Eligibility

F-1 students sponsored by Dartmouth College may work on campus provided they:

  • Maintain legal F-1 status
  • Do not work more than a total of 20 hours per week during academic terms, and full time employment is allowed during official school breaks and earned leave terms.

 

Verifying Eligibility

  • All students working on-campus must complete the "Employment Eligibility Verification" (CIS Form I-9). The I-9 must be updated with Dartmouth Payroll each time you renew your work permission or extend your program. For on-campus employment, simply show your valid Form I-20 and your passport.
  • You will also be required to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) once you have on-campus employment.
  • You will be required to file tax forms by April 15 following the end of each tax year.

Working improperly or without authorization is a serious violation of your status. Please make sure your on-campus employment complies with these regulations and that you check with OVIS before accepting any off-campus employment. If you fail to comply with your responsibilities regarding employment, you will be ineligible for benefits normally granted to F-1 students and, in some situations, you may be required to leave the country or accrue unlawful presence.

PhD Students and Graduate Students who are Members of the Graduate Student Union

F-1 students enrolled in a PhD program with a Notice of Assignment for a full Research and/or Teaching Assistant assignment are expected to work 20 hours per week, and are not eligible for any additional on-campus employment, including residential advisor, fellow and other positions.  F-1 students in other graduate programs who are members of the union must review the Notice of Assignment to confirm the number of expected work hours per week to ensure on-campus employment hours do not exceed the 20-hour per week limit.

Transferring to Another School

Beginning on your transfer release date or your I-20 end date, whichever comes first, you will no longer have on-campus employment authorization.

On-Campus Employment at an Off-Campus Location

Immigration regulations allow F-1 students sponsored by Dartmouth, or F-1 students sponsored by other schools, to work “on campus at an off-campus location” provided:

  • The location is educationally affiliated with the school.
  • The educational affiliation is associated with your F-1 sponsoring school's established curriculum, or if you are a graduate student, is related to a graduate-level research project which your school has contracted to perform.
  • The work is an integral or important part of your program of study. For example, if your field of study is marine biology and your school has an off-campus marine biology research facility, you may work there. That employment will be defined as "on campus."

F-1 students sponsored by Dartmouth must check with OVIS to verify that the employment meets these requirements. F-1 students sponsored by another school will need their home-school Designated School Official’s permission for “on-campus employment at an off-campus location.”  Failure to obtain that permission will result in a “Tentative Non Confirmation” when non-Dartmouth students attempt to complete their I-9 requirement at Dartmouth Payroll.