International Employment FAQs

International students first must be enrolled in a full course of study, maintaining valid status, activated in SEVIS by the International Office advisors, and in possession of original immigration documentation to prove employment eligibility in the USA. International students must also have a valid, original U.S. social security card for employment and payroll purposes. If the student does not yet have a U.S. social security card, then an official SSA receipt letter is required to be obtained by the student from SSA office. The SSA receipt letter should evidence the acceptance and approval of the student’s application for the card.

The hiring department is required to prepare an International Hire Request and submit it to the Office of Human Resources, attn: Director of International Employment and Taxation, for review and approval before work may begin.

During the school sessions of Fall and Spring semesters, if you are maintaining valid status and activated in SEVIS you may work on campus for a maximum of 20 hours per week, inclusive of all jobs combined (i.e., University, Dining Services, Bookstore, etc.). During official school holidays and summer break, if you are maintaining valid status you may work a maximum of 28 hours per week for the University. See below for available dates.

F-1 and J-1 student employees are eligible to work on-campus while attending classes. The work does not need to be related to their field of study. They must maintain legal F-1 or J-1 status while engaging in on-campus employment. Employment is limited to 20 hours a week while school is in session. International students maintaining legal F-1 or J-1 status may work a maximum of 28 hours per week for the University when school is not in session or during the annual vacation (summer).

On-campus employment must either be performed on Clemson University premises, (including on-location commercial firms which provide services for students on campus and are located in a university owned building, such as the university bookstore, Barnes & Noble, and university dining halls for which ARAMARK provides staffing, including campus restaurants such as Subway, Chick-fil-A, etc., OR at an off-campus location which is educationally affiliated with the university, such as the CU-ICAR campus, Clemson at ONE in Greenville, University Center of Greenville, etc.

Additionally, it is important to note that on-campus employment includes work done as a teaching or research assistant, graduate grading assistant, graduate lab assistants, and graduate student hourly, as well as jobs in the university library, laboratories and administrative offices.

Employment with on-site commercial firms, such as a construction company that is building a university building, which do not provide direct student services, is not deemed on-campus employment.

In the case of off-campus locations, the educational affiliation must be associated with the university’s established curriculum or related to contractually funded research projects at the post-graduate level. In any event, the employment must be an integral part of the student's educational program.

Off-campus employment for International students must be approved through the Office of International Affairs.

The Internal Applicant Job Board has job announcements for Clemson University faculty and staff. At the log-in page, enter your Clemson user ID, which is the first part of your email address before the @, and then enter your password. You will then be able to view the job announcements.

An International student may not work during the 60 day grace period following completion of a course of study, except under the following conditions: (a) The student has been issued a new SEVIS form I-20 to begin a new program of study at Clemson University beginning on the next academic session, or (b) The student has received an Employment Authorization Card from DHS/USCIS for Optional Practical Training in the field of study, and the starting work date as stated on the card has been reached. In either case (a) or (b), the hiring department will prepare a new International Hire Request and submit it for review and approval to the Director of International Employment and Taxation, Office of Human Resources. The student employee will schedule an appointment with the Office of Human Resources to complete the necessary changes in employment eligibility and related tax areas.

For students transferring to another school from Clemson University, the last possible employment date at Clemson University is the day prior to the transfer release date.

For students transferring in to Clemson University from another school, the student must first meet all requirements for on campus employment. Your SEVIS record at Clemson University must also be activated. See question/answer above.

F1 students may work on campus only at the school which issued the SEVIS I-20. Students who are out of status are not eligible to work on campus until reinstated.

The official Clemson University workweek begins at 12:00 a.m. on Sunday and runs for seven consecutive days (168 hours) through Saturday at 11:59 p.m.

The normal office hours for Clemson University are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. An employee’s normal work hours follow this schedule and include a one-hour lunch break between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., unless the employee is informed otherwise by an authorized supervisor. Any deviation from this schedule must be approved in advance in writing by an authorized supervisor.

Yes, for more information on what you need to do, access the International Services webpage. Then, scroll down the page to the “Travel and Visas” section and click on this header. The information will then display.

Once you re-enter the United States, a new I-94 form will be created, you will need to retrieve it by visiting the I-94 site. A scan or copy of this form needs to be sent to the Office of Human Resources at intlemployment@clemson.edu to update your tax and employment record.

Most international students, scholars and employees will have to file some type of official tax form with the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) even if the individual received no income. If you are an international student, scholar or employee who received income, you will likely have to file both federal and state income tax returns.

Learn how income earned is determined and other important information.

• Access the Appointment Scheduling Site
• Choose the service you need.
• Choose an appointment date.
• Choose an appointment time.
• Enter your personal/ contact information. Please include (in the Special Request box) a brief description of the issue you wish to discuss.
• Review and confirm your appointment.

You will receive a 1042-S form for the earnings deemed exempt by a treaty. If you did not exceed your treaty limit, you will receive only a 1042-S form. If you exceeded your treaty limit, you will receive both a 1042-S form and a W-2 form. 1042-S forms will be issued annually during early February.

Please contact International Employment at intlemployment@clemson.edu in the event that you:

• Would like to receive your 1042-S electronically through our Foreign National Information System (FNIS) but must submit your request, or
• Have questions about your 1042-S form.

Nonresident aliens for tax purposes:

Generally, you are only allowed to claim ‘Single with 1 allowance’. If you are updating your W-4 through HR Self-service, our system will only let you select ‘Single’ with 0 or 1 personal allowance. If you are completing a paper W-4 form, you will need to complete line 1 and 2. Check the single box regardless of your actual marital status for box 3. Generally, you can only claim up to 1 personal allowance, so enter 1 (the number one) on line 5. Write “NRA” ;on the dotted line. Sign and date the form. Further instructions are provided through the Internal Revenue Service Supplemental Form W-4 Instructions for Nonresident Aliens.

Resident aliens for tax purposes:

You can update your W-4 form through HR Self-service. The paper W-4 form includes instructions on how to complete the form and how to determine how many personal allowances you should document.

If you need to determine your status (nonresident alien or a resident alien) for tax purposes, please email International Employment at intlemployment@clemson.edu or visit our Tax Information website.