Disclaimer
On Campus Work Authorization for F-1 Students
Students in valid F-1 status are authorized to engage in on campus employment for up to 20 hours per week during regular semesters incident to their F-1 status. ALL on campus employment must be approved by OIS!
"On campus" is defined by federal immigration regulations as employment that:
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takes place on the premises of and for the benefit of the school sponsoring the Student's F-1 status (teaching assistant, research assistant, administrative) OR
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takes place on the premises of the school sponsoring the Student's F-1 status for the benefit of commercial firms providing direct student services (Barnes and Noble Campus bookstore, School Cafeteria run by Sodexho) OR
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takes place off campus at locations that are educationally affiliated (part of established curriculum or contract based research) with the school sponsoring the Student's F-1 status.
On Campus Work Authorization Begin Date
Initial entry students may begin on campus employment up to 30 days prior to the actual start date for classes.
Transfer students may begin on campus employment as of the transfer release date in SEVIS. Check with your current school for this date! For more about transferring to LSUHSC, click here.
On Campus Employment 20 Hour Limit
Exceeding the 20 hour limit without prior authorization is a violation of F-1 status and is grounds for termination of a Student's SEVIS record. No reinstatement is available for this type of violation.
The 20 hour limit includes all types of on campus employment. For example:
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A graduate assistant appointed at 50% effort (20 hours per week) may NOT engage in any other type of on campus employment.
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A student worker who works 15 hours per week in one department may only work an additional five hours per week in another department.
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A student who must work 15 hours per week under the terms of a scholarship or stipend may work only five additional hours on campus per week.
The ONLY valid forms of prior authorization for exceeding the 20 hour limit are:
Summer vacation and other official school breaks when students may work up to 40 hours per week, OR Special Student Relief beneficiaries.
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Burma (expires 5/25/2024) |
Sudan (expires 10/19/2023) |
South Sudan (expires 11/3/2023) |
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Hong Kong (expires 2/5/2023) |
Haiti (expires 2/3/2023) |
Somalia (expires 3/17/2023) |
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Yemen (expires 3/3/2023) |
Venezuela (expires 3/10/2024) |
Syria (expires 4/1/2024) |
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Cameroon (expires 12/7/2023) |
Afghanistan (expires 11/20/2023) |
Ukraine (expires 10/19/2023) |
A department or supervisor asking a student to work extra hours, or "approving" a student to do so does NOT constitute appropriate prior authorization and will NOT prevent an immigration status violation.
On Campus Employment Authorization End Date
A Student's "on campus" work authorization for LSUHSC ends on the completion date indicated on their current Form I-20 OR the transfer release date listed in SEVIS.
Continuing on campus employment at LSUHSC after either of these dates (including during the 60 day grace period) without specific authorization from USCIS (OPT, Change of Status to J-1, H1B, etc.) is a violation of F-1 status unless:
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The student has been issued a Form I-20 by LSUHSC for a change of academic level within LSUHSC AND has enrolled/will enroll in full time hours for the next regular academic term.*
*This does NOT apply to students who are transferring to or from LSUHSC when changing their academic level. Students transferring between SEVP institutions may only engage in on campus employment for the institution that holds their SEVIS record, as indicated by the transfer release date in SEVIS.
For more about F-1 transfers to LSUHSC, click here and from LSUHSC, click here.