International students, employment paperwork & limits

Most international students have not yet worked in the US and must apply for a Social Security Number. They cannot apply for a number until they are formally offered a job and cannot make their application until they are within one month of starting employment.  In order to apply for the Social Security Number, the student needs an employment letter confirming their employment start date and approximate number of hours to be worked weekly and documentation from RISD International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA). Academic Affairs produces the employment letters and delivers them to ISSA once the department assigns the student an assistantship on the department's google spreadsheet. ISSA generates additional documentation needed for the application, including updating SEVIS, the Homeland Security system used to track visas.

The student collects the letter and documentation from ISSA and takes it with their original documents (passport and I-20) to the Social Security Office, 1 Empire Plaza, 6th floor. The student completes the application for a new Social Security Number and requests a receipt.

BEST PRACTICE: Do not assign an incoming international graduate student a job that will start in less than 10 days.

Each new proposed international student employee is sent the following information by Student Employment about the next steps to employment:


Dear NAME,


Welcome to the Student Employment Program! Onboarding is an essential part of starting your student job at RISD. Before you begin your first day of work, you must visit a Student Employment staff member in person to complete the Onboarding process which includes the federally required Form I-9.


Purpose of Form I-9:

The Form I-9 is used to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. All U.S. employers must properly complete Form I-9 for each individual they hire for employment in the United States. This includes citizens and noncitizens. 


First Day of Work: DAY OF WEEK, DATE


On or Before Your First Day of Work

Please use the Qless system to make an appointment with the Student Employment Office to complete your Form I-9. If all appointments are unavailable in Qless we will accept walk-ins!


Our office hours are Monday - Friday from 8:30am - 4:30pm. We are located on the first floor of 20 Washington Place.


Domestic Students: Must bring valid identification from the attached list of I-9 acceptable and original documentation. You can bring either one item from List A or one item from List B and List C. 


International Students: Must apply for a Social Security Number and bring all of documents listed below to your in-person appointment:  


*Reminder: Once you have received your SSN you must make an appointment with the Office of Student Employment where you must bring your original signed Social Security Card. You will not be able to take advantage of your country's tax treaty, if applicable, and your earnings may be taxed at the maximum rate.

The SSN receipt is valid for 90 days only. Students who do not present their original signed SSN card will have their on-campus jobs terminated.


Students that Do Not comply with this process of completing their I-9 Forms on their first day of employment will not be granted permission to work.


If you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you,

the SE Team

RISD Student Employment Office

20 Washington Place. Floor I

Phone: 401-427-6955

Website: RISD Student Employment


Limitations
International students may work a maximum of 20 hours per week (Sunday through Saturday) during periods of enrollment and 40 hours per week during periods of non-enrollment (i.e. summers and holidays). It is extremely important that supervisors monitor the academic-year hours of an international student. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can fine an educational institution for non-compliance and deport an international student, refusing them entry back into the United States for 3 to 10 years. International students must have a United States Social Security number before they begin working. In order to obtain a Social Security #, federal regulations require students holding an F1 visa to provide a written request from International Student and Scholar Services (ISSA).

Internships/Off campus jobs/Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Want to hear more about how to best help your international students navigate employment at RISD, internships, employment in the US after RISD (OPT) and other issues? Contact csacco@risd.edu Kate Sacco, Director, International Student and Scholar Affairs.