On-Campus Employment
Your F-1 student status permits you to work on campus at the university that issued
your I-20 while you are enrolled in a full course of study. Your Stony Brook issued
I-20 is your proof of work eligibility for on-campus employment at SBU only.
You must maintain F-1 status to be eligible for this employment benefit. Maintaining status means that you are a full-time registered student (except for approved exceptions)
in good academic standing with a valid I-20.
In order to perform any work, you need a Social Security Number. Click here for instructions on obtaining your SSN.
Employment for SBU
This means that you are employed by SBU and work on SBU premises.
For example: Work at administrative offices, work as a teaching/research assistant, work at the
library, etc.
Work on school premises, employed by commercial firms
Work performed on a campus location for a commercial firm providing direct services
to students.
For example: Work at Culinart locations on campus (Starbucks, the dining hall, etc.)
Work done at off-campus locations, but treated as on-campus
Employment at an off-campus location is allowed ONLY IF it is educationally affiliated
with SBU.
The educational affiliation must be associated with your academic department's established
curriculum or related to contractually funded projects at the post-graduate level,
and be an integral part of your educational program. If you are not sure whether the
employment opportunity would meet the definition of “on-campus” employment, please
meet with your VIS Advisor before engaging in the activity.
For example: Cold Spring Habor Laboratory; Brookhaven National Laboratory
You may be surprised to hear that employment at Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony
Brook Child Care Center, and most businesses located within CEWIT are NOT considered on-campus employment.
Employment with these businesses is considered “off-campus employment” and require
off-campus work authorization (ie CPT or OPT).
Eligibility for on-campus employment
No special authorization is required for F-1 students to work on-campus, as long as
the employment does not exceed 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters
and is paid through State, Research Foundation, or FSA funds.
Students must maintain their status to be eligible for on-campus employment; maintaining
status means the student is enrolled full-time (except for approved exceptions), in
good academic standing with a valid I-20.
If a student does not already have a Social Security Number, they will need to obtain
one in order to be cleared in SOLAR to be hired.
Guidelines and restrictions
- Upon initial entry to begin a new course of study, an F-1 student may not begin on-campus
employment more than 30 days prior to the actual start of classes.
- Students cannot continue employment after they have finished their program of study,
unless they have a new I-20 for a new program of study.
- The student can only work at the school that controls their SEVIS record. If they
are attending 2 institutions at the same time, the student can only work on the campus
that issued their I-20.
How many hours a week can I work?
You are allowed to work:
- Part-time (20 hours per week or less) during the Fall and Spring semesters
- Full-time (21+ hours per week) during the Summer, Spring break, and Winter break.
There is no maximum for hours worked during the vacation/break periods.
Expiration of on-campus eligibility
Your on-campus employment eligibility ends:
- On the last day of your final term, even if your I-20 expiration date is in the future.
- If you transfer to another university; your work authorization expires on the day
of your SEVIS record release date.
- If you violate your F-1 status.
Finding employment on campus
Click here to be directed to the Career Center's website where you will find useful resources
like Handshake (SBU Career Center’s online recruiting database), upcoming career based
events/workshops, mini training webinars, and new student orientation.
* Please note that just because a job is listed on Handshake, that does not necessarily mean it is considered an on-campus job. Please check with your VIS Advisor before
engaging in any employment.
