International Student Employment

International students in valid F-1 or J-1 status are permitted to work on-campus without any special authorization. Students can start on-campus employment as soon as they arrive on campus, complete the mandatory orientation program and begin classes.

• Students can work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session.
• Students can work up to 40 hours per week during official school breaks.
• Students may not work on-campus after their Program End Date.

There are many different employment opportunities available on-campus for international students. You can browse the available on-campus positions via Handshake. You can also contact a campus program or academic department directly to ask if they are hiring student assistants. Visit our Career Services website for useful tips and resources on how to prepare a successful résumé and how to interview with employers in the U.S..

Click here to download our On Campus Employment Information Guide if you're interested in seeking on campus employment (you must use your SSU account to access the document). 

An F-1 / J-1 student may start work while the SSN application is being processed. Employers may reference Social Security Administration’s fact sheet, Employer Responsibilities When Hiring Foreign Workers which contains information on how to report wages for an employee who has not yet received an SSN.

It is not required that students receive their SSN before they start work. However, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires employers to report wages using an SSN. While you wait for your SSN, your employer can use a letter from us 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. Employers can find more information on the Internet at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/employer/hiring.htm.

Employers may contact the Center for International Education for any questions or concerns. While we cannot answer questions about specific students, we are happy to give general guidance on hiring and working with international students.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

• General Information
  • OPT is only available to F-1 students who have completed a degree program.
  • OPT must relate to the degree program's field of study.
  • You are eligible to apply for 12 months of OPT at each education level, (i.e. associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate).
  • You must apply for work authorization from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The application fee is $410.
  • Pre-completion OPT is limited to part-time while school is in session and full-time during official breaks.
  • Post-completion OPT must be full-time (at least 20 hours per week).
  • Students who are interested in OPT will be enrolled in a Canvas module which will guide you through the OPT application process. Please click here to request to be registered for the course. 
• Active OPT Participants
  • Remember that you have a 90-day unemployment limit. If a student accrues an aggregate of more than 91 days of unemployment, their program will end and they must leave the U.S. immediately. No grace period is granted for these cases. 
  • Student on OPT must still meet international insurance requirements. 
  • ​Please click here to report a new employer. 
  • Please click here to report a change/update current employment information.
  • Please click here to report a change of address/phone number as required by your visa.

24-Month STEM OPT Extension

• General Information
  • STEM OPT is only available to F-1 students who have a qualifying CIP code
    • Your CIP code is listed under your Program of Study on your I-20.
    • Click here to see the list of CIP codes which qualify for the STEM extension.
  • The STEM OPT extesion application process is essentially the same as that of general OPT.
  • You may continue to work on your expired EAD for OPT up to 180 days while your 24-month extension petition is pending if you meet these conditions:
    • You are currently in a period of post-completion OPT.
    • You properly and in a timely manner filed your application for the 24-month extension with USCIS.
  • If you would like to apply for an OPT STEM Extension, please click here fill out the STEM OPT Extension Request form

Overview
If other employment opportunities are not available or are otherwise insufficient, an eligible F-1 student may request employment authorization based on severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control. These circumstances may include a loss of financial aid or on-campus employment without fault on the part of the student, substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rate, inordinate increases in tuition and/or living costs, or unexpected changes in the financial condition of the student's source of support, medical bills, or other substantial and unexpected expenses. Source: [8 C.F.R. 214.2(f)(9)(ii)(C)-(D) and (F)].

Eligibility Criteria
You are eligible to apply for employment based on severe economic hardship if:

• You have been in F-1 status for one full academic year
• You are in good academic standing (minimum 2.0 GPA) and are taking a full course load
• Employment will not interfere with your studies
• You can demonstrate that the employment is necessary to avoid severe economic hardship due to unforeseen economic circumstances beyond your control
• You can demonstrate that on-campus employment is not available or is insuffienct to meet your financial needs

Documentation Needed to Apply

• Personal statement describing the unforeseen hardship situation and, if possible, attach backup documentation; for example, news articles, a letter from home telling of a change in family circumstances or proof of a currency devaluation in your country, etc.
• Documentation showing that on-campus employment opprotunities are not available or are insuffiecnt to meet your financial needs
• Completed Form I-765, using the code (C)(3)(iii) at item 16; do not date the form until you are ready to send the application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
• Copies of your current and previous I-20s
• Copy of paper or print-out of electronic Form I-94 (please click on the link for instructions)
• Copy of your F-1 visa page (except Canadians) or I-797 (approval of change of status to F-1)
• Copy of your unofficial transcript available from MySSU portal
• $410 Filing Fee (can be paid via money order, personal check, cashier's check or pay by credit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions. If you pay by check, you must make your check payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

How to Apply for Severe Economic Hardship

1. Fill out the Economic Hardship Request form
2. Submit the requested documentation to katie.obrien@sonoma.edu
3. If your request is approved, you'll be issued a new I-20

Submitting Your Severe Economic Hardship Application to USCIS
Once you have requested a Severe Economic Hardship Employment recommendation and received your new I-20 from the CIE, you will need to prepare and submit the following list of items to USCIS:

• Two passport photos, taken no more than 30 days before filing the form. You can have these photos taken at the CIE ($4 fee), or you can go to the U.S. Post Office or any CVS location.  Form I-765 filing fee - $410 check or money order made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security. To request a fee waiver, you should also include a Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver. Review USCIS guidance on fee waivers before completing the Form I-912.  Form I-765
• A copy of your new I-20 with employment recommendation
• Copies of your previous I-20(s)
• Copy of your passport
• Copy of your F-1 visa or I-797
• Copy of your Form I-94
• Your personal statement along with any other supporting documents

Mailing to USCIS

Send your complete request to the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox at one of the following locations:

• For U.S. Postal Service (USPS) First-Class and Priority Mail Express deliveries: o USCIS P.O. Box 21281 Phoenix, AZ 85036
• For overnight/courier deliveries (non-USPS, i.e. FedEx, UPS): o USCIS Attn: AOS 1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S Suite 100 Phoenix, AZ 85034

Approval Process
If the application is approved, USCIS will issue an EAD (Employment Authorization Document) to you.
If the application is denied, you will be notified by USCIS in writing. You may not begin employment until you have received the EAD and the dates are valid.

Location

This authorization is designed for off-campus employment. On-campus employment is already permitted under the F-1 visa.

Duration
The authorization is granted in one-year intervals, or until the program end date, whichever is shorter.

Hours Per Week
You may work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) while school is in session and full-time (up to 40 hours per week) during official university holidays.

Field/Level of Work
Employment can be in any job. Does not have to be related to course of study.