F-1 Students
Hiring F-1 International Students for On-Campus Jobs
F-1 visa regulations allow international students to engage in on-campus employment up to 20 hours per week when school is in session. In between the semesters when school is not in session, international students can be employed full time. Employment must be on campus.
If your department would like to hire a student on an F-1 visa, visit the F-1 On-Campus Employment webpage.
Employment Letters
A supervisor of the hiring department must issue an employment offer letter to an F-1 international student worker. The employment letter must be written on Sacred Heart University letterhead and include the following:
- Student’s full name
- Department
- Anticipated employment start date
- Number of hours per week
- Nature of employment
- Supervisor’s name
- Contact information including title
- Original “wet” signature (not digital)
Full-Time Course Load Requirement
International students on an F-1 are required to pursue a full-time course of study to maintain a valid visa status in the U.S. If it is necessary for the student to drop below full-time hours, they must complete a Reduced Course Load request in their ISS portal. The student must be approved by the academic department and the Designated School Official prior to reducing course load.
Qualifying circumstances to reduce a full-time course load may include, but are not limited to, a medical leave or an illness, initial English language difficulties, initial unfamiliarity with teaching methods and being in a final semester.
Online Course Restriction
F-1 visa students cannot enroll in more than one online course each term. Students who enroll in more than one online course are in violation of their visa status.
