Transcript INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES

Employment
On & Off Campus:
The Do’s and Don’ts
NOTE:
 The
following slides are for those in F-1 status,
 But,
the rules for J-1 employment are very
similar.
 Just
follow the same steps with your sponsor
(RIT, Fulbright ACCELS, American Councils,
MESCyT, etc.) and you will be fine.
HOW TO STAY IN STATUS

Do Not Work,
off-campus, unless specifically authorized by a
DSO or the Immigration service.
 Authorization
for off campus employment means you
will get a new I-20 or a new DS2019
HOW MUCH CAN I WORK?



On-campus work is allowed without special
permission for up to 20 hours per week when school
is in session
You may work on campus up to 40 hours per week
during school vacations (normally just summer) if
you are maintaining status.
Special rules apply for some graduate students
ON-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT (PART I)



Find a job through the SEO office/their web site
or on your own.
Obtain an Employment Eligibility Slip (EES) from
your employer, showing she/he has hired you for an oncampus job
Enroll for 12 credits, bring the EES, your RIT
Student ID, I-20/DS2019, I-94 card, and passport to
the Student Employment Office (SEO), Monday –
Friday, 8:30 - 4:30 pm in CSI, Bldg. 87.
 Go
back to your employer to ask for a hire form
WHEN YOU ARE OFFERED A JOB…






Ask your Employer for the
Employment Eligibility Slip
Go get an SEO card
Get a Hire Form from your employer.
This form Must have an original signature
Bring this Hire Form to ISS
Get a Social Security Request Letter.
Go downtown to apply for a social Security
number (SSN) with all your immigration documents
APPLY FOR A SSN


In order to work on campus, you MUST have a
social security number.
In order to apply, you must travel to the Social
Security Administration Office downtown and bring
the following:
 Hire Form
 Social Security Request Letter
 A completed Social Security Application (obtain
from ISS)
 Passport, visa, I-94 card, and I-20/DS2019
PLEASE NOTE…



You will be given a Social Security
Application form to fill-out.
You MUST list your name on line 1 of the
application EXACTLY as it appears on your
I-94 card to avoid delays in processing your
application.
Changes to the name on your SSN card can
be made later if/when you receive a new I-94
card.
SSN SESSIONS
SSN sessions on how to apply for SSN will be held:
Wednesday,
9/14/2011 from
10:00 am – 12:00 noon
In the Campus Center’s Bamboo Room . 2610/2650
&
Friday,
9/16/2011 from
10:00 am – 12:00 noon
In the Campus Center’s Bamboo Room . 2610/2650
IMPORTANT REMINDER:

Only students who have been offered a job may apply
for a social security number.

Students who accept employment at RIT must be
willing to fulfill their commitment to their employer.

If circumstances change and you are no longer able
to work, a minimum of 2 weeks notice must be given
to your employer.

Students must not pursue employment at RIT for the
sole purpose of obtaining a social security number.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN)

When you travel downtown, please request a
receipt confirming the submission of your
application, and then bring the receipt to
International Student Services so we can copy it for
your file.

Paychecks will not be distributed unless this
receipt is on file in our office. Failure to apply for
a social security number will result in
termination of your employment.
CAN I WORK OFF-CAMPUS?
 There
are two types of off-campus employment:
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) (Also called coop)
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
 For
both types, you must first have been enrolled
full time for a full academic year (9 months).
CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING (CPT)
Register for a class called “Co-op” with both your academic
department and the Co-op/Career Services Office.
 Not all departments allow Co-op, and each department has
different Co-op requirements. You will need to check with your
department. The Co-op office will assist in your search, but it is
up to you to find the Co-op. They also provide resume and
interview workshops.


Make an appointment with International Student Services as
soon as you have registered for the Co-op. Bring a copy of your
job offer letter showing the company name & address.

We will then issue you a new I-20 with CPT authorization so
you can legally work for your CPT employer.
CPT APPLICATION TIMELINE:
 Apply
for CPT with ISS as soon as you register for the
Co-op.
 Technically,
the deadline to apply is the day before Coop starts, but it is best to apply as soon as you accept a
job offer.

Do NOT start working until ISS issues you a new CPT
I-20.
Working without authorization is illegal
OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT)
 OPT
is an opportunity to work 12 months in your field
of study after you graduate.
 OPT authorization is granted by US Immigration
To be eligible:
 You must have used less than 12 months of full-time
CPT.
 You do not need a job offer, but once you are approved
for OPT, the 12 months will begin, whether or not you
actually find work. Unemployment is limited to 90 days.
OPT APPLICATION TIMELINE
You can apply three (3) months before you want to
begin OPT – but OPT cannot begin after your 60 day
grace period
 Graduate
students are eligible to begin OPT after they
complete required course work
 Undergraduate
requirements
student must have completed all degree
OPT APPLICATION TIMELINE
ISS offers OPT workshops every quarter – a
schedule of upcoming workshops will be sent
via your RIT e-mail.
Plan on attending an OPT workshop 1 or 2
quarters before you graduate to get all your
questions answered.
HOW DO THEY COMPARE?
OPT
CPT
$340
o
No charge
6 -12 week processing, on
average
o
Quick processing
Coursework must be
complete
o
Must be registered for co-op/CPT

No job offer letter required
o
Must have a job offer letter

Authorized for one year

Authorized by USCIS



o
Authorized one quarter at a time –
could be authorized for more
o
Authorized by ISS
CAN I VOLUNTEER?

All off-campus work requires authorization.

This includes volunteering or working for free.

The only exception is for jobs where no one is ever paid
(example: volunteer food server at a church soup kitchen for the
poor).

If you are doing something that another person could be doing
for pay, it is work and needs authorization/permission from ISS.
TAX INFORMATION
 Social
Security tax and Medicare tax should not be
deducted from your paychecks, but NY State and
Federal Taxes will be deducted by your employer and
sent to the government. You must file a tax return in
the Winter and you will likely be refunded many of
these taxes.
 We
offer on-line software and several work shops for
filing prior to the April tax return filing deadline.
KEITHALEEN JONES
Nonresident Alien Tax Specialist & Timekeeping
Administrator
 RIT - Eastman Bldg. – 1st Floor

P: (585) 475-5984 v/tty
 F: (585) 475-5583


http://finweb.rit.edu/controller
Questions?
And for the rest of the day
Rotate with your PALs to :
•Library
Session in 6-A205
•TB Screening
•Trip Sign up
•Dinner (OPTIONAL) 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m
Location: Gracie’s (GWH/#25) (Pay Cash)
• Global HangOut Global Village
•8:00
p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
OPTIONAL: Bus Shuttle to
Off-campus residences
(Rustic, Park Point, Province)
Location: Student Alumni Union
(SAU/#4) Circle