On Campus Employment

• Overview

  Employment is any type of work performed or services provided in exchange for money, tuition, fees, books, supplies, room or for any other benefit or compensation.

  J-1 students are required to have authorization from VIS for all types of employment. If employed without proper authorization, the student will have violated their J-1 status which may jeopardize their ability to remain in or reenter the U.S.

• Qualifying Positions

  Qualifying Positions

  Not all job postings on Handshake meet the criteria for "on-campus" employment from an immigration standpoint. It is crucial to consult your International Student Advisor before accepting any job offers to ensure compliance with J-1 regulations and avoid any potential risks to your immigration status.

  • 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

    This is work performed at a campus location for a commercial firm providing direct services to students.

    For example: Work at Culinart locations on campus (Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, dining halls, 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

   
• Eligibility

  In order to be eligible for on-campus employment you must meet the following requirements:

  • Be enrolled full-time and maintaining a sufficient GPA (3.0 or higher for Graduates / 2.0 or higher for Undergraduates).
  • You must have received authorization from VIS.
  • Your passport must be valid for the next 6 months.

  You are allowed to work:

  • Part-time (20 hours per week or less) during the fall and spring semesters
  • Full-time (21-29 hours per week) during summer, spring break, and winter break
• Applying for Authorization

  Applying for Authorization

  1. Once you have secured on-campus employment, complete and submit the "J-1 On-Campus Employment" request in accessVIS, uploading a copy of the employment offer letter which outlines the terms of the employment. The letter, on official letterhead, should include the start date, position title, job description, and the name of your supervisor.
  2. Upon submitting the eForm, the employer listed on the request will receive an email requesting confirmation of the employment.
  3. If approved, you will receive an email informing you that your authorization letter will be available for pick up. Please allow up to 5-7 business days for processing.