Living in the USA

On-Campus Employment for J-1 Students

Eligibility

J-1 students must be enrolled full-time to be eligible for on-campus employment and must request permission from CIS before working on-campus (see On-Campus Employment Request form for J-1 Students)

  • Exceptions to this must be authorized by the Center for International Studies prior to a student's registering for less than a full course load.
  • Violation of the student's status, such as falling below a full course load without authorization, automatically nullifies any employment authorization.

Employment must not exceed 20 hours/week while school is in session. 

  • The student may hold more than one job. The total number of hours, however, may not exceed 20 per week during academic terms.

Employment may be 40 hours (+) per week during vacations/breaks. 

  • Students are eligible to work full-time when school is not in session, such as during the annual vacation, provided the student will continue to be a full-time student the term following the break.

Note: Employment is terminated upon completion of studies, or upon transfer of your SEVIS record to another school. 

Procedures if you don’t yet have a Social Security Number (SSN):

  • Request Student Social Security Letter
  • Pick up signed letter two business days after submitting request and bring with immigration documents to the Social Security office to apply for the SSN.

Taxes

  • International students are subject to state and federal taxes but are exempt from Medicare and Social Security taxes (if the student has not been in the U.S. for more than 5 years).

On-campus Employment Opportunities:

International Students and Scholar Services

Contact Information
Phone: (320) 308-4287

St. Cloud State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and employer.
St. Cloud State University is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
© 2012 St. Cloud State University