« Student Employment Handbook

Student Employment Handbook:

International Student Employees

Work Hour Limits

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has limited part-time employment for international students to no more than 20 hours per week during the semester.  Allowing an international student to work more than 20 hours per week could have serious implications for the student and the University. International students may work more than 20 hours per week when classes are not in session (winter and spring break and summer if the student is not registered for classes).

International students WITHOUT a SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

The Social Security Administration requires an international student without a social security number to prove he or she has obtained an on-campus position, and show evidence of that employment, or a Social Security number will not be issued. Consequently, departments planning to employ these students MUST TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

1. On-campus employers may interview and offer employment to international students without a social security number, but MAY NOT allow the student to begin work until they have completed the required employment eligibility forms through the Career Services Center.
   
   
2. Once supervisors have identified an international student for employment, they must complete and sign Section I of the Social Security Employment Verification Form (available in the Office of International Affairs (OIA) or the Career Services Center - see sample form.) For security reasons, the completed form must be delivered in-person or mailed in a sealed envelope to the OIA office. We suggest supervisors retain a copy of the form in the student's employment file in their office. Blank Social Security Employment Verification Forms should be made available only to staff responsible for hiring students.
   
   
3. The Office of International Affairs will complete Section II of the form, along with the I-9 form. Students will then take the completed Social Security Employment Verification form to the Social Security Administration Office in Ravenna (444 Enterprise Parkway, Ravenna, Ohio) to apply for a Social Security number.
   
   
4. Students must then call the Payroll Office at 330-672-8640 (located in room 236 Schwartz Center) to complete Federal, State, and City tax forms. They will need to present their verification of application for a Social Security number and I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form in order to complete their Tax Withholding Form. Students will then return with these forms to the Career Services Center to finalize the employment eligibility process.
   
   
5. Once the student receives their Social Security card, THEY ARE REQUIRED to visit the Registrar's Office (108 Schwartz Center) so that their Kent State record may be updated to include their Social Security number. Failure to do so may result in paycheck delays and errors in income reporting