{"id":22596,"date":"2017-11-06T12:24:54","date_gmt":"2017-11-06T17:24:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/?p=22596"},"modified":"2022-12-14T16:58:07","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T21:58:07","slug":"work-in-the-u-s-f-1-visa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/work-in-the-u-s-f-1-visa\/","title":{"rendered":"Working in the USA with F-1 Student Visa"},"content":{"rendered":"

Students with an <\/span>F-1 student visa<\/span><\/a> should not commence work, either on or off campus, without first consulting their designated school official (DSO). Authorization to work is required either from the DSO or the <\/span>U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)<\/span><\/a>. If you work without authorization, you will violate the terms of your F-1 student visa and fall out of status. Once you fall out of status, you will be forced to leave the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n

To avoid falling out of status, make sure you know the rules before you start working.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is a summary of the various types of work programs available to F-1 students.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Working on campus<\/b><\/h2>\n

F-1 students are not allowed to work off campus during their first academic year, but they may work <\/span>on campus<\/span><\/a> under certain conditions. <\/span><\/p>\n

First<\/strong>, jobs must qualify as on-campus jobs, which means:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Jobs must be located at the student\u2019s school and directly involve services to students, such as a bookstore or cafeteria.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Jobs could be located at an off-campus location, but still fall under on-campus employment, if the work is associated with the school\u2019s established curriculum OR the employer has a contractual affiliation with the school (for example, a research lab affiliated with your school).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Second<\/strong>, F-1 students are allowed to take on-campus jobs only if their employment does not take the jobs away from a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR).<\/span><\/p>\n

    F-1 students are allowed to start their on-campus jobs as early as 30 days before the start of a program of study. The maximum<\/span> number of hours you can work per week is 20 hours, but you may work full-time when school is NOT in session<\/span>, i.e., during school breaks and annual vacation<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    You will need to obtain certification letters from your DSO and the employer, so you can apply for a <\/span>Social Security Number<\/span><\/a>* that\u2019s needed for you to work. <\/span><\/p>\n

    *Note:<\/b> Every student with F-1 visa who is authorized to work in the United States needs a Social Security Number.<\/span><\/p>\n

    2. Working off campus<\/b><\/h2>\n

    F-1 students with severe economic hardships may be allowed to <\/span>work off campus<\/span><\/a> for up to 20 hours per week. Such students may work full-time when school is not in session.<\/span><\/p>\n

    To qualify for off-campus employment based on severe economic hardship, you must meet the following conditions:<\/span><\/p>\n