On-Campus Employment

F-1 On-Campus Employment

In most cases, you can start working on campus no earlier than 30 days prior to the first day of classes. ISSS recommends you complete your F-1 check-in prior to beginning work to make your I-9 verification process go more smoothly, but your hiring department may permit you to begin working earlier.

CPT authorization will be needed for on-campus work if you want to work more than 20 hours per week during fall or spring semesters.

Requirements to Work on Campus

• You must continue to maintain your F-1 status (including full-time enrollment) 
• You are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters 
  • During summer semester or other break periods you may work more than 20 hours per week
  • To learn more about working during holidays/university break periods click on the following link.  
• You will also need to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) to work in the U.S. if you don’t have one already. You cannot apply for an SSN until AFTER your ISSS Check-In is complete.  
  • Click here to learn how to apply 
    
    

Current students can continue to work on-campus between the program start and end dates on their I-20 as long as they maintain legal F-1 status. Please note, the end date your I-20 is subject to change.

Note: Certain on-campus jobs may involve work at a location that’s not at Texas A&M. If your position requires this, talk to ISSS to see if you’re eligible to do “on-campus work” at an off-campus location.

On-Campus Work at an Off-Campus Location

Federal regulations allow that under certain conditions, F-1 students may work at an off-campus location while still being considered as working “on-campus”. In order for students to be considered working on campus but performing the work at an off campus location, the student must the satisfy the following requirements:  

• The employment MUST be associated with the school's established curriculum OR related to contractually funded research projects at the graduate level.
• The research must be an integral part of the educational program and be commensurate with the level of study.
• Whether paid or unpaid, the student must obtain authorization to conduct research at the off-campus location.
• The student must register full-time while school is in session.
• The student may not be compensated for more than 20 hours of work per week.
• The student may work full-time during Texas A&M vacation periods if the student is eligible for a vacation.

How to Apply

To apply, submit the On Campus Work at Off Campus Location request in the General Student Services section of the ISSS Portal.

You will need:

• Contact information for a department recommender (academic advisor, graduate advisor, etc.)
  
• Employer letter written on official letterhead. The letter should state the following:
  • The job title;
  • That the student will not be compensated for more than 20 hours per week of employment, except during school vacation periods for which the student is eligible;
  • The exact dates of the employment;
  • How the employer is educationally affiliated with Texas A&M and that the educational affiliation is associated with an established curriculum OR how the work is related to a contractually-funded project at the graduate level;
  • The salary and benefits.

ISSS will review the requests and provide the student with an authorization letter that includes the specific dates and physical location of employment. The student may not work at the off-campus site of employment until ISSS has approved and provided the written authorization for the student. The student will be responsible for requesting renewal of the on-campus/off-campus work authorization (authorizations are issued with a maximum duration of one year).

F-1 On-Campus Employment FAQ

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When can I begin working on-campus?

Initial F-1 students: You can begin on-campus employment no earlier than 30 days prior to the first day of classes. Please note that the first day of classes may vary depending on the college and specific program. ISSS recommends you complete your F-1 check-in prior to beginning work to make your I-9 verification process go more smoothly, but your hiring department may permit you to begin working while your SEVIS record is still in ‘Initial’ status.

Transfer F-1 students: You can begin on-campus employment after your SEVIS record is transferred to Texas A&M University AND after you’ve received your new TAMU I-20 from ISSS.  

When do I have to stop working on-campus?

In general, you cannot work on-campus after the day of your graduation. You also may not work after the program end date on your I-20. The first I-20 you receive from ISSS will have a generic program end date. 

Later on, this program end date will change based on your graduation date OR based on certain immigration request submitted to ISSS. If you transfer your SEVIS record to another school, you cannot work on-campus at TAMU after ISSS transfers your record. 

If you violate your F-1 status, you must stop working immediately. 

Is written authorization from ISSS required in order to work on-campus?

No, you don’t need permission from ISSS. After you check-in with ISSS, you’ll have to check-in with your employer and process HR paperwork. You’ll have to provide your immigration paperwork (passport, I-20, etc.) to be put on payroll. However, if you violate your F-1 status in any way, you must stop working immediately.

When can I start working more than 20 hours per week during break periods?

You can start working on-campus more than 20 hours per week the day after the first commencement. You must stop working more than 20 hours per week before the first day of classes. 

Check the Academic Calendar for specific dates. Please note that commencement dates and the first day of classes may vary depending on the college and specific program. 

How do I know if my employer is "on-campus" or "off-campus"?

Come talk to ISSS – we'll need more information about your employer to answer. 

 J-1 On-Campus Employment

J-1 Students are required to get work authorization before doing ANY employment in the U.S. If you work without authorization, you will violate your status. 

If your DS-2019 was issued by Fulbright or another non-TAMU sponsor, then you need to talk to your J-1 program sponsor to get work authorization. ISSS cannot authorize anything for you if we did not issue your DS-2019.

If you need to work off-campus at any point, you will need to request Academic Training authorization.

Requirements

• Submit the On-Campus Work and SSN request in the Internships & Employment section of the ISSS Portal.
• You must have active J-1 status – submit a check-in to ISSS if you haven’t yet. 
• You must have written permission from ISSS before you start working.
• You must have an on-campus job offer.
• You may only work up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters.
  • During summer semester or other break periods you may work more than 20 hours per week.
  • To learn more about working during holidays/university break periods click on the following link.  
• You must continue to maintain your J-1 status (including full-time enrollment).
• You will also need to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) to work in the U.S. if you don’t have one already. You cannot apply for an SSN until AFTER your ISSS Check-In is complete.  
  • Click here to learn how to apply.

J-1 On-Campus Employment FAQ

Expand All

When can I begin working on-campus?

After you’ve received written permission from ISSS, you can start working. 

Initial J-1 students: You can begin on-campus employment no earlier than 30 days prior to the first day of classes.  Please note that the first day of classes may vary depending on the college and specific program. 

Transfer J-1 students: You can begin on-campus employment after your SEVIS record is transferred to Texas A&M University AND after you’ve received your new TAMU DS-2019 from ISSS. 

If you violate your J-1 status, you must stop working immediately.

When do I have to stop working on-campus?

In general, you cannot work on-campus after the day of your graduation. You cannot work in the U.S. after the program end date on your DS-2019. If you transfer your SEVIS record to another school, you cannot work on-campus at TAMU after ISSS transfers your record. 

If you violate your J-1 status, you must stop working immediately.

When can I start working more than 20 hours per week during break periods?

You can start working on-campus more than 20 hours per week the day after the first commencement. You must stop working more than 20 hours per week before the first day of classes. 

Check the Academic Calendar for specific dates. Please note that commencement dates and the first day of classes may vary depending on the college and specific program. 

How do I know if my employer is "on-campus" or "off-campus"?

Come talk to ISSS – we'll need more information about your employer to answer. 

I want to change my on-campus job. What do I need to do?

Stop working with your current employer and submit a new on-campus authorization request to ISSS.  After ISSS gives you written permission for the new employer, you can start working again.