International Student Employment

You must be enrolled full time
Students must be currently enrolled as a full time student and maintaining F-1 or J-1 immigration status. Students may be employed over the summer months without being enrolled as long as they are continuing students for the following Fall semester and have not graduated. New students may begin work on-campus up to 30 days prior to the start of the semester, provided they meet the following qualifications.

You must check-in with the OISVS and provided all your documents.
Students must have checked in with the Office of International Students and Visiting Scholars (OISVS) upon arrival and shown all required immigration documents. The I-94 must accurately specify your F-1 or J-1 immigration status and you must be in good immigration status.

If you are J-1, you must request and receive written on-campus work permission from the RO.
J-1 students must be in good academic standing and obtain necessary written permission annually from the RO/ARO prior to employment. Each authorization continues for 12 months as long as the student remains in good academic standing.

Federal laws require on-campus jobs to be:

1. On ACU’s Abilene campus*
2. Paid by the university or a contractually affiliated business. Currently, ACU just as two such employers: 
   • Chartwells (food service) or 
   • Barnes and Nobles (the bookstore), also located on campus.
3. For the benefit of students (not construction or similar jobs)

*Joint research at off-campus locations may qualify under limited circumstances. Check with OISVS prior to accepting this type of position.

• Check the listings on the ACU Human Resources employment website and submit your application online
• Ask in your department if there are any openings. Mention your interest to faculty, staff and your advisor.
• Look around for signs wherever you go that say “we’re hiring!” The ACU Post Office, Team 55 (in the library), and Wildcat Central are some departments which hire many student workers.
• Check the website of Chartwells or stop by their office at the Bean;
• Stop by the ACU Bookstore and any other location where you’d like to work and ask if there are openings.
• Be persistent!  It may take time to find a job on-campus as the demand is great.  We recommend students get to know people, get involved on campus, and do not plan on any on-campus income for at least 1 semester.  All of that can help in finding a job later!
• Consult the ACU Career Center online or in the Center for Experiential Learning and Careers for help preparing resumes and cover letters. Remember you have valuable experience even if it is not directly in outside employment.  The staff at the Career Center can assist you to represent your background and skills to your best advantage.
   

For students who will be paid by ACU:

1. First, bring your passport, I-20, and ACU ID to ACU’s Human Resources (Admin 213) office to complete the I-9.
2. Complete the On-campus Employment Form here. This form will also serve as your request for the letters from the OISVS that the social security office requires for your SSN application.
3. Upon notification, pick up the social security letters from the OISVS to take to the Social Security office to apply for your Social Security Number (SSN)     

Note:  Allow at least 10 days after your entry into the U.S. before applying for your SSN card. Your hiring supervisor will need to sign one of the letters.

4. Report your social security number to the Human Resources office when you receive it.

For students who will be paid by Chartwells or the ACU Bookstore:

1. First, bring your passport and I-20 to their employment office and request an official offer letter or email from them to use for the social security application.
2. Email Lucy to initiate the on-campus employment verification form, which will also serve as your request for the OISVS SSN letter.
3. Upon notification, pick up the social security letters from the OISVS to take to the Social Security office to apply for your Social Security Number (SSN)    
       Note:  Allow at least 10 days after your entry into the U.S. before applying for your SSN card. Your hiring supervisor will need to sign one of the letters.
4. Report your social security number to the employment office of your employer.

During the Fall/Spring semesters, F-1 and J-1 students may work up to a total of 20 hours per week between Sunday to Saturday. Students may have multiple positions, but the total hours worked may not exceed 20 hours per week. Students can use the online weekly hours calculator here. 

This is a federal law.  Students who work more than 20 hours per week during the long semesters have violated their immigration status are subject to SEVIS termination. ACU monitors on-campus student work.

When school is not in session (Winter/Spring/Summer breaks), students may work full-time. ACU limits student on-campus work to a maximum of 25 hours during holiday periods and breaks. Students who graduate must stop working on-campus on or before the date of their graduation.

Check out the information on the government website related to on-campus employment. Check with the OISVS to make sure your proposed employment is considered “on-campus” work if there are any questions before you begin your job. 

Even one day of unauthorized work can jeopardize your immigration status in the years to come.

For immigration questions, contact Lucy Dawson, Associate Director, by emailing lucy.dawson@acu.edu or calling 325-674-2237.

For questions about social security numbers, contact Veronica Summers, International Student Services Specialist, by emailing vdw09a@acu.edu or calling 325-674-2821.

This is temporary employment authorization directly related to an F-1 student’s academic program for which the work counts as course credit in the student’s major field of study.

Applications may be filed through the OISVS to the U.S. government by F-1 students who meet the requirements. The application must be recommended by the DSO and the process can take up to 3 months and requires a fee.

OPT is temporary employment authorization that is related to an F-1 student’s academic program. The application must be recommended by the DSO in the OISVS and sent to the U.S. government with a fee.

More Information

International students in F-1 status are eligible to apply for work authorization for internships with qualifying international organizations. Contact OISVS for more information.

Once the internship offer has been obtained, this work authorization involves a paper application to USCIS with a DSO recommendation, so please plan to file 4 months before the start date of your internship.

With special permission, students may be eligible to work off campus when the work is directly related to their course of study. In order to learn the application process for Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT), OISVS offers workshops during each semester.

The main opportunity for J-1 students off-campus is through Academic Training, a benefit J-1 students may apply to receive in order to gain experience in employment directly related to their major field of study work. Each J-1 student may request up to 18 months of academic training either during their studies or immediately after completion. Timing is important, so speak with Lucy a semester before you hope to apply.

Note for the 2022/23 academic year: Students in STEM fields who graduate by May of 2023 may be eligible for an additional 18 months of academic training. Contact the OISVS for more information.

J-1 students who experience serious, urgent, and unforeseen economic circumstances that have arisen since acquiring exchange visitor status may be eligible for off-campus work authorization. It must be authorized prior to engaging in any employment. Speak with OISVS for more information.