On-Campus Employment
On-campus employment is a benefit of one's F-1 or J-1 status. Students can work on-campus up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and full time during breaks. Students who have secured on-campus employment will need to apply for a Social Security number (SSN) if they do not already have one.
In general, for a position to be considered on-campus employment, the F-1/J-1 student must be working:
- On Emory's campus;
- For Emory; and
- On Emory's payroll.
If all three on-campus employment conditions are met, F-1 students do not need to obtain employment authorization. However, J-1 students must obtain written on-campus work authorization from ISSS before their start date. See the "J-1 Students" section below for more details.
If these three conditions are not met (for example, if a student will be working on-campus but the payment will come from professor or an organization other than Emory University), the student must speak with their ISSS advisor prior to beginning any employment. Some off-campus positions (including positions offered through the Rollins Earn and Learn (REAL) program) are treated as on-campus employment by the federal regulations but require some additional paperwork.
Tips for Finding an On-Campus Job
- Search for on-campus jobs through Handshake.
- Look out for the career fair held on campus at the beginning of each semester.
- Visit Emory's Career Center for help with resumes, applying for jobs, interviewing and more.
Guidelines and Restrictions
- When an international student first enters the country in F-1 status, their first day of employment should be no earlier than 30 days before classes start.
- While school is in session, F-1 students cannot work more than 20 hours per week. During the summer and other breaks, they can work full time.
- F-1 students cannot continue on-campus employment after they have finished their program of study, unless they have a new I-20 for a new program of study.
- F-1 students can only work at the school that controls their SEVIS record. If a student is attending two institutions at the same time, they can only work on the campus that issued their I-20.
Social Security Numbers (SSNs)
To apply for a SSN based on F-1 on-campus employment, students should follow the procedures outlined on ISSS' Social Security Numbers page.
Eligibility
J-1 students can work on-campus during the academic year if they:
- Are in good academic standing.
- Are enrolled in a full course load (except during breaks).
- Will work no more than 20 hours per week.
- During the summer and other breaks, J-1 students can work full-time.
- Get written authorization from ISSS before their start date and renew it every 12 months.
- Any changes will require new written authorization from ISSS and updated paperwork from the Emory hiring department.
Authorization Process
- Obtain an on-campus position (includes teaching or research assistantships as part of a student's graduate program).
- Log into ISSS Link and complete the On-Campus Employment Authorization form found under the J-1 Student Services tab.
- In the e-form, the student will be asked to provide the name and e-mail of the on-campus hiring manager.
- In the e-form, the student will be asked to provide the name and e-mail of the on-campus hiring manager.
- Upon submission of the e-form, the student's hiring manager will receive an e-mail requesting that they log into ISSS Link and provide the employment details (e.g. position, address, dates, hours per week, supervisor name etc.).
- J-1 students should let their hiring manager know to expect an e-mail from ISSS.
- The e-form should be completed in a timely manner as the student cannot begin employment until it is completed by the hiring manager and approved by ISSS.
- Once the hiring manager submits their portion of the e-form, the student's ISSS advisor will review the request within five business days. If approved, the ISSS advisor will create a J-1 on-campus employment authorization letter and e-mail it to the student.
- Upon receiving the authorization letter, the J-1 student should:
- Send a copy of the letter to their hiring manager to begin the hiring process.
- Follow the procedures outlined on ISSS' Social Security Numbers page to apply for a SSN.
- Contact Emory's nonresident tax specialists (nonresident.tax@emory.edu) for information about tax treaty benefits and assistance in completing tax paperwork.