F-1 On-Campus Employment

F-1 students may work on campus for up to 19.6 hours per week during regular fall and spring semesters. An example of on-campus employment is working at the school bookstore or library, or working as a research or teaching assistant.

• F-1 students may work on campus for a maximum of 19.6 hours per week while school is in session and full-time during break and vacation periods (for example, summer, etc.) as long as the student will continue to enroll in courses in the next semester.
• F-1 students will need to apply for a Social Security number (SSN) to work on campus. See the steps to apply for a Social Security number.
• Upon obtaining an on-campus job offer, F-1 students need to complete the Steps for Newly Hired Foreign Nationals.
• F-1 students may work on-campus for the duration of their academic program. Eligibility for on-campus employment ends on the graduation date, or I-20 end date (whichever date occurs first).
• Students who are fully-funded by WashU are limited to part-time employment up to an average of 10 hours per week.
• On-campus employment must be completed at the site/location of the hiring department. Remote work is not allowed. Exceptions are rare and requests must be approved both by the respective school’s Dean’s Office and OISS.

Note: F-1 students are not eligible for campus jobs classified as Federal Work-Study positions.

Remember that all work history on social media accounts (LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.) and employer websites should match the work authorization you have received in the U.S. When you are physically located in the U.S. and in F-1 immigration status, you must follow all F-1 work authorization regulations. Therefore, if your employer/company would be considered an off-campus entity, CPT or OPT authorization is required.  

Steps for newly hired foreign nationals

In order to be paid by WashU and to ensure proper handling of tax matters related to WashU employment, you will need to follow the Steps for Newly Hired Foreign Nationals and complete your FNIS (Foreign National Information System) when you receive an on-campus job offer.

You are eligible to begin working on-campus:

• Up to 30 days before your I-20 program start date or
• On the date your SEVIS record is released to WashU (SEVIS transfers only) or
• As soon as your new I-20 is issued (WashU change of level students only)

Finding on-campus employment

A note about off-campus employment

Off-campus work for F-1 students requires authorization. Unauthorized off-campus work is a violation of your F-1 immigration status and will result in immigration status termination.

Generally, there are two types of off-campus work authorization for students in F-1 status:

• Curricular Practical Training (CPT) – requires authorization from an OISS adviser
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) – requires OISS recommendation and authorization from USCIS

In certain situations, on‑campus employment may also include work at off‑campus locations, provided that it is at a location which is educationally affiliated with WashU. The educational affiliation must be associated with the school’s established curriculum or related to contractually funded projects at the postgraduate level. The employment must also be an integral part of the student’s educational program. Check with your OISS adviser for more details before accepting and starting such employment.