Student Employment

The article On-Campus Employment by Paula Singer, Esq., contains useful information about authorized employment for students with F-1 status and exchange students with J-1 status. The law allows employment for both categories of students but with restrictions. While attending classes, on campus employment is authorized for a maximum of 20 hours per week at the institution the student is authorized to attend. In time periods during which there are no classes (summer vacation for example) full-time on campus employment is permitted as long as the student has the intent to enroll at the institution during the coming academic year. On campus employment is limited to nothing prior to 30 days before classes commence.

Further details are available in the linked article which was informative. These nuggets may be helpful. The author wrote:

"Foreign students may work off-campus only if they have obtained the proper authorization for the employment as follows:

F-1 students may be employed off-campus for “economic hardship” provided they have first obtained an employment authorization document (EAD) from the immigration service.
F-1 students may engage in off-campus optional practical training (OPT) after first obtaining an EAD.
J-1 students may only work off-campus if the employment they have received prior written authorization from their Responsible Officer (RO). Eligible J-1 Exchange Visitors may also engage in off-campus “academic training” with prior written authorization from their RO."