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, requiring prior authorization from the ISO and/or USCIS. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Activities performed at MIT, but they are not for MIT and/or 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 company/start-up.
- Team project that provides a service/benefit.
- Activities conducted at another school, university, institution, lab, etc.
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 for MIT students only. For additional questions, students should email their ISO Advisor directly.
