Working in the US

Employment is considered to be the part-time or full-time rendering of services for any type of compensation (financial or other). Employment is a “benefit” of the F-1 & J-1 student statuses, which is only available to those students who have maintained their lawful immigration status. F-1 and J-1 students can only work in the U.S. after receiving the proper authorization and with certain restrictions. Working in the U.S. without proper authorization is a serious violation of the F-1 & J-1 student statuses which can lead to deportation. If you are considering any type of employment in the U.S., you should first consult with the Immigration Services Office for specific rules and restrictions. (See Special Note Below.)

All students who plan to work in the U.S. must first obtain a U.S. social security number for employment and taxation purposes. Details about the social security card application can be found here.

Details about the various F-1 and J-1 employment options can be found by clicking on the links provided below. For additional information, please do not hesitate to contact the Immigration Services Office at 574-631-5243.

F-1 Students

All F-1 Employment Options
On Campus Employment
Curricular Practical Training
Optional Practical Training
Severe Economic Hardship Employment
Employment with an International Organization

J-1 Students

J-1 Employment Options
J-1 Student Employment Form
Academic Training
J-2 Employment Authorization Form

Special Notes: F-2 dependents are NOT permitted to work in the U.S. under ANY circumstances, and F-1 and J-1 students are NOT permitted to engage in any type of self-employment.

J-1 and J-2 students with DS-2019 forms issued by other agencies or organizations (other than the University of Notre Dame) must address all employment and immigration related questions to your sponsoring agency/organization directly.