Employment

Working in the United States

You may want to work while you are in the United States—either to gain experience in your field of study, or simply to earn some money.

When and where you may work depends on your immigration status and where you are in your academic program.

F-1 students need authorization for most categories of work. J-1 students need authorization for any type of employment.

How do I find a job?

IU has several resources to help you find a job—on or off campus:

Job fairs—The Career Development Center (CDC) and other offices sponsor job fairs at various times during the year.
Classified ads—The Indiana Daily Student (IDS) newspaper lists jobs in its classified section. Look for hourly, on-campus jobs (unless you qualify for off-campus employment).
Academic departments—Many IU departments and offices fill their open positions directly (rather than listing their job opportunties with the CDC). Contact your academic unit and professors for possible job openings.
University employers—You can contact different offices at IU that employ many students to ask if they have openings. Some potential on-campus employers include:
- Residence halls (cafeterias, center stores, etc.)
- Indiana Memorial Union (many different positions)
- Wells Library and school libraries
- Museums
- Recreational sports (referees, supervisors, etc.)

To remain in status, it is extremely important that you follow the federal regulations regarding employment. It is a serious violation of your legal status to work without authorization.

Employment options for F-1 students

If you are an F-1 student, there are four categories of employment available to you:

Each type of employment has restrictions and limitations. Learn about your responsibilities, and contact an OIS advisor if you have questions.

Employment options for J-1 students

If you are a J-1 student, you have three categories of employment authorization available to you:

As a J-1 student, your dependents are also eligible to receive employment authorization.

Each type of employment has restrictions and limitations. Learn about your responsibilities and contact an OIS advisor if you have questions.

This information is intended for J-1 students in the Indiana University J program. If you are a J-1 student but your DS-2019 is issued by an agency or institution other than Indiana University, you must contact your program sponsor to gain authorization for on-campus work or for Academic Training.

Finding employment after you graduate

If you want to find a job after graduating from IU, the IU Immigration Bridge Program can help you get an offer by making the visa process easier for potential employers. You can begin the bridge program once you have a solid job opportunity in the U.S.