Students on F-1 and J-1 visas need to follow certain regulations to work in the United States. Learn about employment options for international students.
“On-campus employment” means:
- You are working on the Lehigh University campus (Asa Packer, Mountaintop or Goodman campus)
- You are working for Lehigh University
- You are receiving payments from the Lehigh University Payroll Office
If you do not meet all of the requirements, contact an OISS advisor.
J-1 students must get OISS authorization BEFORE working on campus.
F-1 Students
F-1 students can work on campus for up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and full-time or more than 20 hours per week during breaks. F-1 students need authorization to work off campus (generally in the form of CPT or OPT). Do not work off-campus without prior authorization!
In order to begin working on-campus, follow these steps:
- First, schedule at appointment with HR to complete your I-9. E-mail inI9@lehigh.edu to schedule your appointment. When you go to HR for your appointment, bring your original immigration documents and your most recent I-94 record!
- Completed payroll forms (W-4, Residency Certification and direct deposit) will be submitted to the HR Representative at your I-9 appointment.
- The International Tax Certification form should be submitted with your other payroll forms or brought to HR when you go to your I-9 appointment.
- Click here for a guide to assist you in completing your payroll forms.
- If you need to apply for a Social Security number, please review the information on this page.
- Students arriving in the United States for the first time can begin working on campus up to 30 days before the I-20 program start date.
- On-campus employment ends when you finish your program of study, unless you receive a new I-20 for a new program at Lehigh.
- You should only work at the school that issued your I-20. Taking classes at other LVAIC schools does not mean you can work there too.
J-1 Students
J-1 students enrolled full-time and in good academic standing can work on campus for up to 20 hours per week while school is in session if they are authorized by OISS. To be eligible to work on campus, J-1 students must
- Log in to iHome and fill out a Student On-Campus Work Authorization form (under J-1 Student Services). Once that is approved, then you will be able to complete the steps to be hired.
*Please note that J-1 students sponsored by other organizations (such as IIE/Fulbright) must request work authorization from their Program Sponsor prior to completing payroll forms or working on campus. - First, schedule at appointment with HR to complete your I-9. E-mail inI9@lehigh.edu to schedule your appointment. When you go to HR for your appointment, bring your original immigration documents and your most recent I-94 record!
- Completed payroll forms (W-4, Residency Certification and direct deposit) will be submitted to the HR Representative at your I-9 appointment.
- The International Tax Certification form should be submitted with your other payroll forms or brought to HR when you go to your I-9 appointment.
- Click here for a guide to assist you in completing your payroll forms.
- If you need to apply for a Social Security number, please review the information on this page.
Finding a Job
Lehigh’s Center for Career and Professional Development offers career fairs at the beginning of the fall semester and can help with your cover letter, resume and job search. Most on-campus employment opportunties (work-study and wage jobs as well as graduate assistantships) are posted in Handshake.
The following campus offices typically hire the most student workers: