Employment for International Students

Yes, international students on F-1 or J-1 visas can work on campus at the school they are attending, provided they meet certain criteria. To be eligible, you must have an F-1 or J-1 visa, be enrolled full-time, and maintain lawful student status.

Your eligibility for on-campus employment remains valid only as long as you maintain lawful F-1 or J-1 status. If you violate your status, you lose your eligibility to work on campus since on-campus employment is a benefit granted only to students who maintain lawful status.

Working on campus after violating your status is considered illegal employment. This can result in serious consequences, including the risk of deportation and the loss of eligibility for future benefits from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), such as practical training, academic training, or changing to another non-immigrant status.

A student who arrives in the U.S. with an "initial attendance" I-20 can start working on campus no more than 30 days before the start date indicated on their I-20 form. Transfer students can also begin on-campus employment within these 30 days, but only after they have completed their legal transfer to Nova Southeastern University. (Transfer students should verify with the ISO that their transfer is complete before starting on-campus employment.)

Contact the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) to learn about on-campus work opportunities. They will determine your eligibility for on-campus employment. Additionally, OISS can approve certain limited off-campus employment under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations. If you receive authorization from OISS to work either on or off campus and meet the Social Security Administration's eligibility requirements, you can obtain a Social Security number.

How to Get a Social Security Number

The Social Security Office does not require you to have a Social Security number before you start work. However, the Internal Revenue Service requires employers to report wages using a Social Security number. While you wait for your Social Security number, your employer can use a letter from Social Security stating that you applied for a number. Your employer may use your immigration documents as proof of your authorization to work in the United States.

How to Get a Social Security Number