Work Rules
International students in lawful F-1 and J-1 student immigration status can work on campus (with some restrictions and limitations) for the university that maintains their record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). To work off campus, all student visa holders must receive written work authorization in advance from an international advisor. For all work (both on and off campus) students must follow procedures to work legally and to be taxed correctly. A social security number is required for students who work, but students can begin working before being issued a number.
On Campus Employment
How many hours can I work at UNM?
F-1 Work Authorization
J-1 Work Authorization
Social Security Number (SSN)
To apply for a social security number (SSN), students can ONLY apply after they have been in the US for 10 days and have reported their local address to the Global Education Office. The on-campus employer will need to complete the top part of the UNM Employment Verification form and an advisor at the Global Education Office will need to sign the bottom before students can apply. Once students have this form completed and signed, they must take it with the following documents to apply for their SSN at the Social Security administration office off campus: • Passport International students in J-1 immigration status must report all new employers to the international office before beginning employment so the information can be entered in SEVIS (the government database).
• I-94 (print out from I-94 website)
• I-20 form for F1 visa holders/DS-2019 form for J1 visa holders
• “UNM Employment Verification Form” signed by employer and by GEO
• J1 Scholars need a department letter on letterhead describing their job/positionJ-1 Visa Holders
Finding A Job
Jobs at UNM
UNM student hourly jobs (not graduate assistantships) are posted on the student employment website. Students can sort for jobs by date posted, salary grade and campus. (International students are not eligible for positions classified as Work Study, which is a program only offered to U.S. citizens, unless it says "all students considered regardless of work study.") Students will need to complete paperwork and provide other information to the office of student employment when they get a student job on campus. J1 students must report their campus employer to an international advisor for entry into SEVIS. Students may also work for UNM food services; however, the job must be on campus. Here are some tips for getting a job on campus Please see our handout On-Campus Employment for information and procedures for on-campus jobs.
UNM Graduate Assistantships
An assistantship is a type of work opportunity available to graduate students. There are 4 types of assistantships at UNM: teaching, research, graduate and project assistantships. Assistantships pay an hourly or monthly salary to the student for teaching, grading, research or other academic work. If a student holds an assistantship for more than half of the semester it also pays for health insurance, and if the assistantship is at least 10 hours per week, it entitles the student to pay in-state tuition. Some assistantships also pay all of the tuition and fees for the student. Most assistantships are offered by a student’s own academic department (students should check with their departments first.) However, a student can look for assistantships in another department if they qualify. Some assistantship and graduate job announcements are posted on the Office for Academic Personnel (OAP) website. OGS assists with paperwork and information that students will need when getting an assistantship on campus.