On-Campus Student Employment for International Students
F-1 Visa Students
On-campus employment is inherent to F-1 status and does not require special permission. So long as you remain in valid F-1 status, you may work on campus. New regulations require you to have a job offer. Download that form here. See "Both Visa Types" below for limitations to on-campus employment. The Student Employment Office will issue an I-9 form when you present a valid UMass Dartmouth Form I-20. (We accept Form I-20s from other UMass campuses in cases of a formal joint program agreement.)
J-1 Visa Students
On-campus employment requires permission - in the form of a written authorization from the sponsoring agency that issued the Form DS 2019. If UMass Dartmouth is your program sponsor, this permission is given by Dr. Richard Panofsky or Ms. Catherine Sullivan, Office of Academic Affairs/Graduate Studies; or, contact the responsible officer at your sponsoring agency. See "Both Visa Types" below for other requirements and limitations to on-campus employment. The Student Employment Office will issue an I-9 form when you present a valid Form DS 2019 and the authorization letter from Panofsky or Sullivan, or the responsible officer at an external sponsoring agency.
For on-campus employment, you do not need to demonstrate unforeseen economic necessity.
Off-campus employment also requires permission, whether the work is related to one's studies (called Academic Training) or due to unforeseen economic necessity. Contacts are the same as for on-campus employment permission.
Both Visa Types
On-campus employment is limited to 20 hours/week while school is in session and 40 hours/week during vacations, semester break, and summer. You will need to apply for and receive a Social Security Number from the U.S. Social Security Administration in order to work at the University. The International Student Center will give you a support letter for the application process. There is a waiting period of two weeks after you arrive in the U.S. before you can apply:
Information about Application for Social Security Number
On-campus employment can take the form of a job in an academic or administrative department (undergraduates or graduate students) and graduate assistantships. International students (F-1, J-1, etc.) are not eligible for on-campus "work-study" employment, which is sponsored by the U.S. Federal Government.
As soon as your F-1 or J-1 status changes (for example, upon graduation or completion of an exchange program), you may not work.
Employment Eligibility for Dependents
Dependents of F-1 visa holders, who hold the F-2 visa, may not work.
Dependents of J-1 visa holders, who hold the J-2 visa, may work in some circumstances, with permission from the sponsoring agency and federal authorization.
Rarely, students study here under other non-immigrant visa types (such as H-2 or L-2). They must see Tina Bruen, Catherine Sullivan, or Dr. Richard Panofsky to learn if employment is allowed.
Last Updated On: 11/15/05
