Information for International Students

Most international students at Dickinson College come to the U.S. on an F-1 or J-1 visa. The "F" visa is reserved for a nonimmigrant wishing to pursue academic studies and/or language training programs in the United States. The J-1 visa is issued for educational and cultural exchange, and a J-1 visitor is expected to return to his or her home country when the exchange program is complete. F-1 Student Visa and J-1 Scholars are responsible for complying with US Federal Regulations and laws governing the individual F visa and J visa status. Failure to do so will violate legal status in the US.

SEVIS

Exchange visitor and student information is maintained in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). SEVIS is an Internet-based system that maintains information on non-immigrant students (F and M visa) and exchange visitors (J visa). SEVIS enables Dickinson College to transmit mandatory information and event notifications via the Internet, to the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State (DOS) throughout a student or exchange visitor's stay in the United States.

Maintaining Immigration Status

As a student/exchange visitor, students must understand immigration status and the consequences that may occur if status is violated. Visa classifications have requirements that must be followed and maintained, in order to ensure the ability to remain in the United States. Requirements that are not followed violate the legal status of the individual visa holder. Upon violation, the visa holder is considered to be “out of status.”

Failure to maintain legal status according to your visa regulations can result in arrest, and may require violators to leave the United States. Violation of status may also affect a person’s readmission to the United States for a period of time.

On-Campus Student Employment

Visa regulations state that international students with an F-1 visa may work a maximum of 20 hours per week when school is in session. During break periods or when school is not in session, full-time work is permitted. International students with an F-1 visa may work on or off-campus under certain conditions.
Off-campus employment must be approved and requires the Form I-20 and a valid EAD card issued by the USCIS.

Obtaining a Social Security Number

Students should submit completed paperwork for a Social Security Number to the Office of Global Education as soon as possible. In order to apply for a Social Security Card, students must first be hired for a job on-campus. Once a student has been hired for a job on-campus, the student will need to obtain an employment verification letter from the Student Employment office. The employment verification letter must accompany the Social Security Card Application. Students may begin working on-campus once all of the necessary Social Security paperwork has been submitted.

Upon receiving a Social Security number, the student must notify both Office of Global Education and the Student Employment office. The student must take the Social Security Card to the Student Employment office for employment eligibility verification and in order to update the Form I-9. A student will not receive a pay check until the Student Employment office receives the Social Security number and completes employment eligibility verification.

Requesting an Employment Verification Letter for the Social Security Administration

In order to request a verification letter the student must email the following information to the Student Employment Office (stuemp@dickinson.edu):

1. Full Name exactly as it appears on Visa Documentation.
2. The name of the hiring department.
3. The name of the immediate supervisor.
4. The name of the position. (Job title)
5. The date work will begin. (Start Date)
6. Number of hours per week (approximate).

Upon receiving the information, the Student Employment office will prepare the Employment Verification Letter within 48 hours. The letter will be forwarded directly to the Office of Global Education.

Work Hours

F-1 visa holders may work a maximum of 20 hours per week when school is in session, and full-time during break periods or when school is not in session. It is the responsibility of the student to monitor their number of hours each week so that they do not exceed 20 hours. F-1 visa holders are considered to be “out of status” if their work exceeds 20 hours per week while school is in session. Working improperly is a serious violation of your status.

International Students on an F-1 visa, who work greater than 20 hours per week, will be referred to the Office of Global Education, and are subject to termination from their employment and may lose their right to work on-campus.