International student employment

On-campus employment
International students on an F-1 visa are allowed to work on campus at CSU for up to 19 hours a week. Most on-campus jobs available to international students are student assistantships that allow you to work at the government-established pay rate. However, such assistantships are very limited and competitive. If you are interested in working on campus, you should contact the CSU Career Center as soon as you arrive in Columbus.

All U.S. employers require their employees to have an American Social Security number, which is a unique number issued by the government. If you are offered an on-campus job, you will need to apply for a Social Security number immediately. To apply, you will need to bring the following items with you to the Social Security Administration office:

• A letter from your employer stating that you have received an offer of employment
• An authorization letter from CSU’s international student coordinator
• Your passport
• I-94 (a small white card stapled in your passport)
• I-20

The Social Security Administration office is located at:

7263 North Lake Drive
Columbus, GA 31909

You can call them at 706-494-6171 or toll free at 1-800-772-1213

Off-campus employment
International students may not work off-campus without special authorization. The two types of off-campus work authorization available to international students are Optional Practical Training and Curricular Practical Training. To find out more about either of these work authorizations, follow the appropriate link below:

Curricular Practical Training

Optional Practical Training

Cougar P.A.W.S. (Partners at Work and Service)
The CSU Career Center offers students numerous opportunities to volunteer at organizations throughout the area. In fact, the Career Center currently works with more than 100 agencies. On-campus jobs are limited and in high demand, but volunteer opportunities are abundant. Work experience is vital in gaining a job, and volunteering counts, so consider doing something worthwhile and volunteer your time. For more information, please visit http://career.colstate.edu/volunteer_experience.asp or stop by the Career Center located in the Davidson Student Center.

H-1B Temporary Worker Visa
The H-1B program is the primary method for temporarily employing professional level foreign employees in the United States. It is especially useful in “new hire” situations. The H-1B category is for workers in ‘specialty occupations’ – jobs that normally require at least a four-year university degree in a specific field. Most international students who wish to obtain this type of visa will use their one year of Optional Practical Training after graduation and then ask their employers to sponsor them for the H-1B visa. For more information regarding this type of employment visa, download the Frequently Asked Questions sheet below.

H-1B Frequently Asked Questions

List of immigration attorneys