F-1 On-Campus Employment
Eligibility
International students in F-1 status are immediately eligible to work on Emory’s campus. As an international student, you may work up to 20 hours each week while school is in session and full-time during official University breaks and vacations.You must maintain your F-1 status in order to continue to be eligible for on-campus employment. Worked performed as on-campus employment is not required to relate to the field of study listed on Form I-20.
Authorization ProcessIf you have been offered on-campus employment (and/or will receive a stipend from Emory), you must complete paperwork within Emory University and also apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration (SSA) prior to beginning work.
Please note: If you already have an SSN, you are only required to complete Steps 2 and 4 in this process.
Step 1: Obtain an Offer Letter
You must first ask your on-campus employer to print the F-1 Student SSA On-Campus Employment Letter on department letterhead and complete the top portion of the letter.
Step 2: Request Authorization from ISSS
After your employer has printed the letter and completed the top portion, you must bring the letter to ISSS during walk-in hours, along with your immigration documents (Form I-20, passport). An International Student Advisor will complete the bottom portion of the letter and place a stamp on Form I-20 authorizing you to work on the Emory campus.
Step 3: Apply for a Social Security Number
After an International Student Advisor has completed the bottom portion of your letter and stamped Form I-20, you must then take your immigration documents and your signed employment letter to the Social Security Administration (SSA) to apply for the SSN. More information on the application process is available in our section on Social Security Numbers. The SSA will give you a receipt for your application. You may begin work as soon as you have obtained that receipt.
Step 4: Fulfill Tax Requirements
After you are hired, your employer must complete the required paperwork for Payroll/Human Resources, including Form I-9 and the New Student Hire Form. In addition to the paperwork required of all student employees, you must complete Form 8233. The Nonresident Tax Specialist, Mary Chenault, is the system administrator for this process. Her office is located in the Administration Building, Office of the Controller. She will help you with the tax paperwork and explain tax treaty benefits to you. Most students employed on campus are paid every two weeks by payroll check or by direct deposit to their bank accounts.
Tips for Finding On-Campus Employment
Students may search for on-campus employment (primarily undergraduate) at Emory online via Eagle Ops. Once you have registered on Eagle Ops, you may go to the specific office in which you are interested to learn about employment opportunities. A partial list of on-campus employers are located in a quick link located on the right side of this page.
International students are ineligible for Federal Work Study positions.
Only private student assistant jobs (i.e. those funded by the department itself) are open to F-1 students. Graduate teaching or research assistantships and fellowships are awarded at the department level. Masters level students in the Rollins School of Public Health may be eligible for the Rollins Practical Experience.
Watch for the Career Fair held on campus at the beginning of each semester. The Career Fair is primarily for Federal Work Study students, but it may be beneficial for any student who wishes to connect with potential on-campus employers.