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Update: On-campus employment for international students

(Sept. 3, 2003)--According to the UTSA Office of International Programs and the UTSA Office of Human Resources, international students with an F-1 visa are generally permitted to work part-time at the school that issued their currently valid I-20, while they are attending that school and maintaining their F-1 status, subject to some restrictions.

The restrictions include:

  • Must be considered "on-campus"
  • Work is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session; can be full-time during official school breaks
  • Can be in any on-campus position that does not displace a U.S. worker; does not have to be related to course of study
  • All on-campus work is treated the same for the 20 hour period per week limit (for example, a teaching assistant working 15 hours per week can only work 5 additional hours per week in another on-campus job

According to NAFSA Advisors Manual 3.126, "on-campus employment" includes work done as a teaching or research assistant as well as jobs in the school library, cafeteria and administrative offices. "On-campus employment" includes employment with on-location commercial firms which "provide services for students" on campus, such as the school bookstore or cafeteria. It does not include commercial enterprises that have merely leased space on campus to conduct their public business.

Important note: If the F-1 student is employed by UTSA in the category of a Human Resources "student job title" (job codes 0067 - 0086), the student may work only 19 hours per week while enrolled in classes. During official school breaks these students may work a maximum of 40 hours, according to UTSA human resources employment/compensation policy.

However, there are four specific exceptions to this "only 19 hours per week" rule.

UTSA students with the following specific titles are allowed to work a total of 20 hours per week while enrolled in classes:

  • Graduate Assistant (0071)
  • Student Intern (0072)
  • Graduate Research Assistant (0090)
  • Undergraduate Research Assistant (0095)

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