Visa Types & Work Eligibility

On-Campus Employment

As an international student in the United States, you might be considering an on-campus job and working part-time at Texas A&M University. This is a great way to supplement your expenses while gaining valuable professional development. There are many opportunities to work on campus. Some are academic positions within departments, such as research assistantships, teaching and grader positions. There are also jobs with non-academic units on campus, such as web developer, intramural referee, office assistant, student technician, and data analyst. Having United States job experience even though it’s on-campus might be attractive to some of your employers, especially if your on-campus job is relevant to the job/internship you are applying to.

• Visit the ISSS website for on-campus employment requirements for F-1 and J-1 visas.
• On-Campus jobs can be found by using the Jobs for Aggie’s portal.

On-Campus Jobs

Internships/Co-op (CPT)

An internship/co-op helps you gain valuable relevant experience working full-time for a company or organization during your academic program. Internship experiences allow you to build connections within a company and can make you very competitive for a full-time job after graduation. As an international student, you are eligible to pursue an internship using Curricular Practical Training (CPT) with a F-1 visa, or Academic Training with a J-1 visa.

• Review off-campus employment requirements for F-1 and J-1 visas on the ISSS website.
• Additionally, you maybe able to volunteer to help a professor or a non-profit organization with a project to gain experience. Catchafire is a non-profit organization that has volunteer opportunities year around to help you with getting real-world experience.

Find Volunteer Opportunities

Full time (H1-B, OPT)

The on-campus recruiting process begins earlier than you might think! Companies at fall career fairs are recruiting students for positions starting the following summer. Starting your search early for a full-time job will give you the greatest employment opportunities. It generally takes longer to find an employer who will sponsor employees who need work visas, so the sooner you start, the better it is.

• Review the ISSS website to keep track of rules and regulations that affect your employment status in the United States both during your degree program and after you graduate.