This page describes employment rules for international students.

We also have a page of resources for on-campus employment and career support.

Maintain your status in the U.S. by only working as authorized

International students must follow employment regulations and are urged to meet with an immigration advisor before accepting or beginning any off-campus employment.

• In principle, off-campus employment is not permitted except in very limited circumstances.
• Failure to receive the proper authorization is a serious violation of your immigration status and can result in the loss of your F-1 or J-1 status.
• Protect your immigration status and do not expose yourself to penalties caused by unauthorized/illegal employment. The income you earn will be of little value to you if you are not permitted to complete your program in the U.S.

F-1 Students

Note: F-2 dependents are not permitted to accept employment in the U.S. under any circumstances.

What counts as work?

• Work is defined as any service performed for compensation.
  • Compensation can be in the form of a paycheck or free goods and/or services.
    • Ex: A Resident Assistant (RA) position where you are “paid” with free accommodations and food is considered work by immigration regulation.
• In F-1 status, you are immediately eligible to work on-campus.
• Any off-campus employment requires prior approval from USCIS or an ISSS Advisor.
  • This is only permitted in certain circumstances.
• Working illegally is a serious violation of your immigration status.
  • Do not engage in unauthorized employment!

On-Campus Employment hours and details

F-1 students may work on-campus at CSU as long as they have a valid I-20*, are in good academic standing, and are maintaining their immigration status.

• • During Fall and Spring semesters, F-1 students can work on campus no more than 20 hours per week.
  • During Winter and Summer breaks, F-1 students can work on campus for unlimited hours. 
  • *Note: on-campus employment authorization at CSU ends when you finish your studies and/or transfer out your SEVIS record. For graduate students, your completion of studies date will be determined by the semester you defended your thesis and/or coursework, regardless of when the degree will be conferred, per 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(iii)(C).

• On-campus employment opportunities can be found on RamWeb.
• Students must apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) before starting work.
  • You must have a written job offer from an on-campus employer to qualify for a Social Security status verification letter from ISSS.
  • You will need both original letters to apply for your SSN.
  • You can begin working before you receive your SSN if you have proof that you have submitted your SSN application.

Graduate Research and Teaching Assistantship hours are counted as on-campus employment and limited to the 20 hour per week limit while classes are in session. So are CC (Community Coordinator) / RA (Resident Assistant) positions in University Housing.

Some key facts to know are the F1 Student Employment Timeline, the F1 STEM Extension Timeline and knowing all important numbers as an F-1 student.

All other work for any kind of compensation (free housing, groceries, laptops, etc.) is considered to be employment and is not authorized unless the student has approved work authorization under Curricular Practical Training or Optional Practical Training.

I-9 for F-1s

If your employer is having a hard time determining what documents will be sufficient for the I-9 paperwork, please refer them to the Department of Homeland Security’s webpage on the topic. The I-9 is a government process for verifying work authorization.

Off-Campus Employment

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

• There are three (3) types of off-campus work authorization for students in F-1 status:
  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT) – requires authorization from an ISSS Advisor
  • Optional Practical Training (OPT) – requires authorization from USCIS
  • Severe Economic Hardship – requires authorization from USCIS. Students facing financial difficulty that is unexpected and unforeseen should meet with an immigration advisor to see if they qualify to apply for Severe Economic Hardship employment authorization through USCIS. This benefit is very limited by USCIS and there’s no guarantee that applying will result in approval.

• Always meet with an ISSS Advisor BEFORE considering off-campus work.
  • The application and approval process can be very long, costly, and you must meet certain criteria to qualify.
  • ISSS hosts CPT/OPT information sessions each semester where you can get details on the requirements and process for applying during International Career Week.

J-1 Students

J-1 Exchange Visitors in the student category may be granted permission to accept on-campus employment by written approval of the responsible officer of their sponsoring agency prior to beginning work. CSU may not authorize work permission for another sponsor.

J-1 students must have written authorization from ISSS first before working. Then, on-campus work for up to 20 hours per week during Fall and Spring semesters, is permitted. There is no limit during official University vacation periods–as long as the student is in good academic standing, is engaged in a full course of study, and has received written approval in advance from the responsible officer for the specific employment.

Work authorization may be valid for up to 12 months but is automatically withdrawn if the student’s program is terminated.

J-1 students may also qualify for academic training to work on or off campus. Academic training, as described by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), is authorized employment for up to 18 months that may be taken prior to or following the completion of a student’s course of study. True Postdoctoral positions may utilize up to 36 months of Academic Training. Non-degree students may also be eligible for academic training. Please see the Academic Training Request Packet for more information.

J-2 dependents may apply for permission from USCIS to accept employment if they make their request in writing, stating that the income will be used only for the support of the J-2 dependents and not for the support of the J-1 Exchange Visitor. Please see the J-2 Dependent Employment Authorization Page for more information.

More Information

• U.S. Department of Labor
• An Overview of CPT, OPT, and H-1B