Employment

Need a Social Security Number?

You must have a job offer before you can get a social security number. If you have a job offer please follow these steps:

1. Have your employer fill out the [PDF] Employment Verification Form (54 KiB)and bring it to the Kearney International Center for a signature once completed. (no appointment needed)
2. Fill out the Social Security [PDF] application (59 KiB) (instructions are included)
3. Take the Employment Verification Form and Social Security Application along with your orginal documents (I-20, Passport, Visa and I-94) to the Social Security Office:
   Mankato Place
   12 Civic Center Plaza, Ste 1550
   Mankato
   9:00am-3:30pm (except holidays)
4. Bring your receipt (a letter) back to the Kearney International Center.

On-Campus Employment

Undergraduates who are in good standing with the University and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are eligible to work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week while school is in session without USCIS approval so long as the job does not interfere with your ability to continue as a full-time student. During your vacation periods you may work full-time if you are an undergraduate. Graduate students may work up to 14 hours per week as student help and 20 hours per week if on an assistantship.

Please check the [PDF] On-Campus work permit process (103 KiB)and go to the Forms Page if required. The forms must be turned in along with original documents (e.g., passport, I-20 or DS-2019); please come to CSU 250 for more information.

Off-campus Employment

In limited circumstances, under the current USCIS regulations, students who have been in-status for at least nine months or two academic semesters are SOMETIMES eligible to apply for off-campus work authorization. This could be full-time during the summer and the winter semester break, or part-time (limited to 20 hours of total employment per week, including any on-campus work) during the academic year. There are other two types of off campus work authorization for employment in your field of studies, also called "practical training": Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training. However, you must contact International Center regarding ANY off-campus employment to see if you are eligible and to file necessary papers before beginning to work.

Types of Off-Campus Work Available to F-1 Students

F-1 student may be authorized to work off-campus while school is in session and during school vacations either through:

• OPT (Optional Practical Training)
  1. View the [PDF] OPT Tutorial (3 MiB)
  2. Print the Forms:
     1. [PDF] OPT Brochure (364 KiB)
     2. [PDF] Supplemental Information for OPT (194 KiB)
     3. [PDF] OPT Checklist (186 KiB)(for staff use)
     4. [PDF] I-765 (53 KiB)
     5. [PDF] Instructions for I-765 (382 KiB)
  3. Turn all forms requested (in OPT Brochure)
  4. Kearney International Center will process your OPT I-20 within 3-5 days.
  5. Send OPT application to USCIS within 30 days (delays cause denials - see correspondence).  Review additional instructions on the www.uscis.gov website under I-765 form. 
• OPT Information Update
• [PDF] OPT Extension (105 KiB) in STEM fields
   
• CPT (Curricular Practical Training)
  1. Print the Forms:
     1. [PDF] CPT Brochure (449 KiB)
     2. [PDF] CPT Checklist (174 KiB) (for staff use)
     3. [PDF] CPT Advisor Form (377 KiB)
  2. Turn in all documents requested (on CPT Checklist)
  3. Kearney International Center will process your CPT I-20 within 3-5 days.
      
• EH (Economic Hardship)
  1. Print the Forms
     1. [PDF] EH Brochure (377 KiB)
     2. [PDF] EH Checklist (186 KiB)(for staff use)
     3. [PDF] Supplemental Information for EH (169 KiB)
     4. [PDF] I-765 (53 KiB)
     5. [PDF] Instructions for I-765 (382 KiB)
  2. Turn in all documents requested (in EH Brochure)
  3. Kearney International Center will process your EH I-20 within 3-5 days.

To be eligible for any off-campus employment, the student must do the following:

• Be enrolled for one academic year
• Be in good status with USCIS
• Be in good academic standing
• Receive written permission

Student employment both on-camus and off-campus is limited to no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session. During holidays and school vacations, employment can be full-time.

Looking for a job? Visit mavjobs.com

• Never work off-campus without written permission.