F1 Students and Employment

On Campus Employment

In accordance to 8 C.F.R. 214.2(f) (9) (i) and HCC’s internal policy, an F-1 student may work on campus up to 19.5 hours a week during the fall and spring semesters and full-time during vacation periods if they are considered to be in good F-1 standing. A Designated School Official (DSO) from the Office of International Services and Programs (OISP) must approve on-campus employment. The following actions must be taken in the hiring process for F-1 students. 

The F-1 student must:

  1. Maintain F-1 status
  2. Apply for a part-time job at any of the HCC campuses and administrative office (Visit hccs.edu/careers to search and apply for part-time positions) 
    For tips on applying for an on-campus job – see the FAQs
  3. Interview and secure an HCC part-time position
  4. Request the hiring department submit a signed Employment Verification Letter on official HCC letterhead to ISP at oiss.international@hccs.edu. The original letter should be provided to the F-1 student 
  5. OISP will review the employment eligibility of the F-1 student and contact him/her to pick-up the original Employment Verification and Confirmation Letter at OISP to apply for a Social Security Number (if applicable)

*Please note the verification process can take between 5-7 business days.

The HCC hiring department, HCC Barnes & Noble and The French Corner must:

  1. Submit a signed Employment Verification Letter on official HCC or company letterhead to OISP at oiss.international@hccs.edu. The original letter should be provided to the F-1 student (Please see template for sample Employment Verification Letter)
  2. OISP will review the request and verify if the student is eligible for on-campus employment.
  3. Once OISP verifies employment eligibility,  the student will be contacted to pick-up the original Employment Verification and Confirmation Letter to apply for a Social Security Number (if applicable)

*Please note the verification process can take between 5-7 business days.


Social Security Information:

Once the above process is complete, the student must visit a Social Security Administration office to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) (if applicable) and bring the following documents:

  • Student passport
  • U.S. F-1 visa stamp or change-of-status approval notification
  • I-94 print out
  • SEVIS Form I-20
  • Original signed Employment Letter (pick up from HCC hiring department)
  • SSA Website Application Form 

Click to find more information about the SSN online services.  If you are not able to submit the SSA application form online, you must go to the SSA office in person.

The Social Security Administration office will verify the documents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security before assigning a SSN. The process takes about two weeks to complete.


After receiving the Social Security Number:

The hiring process is complete with the HCC Human Resources Department (HR) once the student receives the SSN by mail and presents this to HR along with the other required employment documents and receives employment confirmation from HR.

 

FAQ’s and Other Considerations:

Students are required to remain in status – on active F-1 status – while working on campus. If a student’s status is terminated or completed, they automatically no longer have work authorization.

Employers should periodically validate the immigration status of their F-1 student employee and their eligibility to work at the end of each semester.

If the student has already obtained a SSN and is changing employers within HCC, the new employer must submit a new employment eligibility letter to HR.

The F-1 on-campus employment eligibility expires when the student transfers to another institution or graduates (unless he/she continues his/her education at HCC for a secondary program in the following semester on an authorized period of post-completion Optional Practical Training).

F-1 students may only apply for SSN when the application is employment-based. For more information about the SSN and eligibility, please visit www.ssa.gov.