Search
  Office of Visa Services
  Latest News
  For Scholars
  For F-1 Students
  For J-1 Students
  Useful Links
   

   About Princeton
   News & Events
   Travel & Weather
   PU Home
  

On-Campus Employment

F-1 students

The USCIS regulations state that F-1 students are generally permitted to work part-time on premises of the school that issued their currently valid I-20, while they are attending that school and maintaining their F-1 status. On-campus employment is "incident to status", and does not require special authorization. However, students should have their F-1 status verified in the Office of Visa Services before engaging in any on-campus employment. On-campus employment is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session, but can be full-time during official school breaks.

J-1 students

J-1 students are also permitted to work part time on premises of the school that issued their currently valid DS-2019, while they are attending school and maintaining their J-1 status. However, J-1 students MUST HAVE APROVAL from their Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternative Responsible Officer (ARO) in order to work on campus. If your DS-2019 is issued by Princeton University, you must contact Mladenka Tomasevic, the International Graduate Student Advisor, request on-campus employment permission. If your DS-2019 is issued by another organization, contact that organization for information about employment authorization.

Students at Princeton are permitted the following types of on-campus employment:

• Employment by Princeton

Work performed on campus  in a student's academic department, the library, the computer center, or the housing office is acceptable. Work required by a scholarship, a fellowship, or an assistantship is also acceptable. Graduate students should note, however, that employment (other than an assistantship) is considered incompatible with full-time graduate studies. If students and their departments judge that part-time employment is both manageable and necessary, the student may be employed on campus.

• Other Employment on Princeton Premises

Work performed on campus (on Princeton's premises) for an outside contractor or firm may be considered on-campus employment ONLY if the employer provides direct services (bookstore, dining services, etc.)  to students. The regulation state that employment with on-site commercial firms, such as a construction company building a school building, which do not provide direct student services is not deemed on-campus employment.