On-Campus Employment

• On-campus employment includes work done as a teaching, research or graduate assistant as well as jobs in the university library, dining facilities located on campus, laboratories, and administrative offices.
• On-campus also includes employment with on-location commercial firms which provide services for students on campus, such as stores or restaurants physically located at the University.

• You must be maintaining status and in good academic standing.
• You must have a job offer from an employer located on-campus and the job must meet the requirements listed above.
• You must receive work authorization in writing from an Alternative Responsible Officer (ARO) BEFORE starting employment. If your DS-2019 was not issued by the University at Buffalo (refer to #2 on page 1 of your DS-2019), you must contact your sponsor to request and receive permission before your employment start date. Additional information on how to apply for work authorization (for UB sponsored students) is below.
• The work takes place before completing your degree or program objectives. J-1 students are not permitted to work on-campus after their degree conferral date or program completion date.
• You cannot exceed the number of hours you are permitted to work (see Time Limits below)
• International students are not eligible for work-study jobs. The work-study program is for domestic students only. 

• For students with an "initial" attendance DS-2019, work cannot begin more than 30 days before the Program Start Date on your DS-2019.
• Students who completed a degree at UB and who will continue at UB in a new degree program are permitted to work during the break between semesters. 
  • For example: Student completes degree in Spring and has a new degree program starting in Fall = student can work on campus during the summer.
• Students who transfer in to UB from another U.S. school cannot begin work more than 30 days before the Program Start Date on their DS-2019.

Part-Time (20 hours per week or less) is permitted.

Full-Time (more than 20 hours per week) is permitted.

More than one on-campus job is permitted, so long as you do not exceed the permitted number of hours per week explained above.

If you are authorized for Pre-Completion Academic Training during the Fall/Spring semester, you may not exceed 20 hours per week between both Academic Training and any on-campus employment.

Before beginning any on-campus employment, J-1 students with DS-2019s issued by the University at Buffalo must submit an employment offer letter to the International Student Services Office. ISS will then enter your on-campus employment into SEVIS and provide you with written authorization to work before you begin employment. Follow the directions below to submit your on-campus employment request to ISS:

1. Login to UB Global. Click on the “LOGIN” button on the left side of the screen, and enter your UBIT Name and Password.
2. Click on “J-1 Student Services” and then “On-Campus Work Authorization Letter Request.” You must complete the entire e-form and upload a copy of your On-Campus Employment Letter. 

Within 5-7 business days, ISS will provide you with a letter authorizing on-campus employment.

Your on-campus employment eligibility ends:

• When your work authorization expires. Refer to the end date on your work authorization approval letter. If you want to continue working past that date, you must submit a new work authorization request and receive approval.
• When you graduate or complete your academic program. You may not work on campus after your degree/ academic program completion, even if your DS-2019 expiration date is in the future.
• If you transfer to another university; your work authorization automatically expires on the day of your SEVIS record is released to the new school.
• If you violate your J-1 status.

Any student who will work in the U.S. must apply for a Social Security Number. The employer must use the SSN to report wages and taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Social Security Administration (SSA). J-1 students are eligible to apply for an SSN even if they do not have employment. Please read our Social Security page for information on how to apply.

After receiving your SSN, you must report it to the University using Form W-9(S).

We recommend using the Career Services' job search tool, Handshake. This database advertises both on-campus and off-campus jobs. Filter your search to only look for on-campus jobs, since off-campus work requires separate authorization. The Career Services website also offers helpful tips for your job search, how to apply, accept an offer and more.