Employment for F-1 Students

Am I allowed to work?

The most important issue when considering employment is the issue of whether work is legal (or "authorized") or illegal (or "unauthorized"). You must always make sure that any employment you plan to engage in is legal employment. Any unauthorized (i.e. illegal) employment - even for one day - even if you did not know it was illegal - poses a grave threat to your ability to remain in or return to the United States. And you must always make sure that you have the necessary employment authorization before you begin work, since starting work without prior authorization - even if you receive authorization later - constitutes illegal employment.

Consult your International Student Advisor before engaging in any type of employment.

What is considered employment?

Employment is any type of work performed for services provided in exchange for money or any benefit such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, food, etc.  If you receive no pay or other benefit for the work performed, this activity is not defined as employment, but can be considered to be volunteer work.

Am I eligible to work?

Different requirements exist for each type of F-1 employment, but there are basic requirements that must be met for any F-1 employment:

1) You must be enrolled in a full course of study

2) You must be authorized to work by USCIS (former INS) or Texas Wesleyan University.

Once employment is authorized you must maintain eligibility or you will lose your right to continue employment, even if it was authorized in writing.

Where can I work?

On-Campus Employment

Students may work on campus if they receive permission from the International Programs Office on campus (USCIS authorization is not necessary).  Students must be careful to remember that work on-campus is limited to 20 hours per week when school is in session but may be full-time during holiday and vacation periods.

Off-Campus Employment

Working off-campus is forbidden unless students have permission from USCIS, and they work according to the permission given for CPT, OPT, or EAD work authorization.  Even then employment is limited to 20 hours per week when school is in session but may be full-time during holiday and vacation periods.

How can I get a Social Security Number?

Once you have been offered employment by the university, there are four steps you must take to apply for a social security number.

1. Obtain a letter of offer of employment from Office of Human Resources at Texas Wesleyan University

2. Complete the application for Social Security Number

3. Contact International Student Advisor to get a Letter of Recommendation

4. Contact the International Programs Office to set up a time to go to the Social Security Office in downtown Fort Worth

What do I need to take to the Social Security Office?

1. Letter of offer of employment from Texas Wesleyan

2. Letter of Recommendation from International Student Advisor

3. Passport, visa, I-94, ALL previous and current I-20s and any other immigration documents

4. Social Security Application, which can be found here.