On-campus employment for J-1 students is limited to 20 hours per week when classes are in session. The 20-hour total can be split between different types of employment, if authorized. All work must be authorization and authorization is specific to the employer.
Full-time employment is allowed during official school breaks and annual vacation (i.e., summer term). In the summer between spring/fall semesters, students may work more than 20 hours per week. However, if summer is the first or final semester, employment is limited to 20 hours per week.
Students who are fully-funded by WashU are limited to part-time employment up to an average of 10 hours per week.
J-1 students may work on-campus for the duration of their academic program. Eligibility for on-campus employment ends on the graduation date.
Note:
The information on this page is intended for J-1 students sponsored by Washington University. If you are a J-1 student, but your DS-2019 is issued by an agency or institution other than WashU, you must contact your program sponsor to receive authorization for on-campus work or for Academic Training.
Request approval for J-1 on-campus employment
For J-1 students sponsored by WashU: After you receive a job offer, submit the J-1 On-Campus Student Employment request in MyOISS to be approved to work on campus. Authorization can only be granted for up to 12 months at a time. Your OISS adviser will review your request and process it within 7 business days.
If this is your first time working in the U.S., you will then need to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) in order to be paid.
Authorization and expiration
- The On-Campus Employment Request in MyOISS will specify the period of time for which on-campus work has been authorized. Authorization can be granted for periods of up to 12 months at a time or for shorter periods.
- In order to begin a new period of employment, or to continue previously authorized employment (for which the form expiration date has been reached), you must submit a new request.
- Upon completion of your academic program (end date on DS-2019) OR graduation (whichever comes first), you will no longer be eligible for on-campus employment unless you have obtained employment authorization based on Academic Training.
Steps for newly hired foreign nationals
In order to be paid by WashU and to ensure proper handling of tax matters related to WashU employment, you will need to follow the Steps for Newly Hired Foreign Nationals and complete your FNIS (Foreign National Information System) account upon receiving an on-campus job offer.
Reporting J-1 on-campus employment changes
You must submit a new J-1 Student On-Campus Student Employment request in MyOISS to report any of the following:
- Change in current employment (i.e., change in the number of hours per week)
- Change in type of employment or employer
- Change in location of employment
- Early completion and/or cancellation of student employment
Finding on-campus employment
See the Student Affairs resource on Student Campus Employment to learn about current opportunities.
A note about off-campus employment
Off-campus work for J-1 students also requires authorization. Unauthorized off-campus work is a violation of your J-1 status and will result in your immigration status termination.
Academic Training (AT) – requires authorization from an OISS adviser