Employment Options for International Students

View our Employer's Guide to Hiring International Students.

On-Campus Employment

On-campus employment includes work done as a teaching or research assistant as well as jobs in the university library, dormitory dining facilities, laboratories, and administrative offices.
On-campus also includes employment with on-location commercial businesses which provide services for students on campus, such as stores or restaurants located in a University owned building (Examples: KUSSI (bookstore), Aramark (dining services), or PSECU (credit union)).

On-Campus Employment criteria:

  • You must be enrolled full time during fall and spring semesters.
  • You may work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session (fall and spring semesters).
  • You may work more than 20 hours per week during official university holidays, breaks, and vacation period (winter term, summer term, and spring break).
  • If you currently have a full-time (20 hours) Graduate Assistantship, you are not eligible for additional on-campus employment. 
  • If you have multiple on-campus jobs,your are responsible for monitoring eligible hours per week. 
  • You may not continue to work on-campus after your program end date (graduation date). 

    OFF-campus EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS (F-1 STUDENTS)

    Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

    If you wish to accept employment off-campus, you should pursue Curricular Practical Training (CPT). CPT is a temporary internship or practicum for F-1 students to gain practical experience, training, or internship in their field of study. 

    View the Curricular Practical Training webpage for more information. 

    Severe Economic Hardship

    Note: You may not work off-campus without special authorization from USCIS; unauthorized off-campus employment will result in termination of status. 

    F-1 students who are suffering a severe economic hardship due to unforeseen changes in their financial circumstances, may apply to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for authorization to work off-campus as described in 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(ii)(C).

    • The employment authorization is granted by USCIS in increments of one year at a time.
    • The authorization allows you to work for any employer up to 20 hours per week while you are enrolled full-time. It also allows you to work more than 20 hours per week during summer and semester breaks.
    • This employment does not affect your Optional Practical Training (OPT) eligibility.
    • Apply for Severe Economic Hardship

      Economic hardship refers to the financial problems caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond your control which arose after obtaining F-1 status. These financial problems may be the result of losing a graduate assistantship, the death of a financial sponsor, inflation in your home country causing the devaluation of currency or exchange rate, etc. However, if the financial problems are too great, it may not be possible to solve the problem through part-time employment.

      Eligible Financial Conditions: 

      • Loss of financial aid or on-campus employment through no fault of the student.
      • Substantial changes in the exchange rate or value of the currency upon which the student depends.
      • Inordinate increases in tuition or living costs.
      • Unexpected changes in the financial state of the student’s source of support.
      • Medical bills.
      • Other substantial and unexpected expenses.

      Eligibility for Authorization:

      • You have been in F-1 status for at least one full academic year. 
      • You are in good academic standing and are taking a full course load. 
      • You must demonstrate that employment is necessary to avoid severe economic hardship due to unforeseen economic circumstances beyond your control. 
      • You must be able to demonstrate why on-campus employment is unavailable or insufficient to meet your financial needs. You are required to make a good faith effort to locate employment on campus before applying for off-campus employment based on economic hardship.
      • Students do not need to have a job offer to apply for Severe Economic Hardship. 

      To Apply - Part 1:

      • If the economic hardship clause applies to your situation, you are required to meet with a Designated School Official to request a recommendation for authorization to engage in off-campus employment.
      • If approved by the International Office, the DSO will issue you a Form I-20 with recommendation for Severe Economic Hardship. 
      • You will need to file a paper application with USCIS. All off-campus employment must be approved by USCIS prior to job search and job placement. 

      To Apply - Part 2:

      Compile application materials: 

      1. Payment of $520.00 (as of 5/1/2025)

      • Personal check or money order made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or
      • Form I-912, fee waiver application2. Printed copy of completed Form I-765, typed

      3. Printed copy of completed Form G-1145, typed
      4. Copy of signed Economic Hardship I-20
      5. Photocopies of the identity page(s) from passport (picture, number and expiration date)
      6. Form I-94
      7. Two color passport photos taken in past 30 days
      8. Copy of any previously issued EAD cards
      9. Typed letter to USCIS explaining specific situation
      10. Supporting documentation showing an unforeseen change in financial circumstances. For example:

      • Letter from financial sponsor which shows funding has been discontinued
      • Copies of medical bills
      • Newspaper articles discussing currency fluctuations in home country

      Submit Application to USCIS

      Submit all documents to USCIS. Address can be found on USCIS webpage.

      USCIS Processing Time

      Students will receive a case number and instructions from USCIS that can be used to track the estimated processing times via the USCIS Website. Note that estimated processing times are subject to change but generally take up to 90 days. If employment is authorized, USCIS will send the EAD to the address indicated on Form I-765.

      Students should consult the USCIS I-765 website for the most up-to-date information on forms, filing locations and fees.