ProceduresNEW

Procedures for F-1 On-Campus Employment Permission

Regular On-Campus Employment

If you would like to work on-campus, please follow these steps:

  1. Make sure you are registered for a full course of study for the current semester (or for the next semester if you are a continuing student and wish to work during the winter intercession or summer break).
  2. Find a campus job at the Student Employment Office or through the MyBU Student Portal.  NOTE: “Quickie Jobs” that occur off-campus are not permitted for F-1 students
  3. Once you have been offered a student employment position, you must report to the ISSO before beginning the job, or within 3 business days from the date you begin employment, in order to complete an USCIS Form I-9 for Employment Eligibility Verification.
  4. You must also complete a Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) at the ISSO.  Bring your I-20, passport and I-94 card to the ISSO for review at the same time. Once completed, an ISSO staff member will enter the verification information into the Student Employment system so that you may begin payroll process.

On-Campus Employment with a non-University Employer
If you have an offer to work on-campus at Boston University with a commercial firm that provides services for students on campus, you cannot begin working until you have been approved by the ISSO.  Note: If you will receive a paycheck from Boston University, you need only follow the steps described above. 

Otherwise, follow these steps:

  1. Make sure you are registered for a full course of study for the current semester (or for the next semester if you are a continuing student and wish to work during the winter intercession or summer break).
  2. Refer to the list of commercial firms that may provide on-campus employment to Boston University F-1 students.  If the employer AND location are not listed, you cannot receive on-campus work permission to work for this employer.  Please refer to the section on Practical Training for possible alternatives.
  3. Request a letter (on letterhead) from the employer that verifies the location you will work at, specifies a specific start date and end date, and confirms that you “will work no more than 20 hours per week during the Fall or Spring semesters.”  The letter must be signed by a manager or supervisor.
  4. Make an appointment with your ISSO advisor.  Bring the employer letter to the appointment, along with you I-20, passport and I-94 card.

If you are approved, page three (3) of your I-20 will be endorsed with name and location of your employer and the dates for your on-campus employment.  You may not change employers or job location or work beyond the end date as endorsed on your I-20 without authorization from the ISSO.

On-Campus Employment at an Off-Campus Location
If you have an opportunity to work at an off-campus location that is educationally affiliated with Boston University, you must be approved by the ISSO before beginning employment, even if you will be paid by the University.  The educational affiliation must be associated with the University’s established curriculum or be related to contractually funded research projects at the post-graduate level.  In any event, the employment must be a necessary part of your educational program.

  1. Make sure you are registered for a full course of study for the current semester (or for the next semester if you are a continuing student and wish to work during the winter intersession or summer break.
  2. Request a letter from your academic department that describes the employer’s educational affiliation with Boston University, and how the employment is necessary as part of your educational program.
  3. Request a letter (on letterhead) from the employer that verifies the location you will work at, specifies a start date and end date, and confirms that you “will work no more than 20 hours per week during the Fall or Spring semesters.”  The letter must be signed by a manager or supervisor.
  4. Make an appointment with your ISSO advisor.  Bring the department and employer letters to the appointment, along with your I-20, passport and I-94 card.

If you are approved, your ISSO adivosr will issue an authorization letter with the name and location of your employer and the dates for your on-campus employment.  You may not change employers or job location or work beyond the end date as endorsed in this letter of authorization from the ISSO.