Students in F-1 status are allowed to work on-campus up to 20 hours per week during the academic semester and over 20 hours per week during a summer or winter break, as long as the student will continue to enroll in the term following the break. F-1 students are considered automatically authorized for on-campus employment as long as these conditions are met:

• You have an unexpired passport and Form I-20 from Brown
• You are a continuing student making full-time progress toward degree completion
• Your employer is Brown (you may not work for Brown faculty or staff in a private or personal capacity - the employment must be for a Brown department, and paid by Brown)

PART-TIME (UP to 20 HOURS PER WEEK) versus full-time (more than 20 hours per week)

F-1 students may not exceed more than 20 hours per week of on-campus employment during the school year, except for during official school breaks (summer / winter vacations). Exceeding 20 hours per week during the academic year is considered a serious violation of F-1 status and may lead to your SEVIS record being terminated for unauthorized employment. Full-time employment exceeding 20 hours per week is permitted only during official school breaks. Please check the academic calendar for exact dates.

 

PhD Students

The stipend (in the form of fellowship or assistantships) received by PhD students is considered, for immigration purposes, to be employment and is subject to the above limitations. The stipend is paid at a rate of 20 hours per week. During the academic semester, PhD students cannot pursue any additional on-campus employment. 

 

 

Please note: 

Many graduate student positions

 occupied by international students are covered by a collective bargaining (union) agreement. For more information, consult the Graduate Student Union information page

 

 

On-Campus Employment WHEN COMPLETING Studies

F-1 student on-campus employment must end no later than a student's completion date or the expiration date on their I-20, whichever comes first. After a student completes (or otherwise stops) studies, they are no longer eligible to engage in on-campus employment, but must have another work authorization such as post-completion Optional Practical Training. While a student may receive their actual pay or salary at a later point, the work duties must end by their I-20 expiration or graduation date, whichever comes first.

 

 

Exceptions: A student may continue on-campus employment during a summer vacation period if they have graduated but have received a Form I-20 to start a new program at Brown in the next available term, and have had their SEVIS record registered for the new program. Speak to your ISSS advisor for more information. Similarly, students who are transferring their F-1 SEVIS record to Brown from another school may commence on-campus employment once they have received a Form I-20 from Brown and their SEVIS record has been registered to reflect their F-1 transfer.

students on temporary or permanent leaves

In general, students who take a temporary leave of absence, or who permanently depart Brown for any reason, are no longer eligible to continue on-campus employment once they have officially ended their enrollment in their Brown program. Please contact your ISSS advisor before going on leave to discuss the implications for on-campus employment.

 

 

Leaves should not be confused with students who have been approved to take a reduced course load (e.g., due to a medical condition or final semester reduction); in general, students with an approved reduced course load are eligible to continue on-campus employment.