On-Campus Employment

Employment by SFSU

On-campus work performed for SFSU is usually acceptable, whether it is employment in the library, the computer center, or the housing office or work required by a scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship. 

F-1 and J-1 students are only eligible to work in jobs that are classified as "student assistant" positions. F-1 and J-1 students are not eligible for "work-study" jobs that are part of US federal financial aid programs.

Places to Look for On-Campus Jobs at SFSU

1. Mashouf Wellness Center | Campus Recreation.
2. Sodexo dining services hires students to fill positions in the Residential Dining Halls, and in the snack bars in the residential areas.
3. The Information Technology Services (ITS) hires students on a part-time basis for a variety of positions, including web developers, machine operators, Help Desk consultants, etc. Students must have good communication skills in English. To obtain a job application, they may pick one up at the Help Desk located in OLD ADM 110.
4. Health Promotion & Wellness program.
5. The J. Paul Leonard University Library. Audio-Visual Services hires students to assist with the maintenance and delivery of equipment on campus, including overhead projectors and video monitors. Located on the ground floor of the J. Paul Leonard Library.
6. The SFSU campus bookstore.
7. Disability Programs & Resource Center (DPRC)
8. The Tutoring & Academic Support Center (TASC) generally needs tutors in a variety of subjects.
9. Various faculty members in the Department of Foreign Language & Literatures (HUM 475) often hire international students who are native speakers of languages that are taught at SFSU as teaching assistants.
10. SFSU Housing hires students for Resident Assistant and other positions to work in the University's various on-campus housing facilities. Visit the Housing & Residential Services Office located on the ground floor of Mary Ward Hall.
11. The University Police Department (UPD) also hires students at the beginning of each semester to serve as "student escorts" during the evening hours accompanying students from various campus locations to their car, on-campus residence, etc. Visit their office located in the Corporation Yard on the west side of campus near Lake Merced Blvd. and the student parking garage.

Please note that inclusion on the above list does not mean that the offices are currently hiring students, only that they have previously hired students for part-time positions.

Other Employment on Campus

In certain situations, students may work for private third-party companies on campus. Third-party companies include the SFSU bookstore, cafeterias, and various on-campus cafes and restaurants. Such roles qualify for "on-campus employment" work authorization as long as the employer provides direct services to students. For example, employment at the SFSU bookstore or cafeteria, both of which provide direct services to students, is acceptable. On the other hand, working for a construction company, even if that work will be done on campus, is not acceptable because the construction company does not provide direct student services.

Off-Campus Work that May Qualify for On-Campus Employment

Certain off-campus work opportunities may also qualify for on-campus employment. USCIS regulations allow international students to work at an off-campus location provided that:

1. The location is educationally affiliated with the school.
2. The educational affiliation is associated with the school's established curriculum or is related to a graduate-level research project that the school has been contracted to perform.
3. The work is integral or important to the student's program of study. For example, if the student's field of study is marine biology, and the university has an off-campus marine biology research facility, the student may be eligible to work there. In this case, that employment would be defined as "on-campus".

Students May Work on Campus if they are:

1. Maintaining F-1 or J-1 status. 

2. Enrolled full-time or have been approved for Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) or Reduced Course Load (RCL) due to Completion of Study (F-1 only). 

   ATTENTION: While you may be eligible for on-campus employment from an immigration standpoint, you must also meet the university’s campus and position-specific requirements.  For example, some student employment positions may require full-time course enrollment. If you are approved for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) and Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) during a semester, you may not meet the eligibility criteria for certain on-campus positions.

3. Agree to work up to 20 hours per week (part-time) during the Spring and Fall semesters, or up to 40 hours per week (full-time) during summer sessions and semester breaks. Students may only work during summer sessions and semester breaks if they are eligible and intend to register for classes during the next available semester.
4. Physically in the U.S. during the semester they wish to work on campus.

Students MAY NOT Work on Campus if:

1. Their SEVIS record and I-20 or DS-2019 have been terminated by an F-1 or J-1 advisor or if the student has failed to maintain F-1 or J-1 status.
2. Students with approved Reduced Course Load (RCL) due to Medical Condition are not eligible for on-campus employment benefits.
3. The program end date on the student's I-20 or DS-2019 has passed or if the student has graduated from SFSU.
4. The student has been approved for Reduced Course Load (RCL) due to Academic Difficulty or Medical Condition.
5. F-1 students only: Students who have transferred their SEVIS record and I-20 to other schools.
6. J-1 students only: Students are failing to meet all Exchange Program terms, as agreed upon in the Exchange Program application.

1. Apply for on-campus jobs.
2. Receive an on-campus job offer.
3. Submit an On-Campus Employment Certification (OCEC) and the on-campus job offer letter (if needed to apply for an SSN).
4. Receive email confirmation verifying eligibility to work on campus.
5. Complete the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification. If no SSN, apply for a Social Security Number (SSN)
6. Complete payroll (SPAR) forms.

Please see the chart below for further details about when students may work full-time (up to 40 hours) and part-time (up to 20 hours):

Students may pursue full-time on-campus employment during Spring recess in March and Thanksgiving break in November.

Complete Payroll (SPAR) Every Semester

• Students who have worked on-campus do not need to complete I-9 or submit OCEC every semester.
• Students who have worked on-campus must complete payroll (SPAR) forms every semester.

No Longer in F-1 Status?

Students must update their I-9 and payroll forms if their circumstances have changed, such as changing from F-1 status to another non-immigrant/immigrant status.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)

The VITA IRS-certified volunteers offer FREE tax preparation services to qualified individuals. SFSU’s VITA program is sponsored by the IRS and the University’s Beta Alpha Psi - Beta Chi Chapter, an international honor society for business majors.

Where to Get Tax Forms

Tax forms are available at most banks and post offices and can be downloaded from the U.S. Government Services and Information website. Detailed instructions accompany these forms. 

How to Get Tax Filing Advice

International and exchange student advisors and the University Tax Specialist do not offer tax advice. Students are advised to seek assistance from the IRS or a reliable tax consultant due to the complexity of income tax laws.

We encourage students to consult with a tax preparation service, professional tax accountant, or tax attorney who is knowledgeable about nonresident tax law.  

Finding On‑Campus Jobs

You may use Career and Leadership Development (CLD)’s On‑Campus Jobs Resources page to explore on‑campus employment opportunities, along with tips for resumes, interviews, and job searching.

Job Listings on Handshake

All on‑campus student positions are posted on Handshake, SFSU’s online job and internship platform. These positions may include:

• Student Assistant (non–work study)
• Part‑time and full‑time jobs
• Temporary positions
• Internships

Handshake opportunities are exclusively available to you if you are an SFSU student or alumnus. You may also contact on‑campus departments or offices where you are interested in working, as some positions are filled outside of formal job postings.

Work Authorization for International Students

If you are applying for an on‑campus job and are in F‑1 or J‑1 status while maintaining full‑time enrollment, you may answer “Yes” to the question: “Do you have U.S. work authorization?”

You will officially receive on‑campus work authorization after you receive an on‑campus job offer.

Additional Ways to Learn About Opportunities

Networking can also be helpful. Friends or classmates who already work on campus may be able to share information about available positions or hiring practices within their departments or offices.

To obtain authorization to work on campus, students must:

• Complete the online On-Campus Employment Certification (OCEC) form.  
  Our office no longer accept PDF forms.
• If you do not have a Social Security Number (SSN), you must upload an on‑campus job offer letter when completing the OCEC form.
  • On-campus employers are advised to use the Social Security Administration’s job offer template (Word, 14K).
    • SFSU's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 93-1137247.
  • Review the Social Security Number (SSN) page for information.
• You will receive an email confirmation within two (2) business days verifying your eligibility to work on campus.
• If you uploaded an on‑campus job offer letter, you will also receive a digital SSN support letter with your email confirmation.

International students must have a Social Security Number (SSN) in order to be paid for employment in the U.S.

If You Already Have an SSN

If you already have an SSN, you may skip this step and proceed directly to Step 4: I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification.

If You Are Applying for an SSN

Because it can take several weeks for an SSN to be issued, we recommend that you complete Step 4 (Form I-9) while you are waiting for your SSN.

Eligibility to Apply for an SSN

To apply for an SSN, you must:

• Be in valid F-1 or J-1 status, and
• Be physically present in the United States

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), students may begin the application online, and then visit a local SSA office in person to submit required documents.

Required Documents

F-1 Students must bring:

• Form I-20
• Passport
• I-94 record
• On-campus job offer letter
• SSN support letter

J-1 Students must bring:

• Form DS-2019
• Passport
• I-94 record
• On-campus job offer letter
• SSN support letter

After You Apply

Once your SSN application is approved, your Social Security card will be mailed to you. Please note that it may take several weeks to receive your SSN.

While waiting for their SSNs, students should complete their I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification by completing the following steps.

Student Assistants

• Complete the I-9 with the University Police Department. Please follow the instructions for "F-1 and J-1 Visa Status I-9 Verification and Hire Process" available on the Student I-9 Verification and Hire Process | University Police Department.

Graduate Assistant (GA) or Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)

• Complete the I-9 with your hiring department.

Auxiliary Positions

• Complete the I-9 with your on-campus employer. Auxiliary positions include roles at Sodexo, Associated Students, Inc., University Corporation (U-Corp), the SFSU Bookstore, or any other on-campus commercial employers.

Tax Compliance Step

If you work in an auxiliary position, you will complete this step with your on‑campus employer, not with the University Tax Specialist.

Auxiliary positions include employment with:

• Sodexo
• Associated Students, Inc.
• University Corporation (U‑Corp)
• SFSU Bookstore
• Other on‑campus commercial employers

If you work as a Student Assistant, Graduate Assistant (GA), or Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA):

• You must have a Social Security Number (SSN).
• You must receive a Payroll Action Request Form from your on‑campus employer in order to complete this step.

Contact the University Tax Specialist

Email Celine Luo, the University Tax Specialist, at wenshu@sfsu.edu with the following information:

• Your full name
• Your SFSU ID number
• Your SFSU email address (personal email accounts will not be accepted)

After your email is received, you will be sent instructions on how to access Sprintax Calculus, SFSU’s tax compliance system. You must upload all required documentation directly into Sprintax Calculus as instructed.

Important Information

• The University Tax Specialist does NOT provide tax preparation assistance.
• Sprintax Calculus is a tax compliance system and is not the same as Sprintax, the U.S. income tax filing software.
• SFSU students do not have access to Sprintax for individual income tax filing.
• If you need help preparing your U.S. tax return, you are encouraged to contact the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.

New Students

If you have been issued an initial I‑20 or initial DS‑2019 and plan to enroll in the next regular academic semester at SFSU, you may work on campus up to five (5) days before the semester start date.

Current Students

If you are a current student in valid F‑1 or J‑1 status, you may begin working on campus as soon as you have completed all required employment and tax documentation.

Students Changing Status to F‑1

If your change of status to F‑1 has been approved by USCIS, you may work on campus starting from the F‑1 program start (validation) date listed on your approval notice. You may not work on campus while your change of status application is pending.

Yes, you are eligible to work as long as you do not exceed the maximum number of hours permitted per week. Refer to the Eligibility Requirements for detailed dates.

You may work on campus if you are registered full time, or if you have an approved FTE or Reduced Course Load (RCL) due to Completion of Studies.

You may not work on campus after you have completed your degree or exchange program.

You must update your Form I‑9 and payroll records if your personal circumstances change, such as when you change from F‑1 status to another non‑immigrant or immigrant status.