Student Employment

On-campus employment may not begin for J-1 exchange student status holder before the first day of class and only after securing work authorization the RO or ARO in advance. You are allowed to work 20 hours a week on campus while school is in session. Do not work on-campus without work authorization permission.

Employment may be full time (35 hours a week) during vacation periods for students who are eligible and intend to register for the next academic term. International students can apply for student wage jobs only. Once you receive a job offer, you need to provide your employer with the SSN Request Form.

J-1 students are not eligible for a Social Security Number unless they have received a job offer and will be participating in authorized employment. A Social Security number is  not needed for the following:

• Opening a bank account
• Obtaining a cell phone
• Renting an apartment

The purpose of a Social Security number is for income tax reporting.

• See the international Student Resources webpage for the Social Security Number Request Form.
• Ask your supervior to complete the top portion of the form.
• Bring the form to ISSS for completion of the bottom portion of the form, at which point you will be given a process sheet with the steps for submitting the actual Social Security number application.