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International Student and Scholar Services

On-Campus Employment

Hiring F-1 and J-1 Students

International students can work in positions that are paid by Illinois State University. The types of positions open to international students are typically:

  • Graduate Assistantships
  • Student Worker Positions

Eligibility

To be eligible for on-campus employment international students must:

  • Be in valid F-1/J-1 student status
  • Be an active enrolled ISU student (excluding vacation periods)
  • Maintain a full course of study

Note: if summer is the student’s first or last semester, they must be enrolled full-time.

Conditions of Employment

Work Hours

International students are limited to the number of hours:

Fall 20 hours
Spring 20 hours
Summer 28 hours*
Official Academic Breaks 28 hours

If summer is a student’s first or last semester, it is no longer a vacation period so the student can only work 20 hours/week.

End of Work Authorization

F-1/J-1 on-campus work authorization ends when a student completes their studies at ISU

  • In most cases, this date is the last day of the semester as listed on the ISU Academic Calendar.
  • Graduate Assistants can work through the end of their contract as long as their end date falls within the same month of graduation.
  • A student who wishes to continue working on campus after graduation must obtain another type of work authorization prior to beginning employment (for example, OPT or AT).

Hiring Steps

  1. Student accepts an offer of employment.

    The employer must provide a formal offer letter on company letterhead.

  2. Student completes I-9 hiring paperwork with HR.

    • J-1 students will not complete the I-9 until receiving an authorization letter from ISSS.
    • They will receive this letter after submitting an On-Campus Employment Request in the ISSS Portal.

  3. If the student needs to apply for an SSN

    • The department completes an On-Campus Employment Verification Letter (see below for details and a link to the required template)
    • Student submits SSN Letter Request in the ISSS Portal
    • Student receives SSN letter from ISSS.
    • Student goes to the Social Security Office.
      • See the ISSS website for a list of what the student will need to bring.

On-Campus Verification Letter

If you are hiring an international student, they may require a verification letter from you as part of the SSN process. This letter is required by the SSA to obtain an SSN.

Below are some helpful tips on how to accurately complete the On-Campus Employment Verification Letter Template. Any errors could potentially delay the student’s SSN application.

Helpful Tips

  • Do not alter the format of the template at all.
  • Name of Student: You should list the student’s full legal name as it appears on their passport and I-20 document.
  • Hours/Week: Please see the chart on this page.
  • Worksite Address: Use the ISU Campus Map to determine your worksite address.

For F-1 students, the start date should be an accurate estimate of:

  • New students may not begin on-campus employment more than 30 days prior to the actual start of classes
  • Must have a valid I-20 and be maintaining F-1 status
  • Not work beyond their program end date as listed on their I-20/DS-2019

Additional Resources