Eligibility and requirements
Welcome to Arizona State University’s On-Campus Employment Resource Page for F-1 and J-1 international students. Working on campus is a great way to gain professional experience, build connections, and become more involved in the ASU community—all while maintaining your immigration status. This page provides important information about eligibility, work hour limits, and the steps required to start working legally on campus.
Eligibility for F-1 and J-1 Students
To be eligible for on-campus employment you must:
- Have completed SEVIS New Student Check-in
New students may begin work up to 30 days before the Program Start Date listed on their I-20 only if check-in is complete. - Maintain F-1/J-1 immigration status
- Maintain F-1/J-1 full time enrollment or have an approved Reduced Course Load. NOTE: For on-campus employment during the summer semester or winter break, you must be enrolled full-time or have an approved Reduced Course Load for the following fall/spring semester.
- For J-1 students, you must receive an on-campus employment authorization from your Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor.
- DS-2019 issued by ASU
- Complete and submit J-1 On-campus Employment Authorization Authorization Request eForm through the MyISSC eForm Portal.
- Resubmit the form again in the future if you change or extend the end date of your on-campus employment.
- DS-2019 not issued by ASU
- Contact your J-1 program sponsor to receive permission to engage in on-campus employment.
- Email the on-campus employment authorization letter to the ISSC at [email protected], so that we can keep it on your record.
- DS-2019 issued by ASU
ASU’s International Students and Scholars Center (ISSC) has oversight over F-1 and J-1 students only. If you hold another immigration status, you must determine your employment eligibility on your own or in consultation with an immigration attorney.
Requirements for F-1 and J-1 students
- Employment must not interfere with full-time study. You cannot work during your class times.
- Adhere to the hourly work limits. Please see the Weekly Hourly Limit for On-Campus Employment for F-1/J-1 Students chart.
- You are not eligible to work beyond your program completion date:
- Undergraduate students - degree conferral date. Please refer to ASU’s by viewing the Academic Calendar
- Graduate students - degree conferral date, unless completing a thesis/dissertation.
- If completing a thesis/dissertation, it would be the last day of final your academic activity (ex. Dissertation defense date, date revisions are submitted, etc.)
- Students who will complete their final course(s) in summer - last day of summer class
Working beyond your program completion date is considered unauthorized employment and will result in the termination of your F-1/J-1 immigration status.
For more information about F-1 and J-1 regulations, please visit the ISSC website.