Thank you for thinking about employing an international student. International students can work on-campus, and they make great employees! Employing an international student will give them the opportunity to gain work experience, build their interpersonal and communication skills, and connect more with campus! You will gain a student employee who brings the world, and thus diverse skills and perspectives, to your office.
F-1 On-Campus Employment
International students can work on-campus up to 50% time (20 hours/week or less) during the academic terms and full-time during the academic break periods including summer quarter. Special authorization is not required to work on-campus as long as you are in valid F-1 student status, pursuing a full course of study. Once you complete your study program you are no longer eligible to be employed on-campus without special authorization - i.e., practical training. On-campus employment is employment engaged in at UCSB such as a teaching or research assistantship, employment in the University Center, library aide, etc. Generally speaking, this means that you will be receiving a paycheck from UCSB. On-campus employment opportunities can be found on Handshake.
Social Security Card Application For F-1 Students
International students in the F-1 visa status who need to apply for a social security number (SSN) in order to be paid for work on campus are required by the Social Security Administration to provide a letter from their UCSB employing department that has been separately endorsed by the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS).
PLEASE NOTE: Federal law does not require that employees have SSNs before they can be hired and begin work.
International students who are applying for an SSN for the first time can log onto the UCSBGlobal Portal and fill out an on-campus employment request. When they do so, they will enter their employing supervisor's name and contact information. The employing supervisor will receive an email notification from OISS asking them to verify the student's employment information through UCSBGlobal (instructions will be provided.) Once approved, the student will receive an employment verification letter that they can include in their Social Security application. To view the instructions provided to F-1 students, please navigate to the F-1 student employment page.
J-1 On-Campus Employment
International students who are in valid J-1 student status sponsored by UCSB and pursuing a full course of study can work on campus up to 50% time (20 hours/week or less) during the academic terms and full-time during the academic break periods (including summer break). On-campus employment at UCSB includes teaching or research assistantship, working at the UCen or Library, etc. Generally speaking, on-campus employment means that the student will be receiving a paycheck from UCSB.
SEVIS regulations regarding on-campus employment for J-1 students requires UCSB to authorize all on-campus employment in writing before the student's employment start date. J-1 students must have written authorization from OISS to work on campus.
J-1 On-Campus Work Authorization Request & Social Security Card Application
J-1 students who wish to work on-campus most obtain a Work Authorization Request from OISS. They can do so by logging onto the UCSBGlobal Portal and fill out an on-campus employment request. When they do so, they will enter their employing supervisor's name and contact information. The employing supervisor will receive an email notification from OISS asking them to verify the student's employment information through UCSBGlobal (instructions will be provided.) Once approved, the student will receive an employment authorization letter.
This letter will authorize the J-1 student to work on-campus. They can also use this letter to apply for a social security card and SSN. To view the instructions provided to J-1 students, please navigate to the J-1 student employment page.
PLEASE NOTE: Federal law does not require that employees have SSNs before they can be hired and begin work.