Welcome to the International Student Employment page. This information is meant for La Sierra University international students. It is for general informational purposes only. If you are a La Sierra student and you have further questions about travel and your visa status, please contact the International Student Services Office.

Federal regulations significantly limit the opportunities for international students to pursue employment in the United States. Any work related activity, on or off campus, paid or non-paid, will require appropriate authorization before beginning. Pursuing a work-related activity without proper authorization is considered a violation of status and has serious consequences on your ability to pursue or complete your degree program. Advanced planning and understanding the employment authorization process is crucial to be able to lawfully pursue the activity both during and after completion of your program of study.

F-1 international students, who are maintaining their F-1 student status, are eligible to work on-campus. The employment does not need to be directly related to your program of study and does not need special authorization. You must also follow U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of State regulations. We recommend beginning your journey by taking a look at open positions listed on the La Sierra University Employment Opportunities page.

• You may work on campus on a part-time basis (up to 20 hours per week). Please note that the 20 hours per week limit is inclusive of all employment. For example, if you work 15 hours a week in one job, you may only work 5 hours a week in your second job.
•  You may work full-time (up to 40 hours per week) during academic breaks if you are returning to La Sierra University the following term.
• You must continue to maintain your F-1 visa status when engaging in on-campus employment.

Note:

• A student who has completed all requirements for the his/her degree is no longer eligible for on-campus employment. A student may only begin or continue on-campus employment provided they intend to enroll for the next regular academic term at the school which issued his/her SEVIS I-20.

• You are not eligible for the federal work-study program. The federal work-study program provides jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay for education expenses. Under the federal work-study program, a percentage of a student's earnings is paid through federal funds, and the remainder is paid by the student's employer.

A Social Security Number (SSN) is generally assigned to people by the Social Security Administration (SSA) who are authorized to work in the United States. The SSN is a way to report wages to the U.S. government.

Applying for an SSN is free. You must apply in person. You are eligible for a SSN only if you are employed or have the appropriate work authorization. If you do not meet one of these criteria, you will not qualify for a SSN.  

Steps to obtaining a SSN

Your department must provide you with the Student Employment Authorization form. This will initiate the new hire process.  Please bring this form to Human Resources as soon as possible after you have been offered a position. It is important to remember, that you are not cleared to work and should not begin working until you have clearance from the Human Resources Office.

When you come to the Human Resources Office with your Student Employment Authorization form, please also bring with you the following:

• Your passport
• Your I-20
• Your I-94 card

After completing the required new hire paperwork, the Human Resources office will provide you with the documentation that you need to apply for a SSN.

Tax Reporting Requirements

All international students, and their dependents present in the U.S. during any part of the calendar year are responsible for filing annual tax forms. This is a requirement even if you did not work or earn income in the U.S.

Tax Deadlines

The U.S. federal tax year begins on January 1st and ends on December 31st. The tax filing deadline is typically April 15th of each year. This date may change depending on the dates for any official, observed holidays. You should not file your tax return until you have received all forms associated with your taxable income (i.e. Form W-2, etc.). Employers are required to issue Form W-2 by January 31st.

How to File

La Sierra University has teamed up with Sprintax to provide you with easy-to-use tax preparation software designed for non-resident students and scholars in the U.S. Please see the International Student Services Office for more information on Sprintax. The Office of International Student Services and other La Sierra University staff are NOT permitted to assist any student/scholar with any IRS tax form preparation or tax related questions. The information provided is intended for your benefit. Any questions or concerns should be directed to Sprintax, a certified tax preparer or a local IRS field office.

In order to participate in off-campus employment/internship during your program of study at La Sierra University, F-1 international students must obtain temporary work authorization called Curricular Practical Training (CPT) from the International Student Services office at La Sierra. CPT allows F-1 students to gain practical experience through off-campus employment/internship, however, it must be integral to your program of study. Please note: there are requirements and eligibility criteria that must be met before applying for CPT.

CPT Eligibility

• Must be in valid F-1 student status
• Must have completed one academic year as a full-time student (with the exception of certain programs)
• Must currently be enrolled in a full-course load of study

CPT Requirements

• Part-time (20 hours per week): During the academic term, students may only work part-time CPT.
• Full-Time (more than 20 hours per week): During the summer and school breaks, students may apply for full-time CPT.
• Must receive authorization before starting any employment.
• Employment/Internship position must be related to your field of study
• If you work full-time using CPT for more than 12 months, you will lose your eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

For more information regarding CPT, please see the International Student Services Office.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment authorized by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for eligible F-1 students that is directly related to their major area of study. This can be obtained during the program of study or after the completion of the program of study. Similar to Curricular Practical Training (CPT), it gives students an opportunity to receive practical work-experience off campus to contribute to their field of study. Please refer below for the requirements and eligibility criteria to apply for OPT.

Standard Types of OPT

Pre-Completion OPT: Any portion of the standard OPT that F-1 students may use during the student’s program of study. Students may work part-time (20 hours per week) during the academic term and full-time (more than 20 hours per week) during school breaks. Post-Completion OPT: Any portion of the standard OPT that F-1 students may use after the student’s program of study.

*Note: The student is only granted 12 months aggregate for the standard OPT including Pre-Completion OPT & Post-Completion OPT. Any Pre-completion time used will be deducted from the 12 months with remainder months to be used for Post-completion OPT.

OPT Eligibility

• Must be currently in valid F-1 status.
• Must have been enrolled on a full-time basis for one academic year.
• Must not have exceeded 12 months of full-time CPT.
• Must not have been participating in OPT for the same degree level or at a higher degree level.
• Do not need a job offer before applying for OPT.

OPT Application Time

• Pre-Completion OPT: USCIS will accept Pre-Completion OPT application documents as early as 90 days to the intended OPT start date.
• Post--Completion OPT: The earliest date that USCIS will accept Post-Completion OPT application documents is 90 days before the students' program completion date. Any applications earlier will be denied. USCIS will accept document no later than the 60 days after the program completion date.

For more information regarding OPT, please see the International Student Services Office.

According to 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(ii)(C), “If other employment opportunities are not available or are otherwise insufficient, an eligible F-1 student may request off-campus employment work authorization based upon severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control.”

Examples of Economic Hardships may include:

• Loss of financial aid
• Loss of on-campus employment
• Inordinate increases in tuition and/or living costs
• Unexpected changes in financial condition of the student’s source of support

If you are an F-1 international students and you are experiencing any of the examples listed above, you can apply for off-campus employment authorization due to severe economic hardship. This type of authorization is authorized by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Before you send your application for off-campus employment authorization due to economic hardship to USCIS, you must:

• Receive recommendation from the International Student Services Office
• Gather documentation that demonstrates your economic hardship
• Must have been in F-1 status for at least one full academic year
• Must be currently maintaining your F-1 status
• Must be in good academic standing and have a full course load of study

If USCIS approves your application, they will issue you an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card. Once received, you may:

• Work part-time when school is in session.
• Work full-time during breaks and holidays.

For more information about applying for off-campus employment authorization due to economic hardship, please see the International Student Services office.

Dependents of F-1 students (F-2 visa holders) may not work in the U.S.