U.S. Work/Employment Information
ATTENTION: Engaging in unauthorized work/employment violates U.S. immigration regulations and can result in severe consequences, including the termination of a student’s immigration status, requiring their immediate departure from the U.S.
Students must thoroughly review all ISO work/employment-related web pages to ensure compliance with U.S. immigration regulations.
- U.S Work/Employment Overview
- Defining Work/Employment
- Common Work/Employment-Related Questions
- U.S. Work/Employment Resources
- Volunteering vs. Work/Employment
- Publications, Conferences, & Work/Employment
- Additional Resources
U.S. WORK/EMPLOYMENT OVERVIEW
Important Information For MIT International Students
U.S. federal regulations impose strict limitations on work/employment opportunities for international students. Any work/employment-related activity—on or off-campus, paid or unpaid—requires proper authorization before beginning any work/employment-related activities.
Understanding U.S. immigration rules and regulations regarding work/employment is crucial for a student’s success in the U.S. MIT international students should thoroughly review the ISO Employment web pages to ensure compliance with work/employment authorization requirements both during and after their degree program at MIT.
DEFINING WORK/EMPLOYMENT
The U.S. government defines work/employment-related activities by the “nature of the work/employment-related activities, services, and/or duties performed”, regardless of whether it’s paid or unpaid, for a company outside the U.S. and/or a non-U.S. company. If a student provides a service or benefit to an employer, organization, or individual, proper work/employment authorization is required.
U.S. Work/Employment Categories
On-Campus: “On-Campus” work/employment is defined as activities exclusively for MIT, at MIT, and/or funded by MIT (i.e., salary, stipends, fellowships, RA/TA-ships, housing benefits, honorarium, etc.).
Off-Campus: “Off-Campus” work/employment is defined as activities that DO NOT meet the “On-Campus” work/employment criteria and require prior authorization from the ISO and/or USCIS. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Activities performed at MIT, but not for MIT and/or not funded by MIT.
- Activities with a professor’s private company/companies.
- Consulting or freelance work/employment.
- Participation in another MIT student’s and/or professor’s startup.
- Activities with/for a company outside the U.S.
- Mentor/Mentee relationships in a company/start-up.
- Team project that provides a service/benefit.
- Activities conducted at another school, university, institution, lab, etc., even if affiliated with MIT or part of an MIT award (research/teaching assistantship).
COMMON WORK/EMPLOYMENT-RELATED QUESTIONS
MIT students frequently ask if they can work remotely/online for foreign companies/organizations while they are in the U.S. Simply put, any work/employment performed while a student is physically in the U.S., regardless of location or payment, is considered off-campus employment and requires prior authorization. Key questions to determine if work/employment authorization is required:
- Will the student be working for a U.S.-based or foreign-based company/organization?
- Will any work be performed while the student is physically in the U.S.?
- Will compensation come from a U.S. or foreign source?
If the answer to any one of the above questions is “United States (U.S.),” prior off-campus work authorization is required.
U.S. WORK/EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES
The ISO hosts work/employment-related information sessions throughout the academic year. These sessions are announced in the ISO newsletter and on the ISO News & Announcements webpage.
F-1 & J-1 Student Resources
Additionally, students can find U.S. work/employment-related information and resources on the toolbar of this webpage and through the direct links below:
- Volunteering
- Publications, Conferences, & Employment
- Social Security Number (SSN) Information
- F-2 & J-2 Dependent Information
- MIT/ISO Immigration Attorney Presentations
F-1 Student Resources
MIT-sponsored F-1 students must review the following ISO resources for employment eligibility:
- On-Campus Work/Employment
- Off-Campus Work/Employment:
J-1 Student Resources
MIT-sponsored J-1 students must review the following ISO resources for employment eligibility:
- On-Campus Work/Employment
- Off-Campus Work/Employment (Pre-Degree and Post-Degree):
VOLUNTEERING VS. WORK/EMPLOYMENT
The U.S. government defines a “True Volunteer” role as someone who provides services for civic, charitable, or humanitarian purposes without compensation or the expectation of payment. However, work/employment that requires specific education or specialized skills does not qualify as a “True Volunteer” role and would require prior work/employment authorization.
The ISO strongly advises all international students to thoroughly review the ISO Volunteering webpage and consult with their ISO Advisor before engaging in volunteer activities.
PUBLICATIONS, CONFERENCES, & WORK/EMPLOYMENT
Students may encounter opportunities to participate in academic publishing and conferences or receive outreach from publishers or organizations interested in having them contribute to a book, magazine, blog, or other publications. While these opportunities are common in most academic settings, immigration regulations do not clearly define which situations require prior work/employment authorization.
The ISO strongly advises all international students to thoroughly review the ISO Publications, Conferences, & Employment webpage and consult with their ISO Advisor and an immigration attorney before engaging in publishing or conference activities.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Working in the United States webpage.
- The Department of State (DOS) J-1 College and University Student webpage.
Disclaimer: The information on this webpage is only for MIT-sponsored students.
For additional questions, students should first review the ISO Employment web pages thoroughly. They are encouraged to use the ISO search tool (located at the top of the ISO website) or consult the comprehensive FAQ section in the ISO Knowledge Base. MIT students may also contact their designated ISO Advisor directly for assistance.
