On-Campus Employment Regulations for F-1 Students

The Department of Homeland Security's Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has regulations governing on-campus employment for students in F-1 status.

An F-1 Student may work on campus if:

  • Valid F-1 status is maintained
  • Employment does not exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session. Students may not work more than 20 hours per week even if they have more than one job.
  • The employment does not take a job away from a U.S. resident 

F-1 students may be employed full-time on campus during holidays and vacation periods, provided you intend to register for the next academic semester.

F-1 students who exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session violate 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(i). A violation of F-1 status may result in the termination of a student's SEVIS record, and the student would be "out of status." 

The definition of on-campus employment includes:

  • Work performed on the Manhattan University campus, including that required by a scholarship or assistantship
  • Work for an on-campus employer who has a contract to provide services to students; including Manhattan University Bookstore and Gourmet Dining Services.

F-1 students maintaining lawful status who plan to enroll at a new school for the next academic term may continue on-campus employment at Manhattan University until the reporting date to the new school, or may begin employment at the new school provided that the new school has issued a new form I-20.

In order to apply for on-campus employment, international students must first secure a job offer from a prospective employer.  Be advised that as an international student you are only eligible to be paid with Campus Employment funds, not Work Study funds. Once you have secured a job offer, come to the Office of International Student and Scholar Services for additional assistance.

Active F-1 students may apply for on-campus employment up to 30 days before the start of classes.

8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(i)

(i) On-campus employment. On-campus employment must either be performed on the school's premises, (including on-location commercial firms which provide services for students on campus, such as the school bookstore or cafeteria), or at an off-campus location which is educationally affiliated with the school. Employment with on-site commercial firms, such as a construction company building a school building, which do not provide direct student services is not deemed on-campus employment for the purposes of this paragraph. In the case of off-campus locations, the educational affiliation must be associated with the school's established curriculum or related to contractually funded research projects at the post-graduate level. In any event, the employment must be an integral part of the student's educational program. Employment authorized under this paragraph must not exceed 20 hours a week while school is in session, unless the Commissioner suspends the applicability of this limitation due to emergent circumstances, as determined by the Commissioner, by means of notice in the Federal Register, the student demonstrates to the DSO that the employment is necessary to avoid severe economic hardship resulting from the emergent circumstances, and the DSO notates the Form I-20 in accordance with the Federal Register document. An F-1 student may, however, work on campus full-time when school is not in session or during the annual vacation. A student who has been issued a Form I-20 A-B to begin a new program in accordance with the provision of 8 CFR 214.3(k) and who intends to enroll for the next regular academic year, term, or session at the institution which issued the Form I-20 A-B may continue on-campus employment incident to status. Otherwise, an F-1 student may not engage in on-campus employment after completing a course of study, except employment for practical training as authorized under paragraph (f)(10) of this section. An F-I student may engage in any on-campus employment authorized under this paragraph which will not displace United States residents. In the case of a transfer in SEVIS, the student may only engage in on-campus employment at the school having jurisdiction over the student's SEVIS record. Upon initial entry to begin a new course of study, an F-1 student may not begin on-campus employment more than 30 days prior to the actual start of classes.