposes.
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Employment Authorization
International students in the United States on an F-1 visa have strict rules regarding employment. Students on an F-1 visa are generally allowed to work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and up to 40 hours per week during breaks and annual vacation. However, they cannot work off-campus without official authorization and must demonstrate that they can afford school and living expenses before entering the country.
To obtain off-campus work authorization, F-1 students must submit Form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization", to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This form must be submitted 90 days to six months before the expiration of the current authorization. If USCIS does not respond within 90 days, the student may apply for interim employment authorization. Once approved, the student will receive a Form I-766, "Employment Authorization Document" (EAD), which serves as proof of their authorization to work in the United States. This authorization is typically valid for one year, after which the student must apply for a renewal EAD to avoid a gap in their employment authorization.
There are a few exceptions to the off-campus employment restrictions for F-1 students. Off-campus employment may be authorized in cases of severe economic hardship occurring after enrollment, provided the student has been in F-1 status for at least one academic year. Additionally, commuter students may engage in curricular practical training or post-completion optional practical training, which can include internships, cooperative education jobs, or other experiences related to their field of study. To maintain their F-1 status, students must not work more than the authorized number of hours, and any violations can result in the termination of their employment authorization and visa.
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Frequently asked questions
No. International students with an F-1 visa cannot work more than 20 hours a week during the school term. Working more than 20 hours is a violation of F-1 status and can result in losing your visa.
While the number of hours worked is not reported on official government documents, it is still a violation of F-1 status. The payroll office keeps close tabs on the working hours of each employee and communicates this information to the Designated School Official (DSO). The DSO might choose to overlook minor infractions, but it is still a violation.
Students with an F-1 visa can work more than 20 hours a week during breaks and annual vacation. They can also apply for off-campus employment if they have completed at least one academic year and have an economic hardship that qualifies for the Department of Homeland Security's emergent circumstances.
