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J-1 On-Campus Employment

Eligibility

A J-1 student is immediately eligible for on-campus employment, provided that he or she meets the following conditions:

Worked performed as on-campus employment is not required to relate to the field of study listed on Form DS-2019.

General Requirements

A J-1 student seeking on-campus employment must be authorized specifically for each individual position. The student first obtains a job offer and a letter of authorization is prepared. This letter is issued for a maximum of one year. Thus, students who will continue year after year in the same on-campus position must request a new letter each year to continue employment. On-campus, on-premises employment data must also be directly entered into the SEVIS database. 

Please note: Students who are completing a teaching or research assistantship as a component of a graduate program must request authorization for on-campus employment in order to teach or conduct research under the terms of the assistantship. Again, this authorization is valid for a maximum period of one year and thus must be requested each year if a student will continue the assistantship.

J-1 students should contact the Program Sponsor indicated on #2 of the Form DS-2019 to obtain the authorization letter. If the Program Sponsor is Emory University, the student submits the request to his or her International Student Advisor and will receive the authorization letter within five business days.  

Authorization for on-campus employment will be automatically withdrawn if the student’s program is transferred or terminated.

Authorization Process

If 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 1, 2 and 4 in this process.

Step 1: Obtain an Offer Letter

You must first ask your on-campus employer to print the J-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 DS-2019, passport). An International Student Advisor will complete the bottom portion of the letter, place a stamp on Form DS-2019 authorizing you to work on the Emory campus and enter the information about this specific on-campus position into the SEVIS database.

Step 3: Apply for a Social Security Number

After an International Student Advisor has completed the bottom portion of your letter and stamped Form DS-2019, 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 J-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.