Overview and definition
On-campus employment is an option available for J-1 students as long as they are in good academic standing and are enrolled in a full course of study (except during official school breaks).
NOTE: J-1 students must receive employment authorization from the Office of Global Services (OGS) BEFORE they begin and for each position.
If the J-1 student’s program sponsor is not Northeastern University, but an outside organization (such as Fulbright), the student will need to obtain employment authorization from the sponsoring organization.
J-1 students should submit a J-1 On-Campus Employment Authorization request to OGS. See below for details. OGS will issue a letter which can be presented to the Social Security Administration in order to apply for a Social Security Number.
Policies
- J-1 students may work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and up to 40 hours per week during periods when school is not in session or during summer vacation
- The employment can be authorized up to 12 months at a time
- On-campus employment authorization is cancelled if student graduates/completes exchange program, fails to maintain J-1 status, or transfers to another school
On-campus vacation working dates
The following programs require students to be enrolled over the summer:
- College of Engineering: Global Experience Office Non-Degree J-1 Engineering Group Summer 1
- College of Professional Studies: Global Leadership in Boston (J-1)
Approved on-campus employers
The following on-campus employers have been determined to be acceptable for on-campus employment for international students by OGS. Please pay attention to the specific location that is considered on-campus employment.
For example, you would be allowed to work at Tatte Bakery and Cafe in Marino Center but not at any general Tatte Bakery and Cafe location.
Approved non-Northeastern on-campus employers:
- Dunkin Donuts (Shillman Hall)
- Dunkin Donuts (Richards/Hayden Hall)
- Caffe Strega (ISEC)
- Chartwell’s
- Reprographics (Ell Hall)
- Wollaston’s
- Vanguard (Columbus Parking Garage)
- B.Good (Marino Center)
- Cafe 716
- Rebecca’s (Churchill Hall)
- Chicken Lou’s
- Subway (Ryder Hall)
- Ryder Cafe (Ryder Hall)
- Cafe Crossing (International Village)
- Tatte Bakery and Cafe
Unapproved on-campus employers
The following on-campus employers have been determined to be unacceptable for on-campus employment for international students by OGS.
Unapproved non-Northeastern on-campus employers:
- YMCA
- Amelia’s Taqueria
- Qdoba
- Ruggles MBTA Eateries
- Boston Shawarma
- Wings Over Boston
- Conor Larkin’s
- Chatime NEU
- University House of Pizza
- New England Conservatory
If the on-campus employer you would like to work at is not listed on either the acceptable or unacceptable list, please contact OGS for guidance. DO NOT START WORKING until you receive an okay from OGS.
Application process
If a J-1 student already has a Social Security Number, he/she still needs to request employment authorization from the Office of Global Services by submitting the J-1 On-Campus Authorization Request. The Office of Global Services will issue a letter which can be presented to the Social Security Administration in order to apply for a Social Security Number. Please follow the steps below for submitting the J-1 On-Campus Authorization Request.
Application steps
1 Make sure your employer is considered on-campus by OGS by referring to the list above.
2 Log into myOGS
3 Office of Global Services will process your request and generate a signed letter.
An e-mail will be sent to your Husky email once the letter is ready for pick-up.
NOTE: The processing time for the on-campus employment letter is five business days.
4 Present the letter to the Social Security Administration in order to apply for a Social Security Number.
For detailed instructions on how to apply for a Social Security Number, please refer to the Social Security Number section of OGS website.
5 Visit the Student Employment Office to complete the hiring process.
Check the SEGAF website for more information.