On-Campus Employment

Intensive ESL students on the F-1 visa are allowed to work part-time (up to 20 hours per week), on campus only. If you are interested in part-time employment at UCEDA, please ask the Program Director to be notified of any current or future on-campus employment opportunities that may be available.

Off-Campus Employment

Under federal law, F-1 students enrolled in an Intensive English Program are not authorized to work off-campus. However, there can be an exception for severe Economic Hardship or special emergent circumstances. If you experience unforeseen Economic Hardship caused by circumstances beyond your control, you may apply for off-campus employment authorization. These circumstances may include a loss of financial sponsorship, unexpected changes in the financial condition of your sponsor, substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rate, inordinate increases in tuition and/or living costs, medical bills, or other substantial and unexpected expenses. You can apply for employment based on severe economic hardship only if:

• You have been in F-1 status for one full academic year
• You are in good academic standing and are taking a full course load
• Employment will not interfere with your studies
• You can demonstrate with sufficient documentation that employment is necessary to avoid severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond your control

Employment under Economic Hardship can only be part time when school is in session, and can be full-time during vacations and holidays. You cannot begin work until the Department of Homeland Security approves your case and issues you an EAD (Employment Authorization Document). Please schedule an appointment with the International Student Services Office if you think you may qualify for Economic Hardship.

Questions About Regulations

F-1 students must comply with certain federal laws and regulations when seeking employment in the United States. Answers to frequently asked questions about on- and off-campus employment is available at ice.gov/sevis/employment

Filing Taxes

U.S. income tax regulations are quite complex. The federal tax system is administered by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) and, in addition, each state has its own regulations and forms.

F-1 students are generally considered “nonresident aliens” (NRA) for federal tax purposes. Nonresidents must file a nonresident tax return. Do not file a resident tax return if you are not eligible! 

Use Sprintax to determine whether you are a nonresident or resident for federal tax purposes. Sprintax is a nonresident tax preparation software designed for international students, alumni, scholars, and their dependents. Watch their short video about residency section on YouTube.

Remember to read the detailed mailing instructions that Sprintax provides, and mail by the deadline:

• April 15, 2026 if you have a tax return reporting income.
• June 15, 2026 if you had no income and your 8843 is the only form you are obligated to file.