F-1 Visa Questions

[rika60607 215]

Yes, we were paid a stipend, internationals and USCs, equally.

But as far as working on campus goes, to do anything outside of one's GTA/GRA we had to get permission from a university administrator, regardless of when the intending work was going to happen. And her answer was always NO. For example, judging soccer matches for $7/hour during breaks was not allowed to a friend of mine, not even on weekends.

Further, we were expected to be present and doing research during school breaks (40 hours a week, as a minimum) and we were only allowed 2 weeks of vacation a year (taken, obviously, during school breaks when no classes were taken and no teaching was compromised). Tough for international students missing their home and families.

To what extent all this was legal... I am not sure. But do you argue with people who hold your degrees, livelyhood and status in their power

The "duties" that you describe for international students were most likely linked to a GTA or GRA and you would be paid a stipend. Legally, this contract can only allow a F-1 student to be contracted for 20 hours of work a week. This is all that is allowed during school term by immigration. During school breaks, you can work freely on campus for 40 hours a week.

This kind of setup is pretty standard but it sounds like it was not transparent at your school.

Edited March 25, 2011 by rika60607

[missaero 7]

Yes, so how it works is your stipend is paid to you for 20 hours of work. Yes, PhD students frequently put in 40,50,60 hours a week of work but you can ONLY be contracted and paid for 20 hours. I personally work about 50 but my pay is for 20 only through the assistantship. If your school messes this up then you violate the terms of your F-1 visa. Look here http://grads.vt.edu/igss/employment/f-1_work_autho.html

Weekends do not count as "break" for the purposes of working on an F-1 visa. If the judging for soccer was off campus (i.e. not paid for by the university), then no, that work would not be authorized. If it was during the school year (think Fall Semester and Spring Semester) and you are already on an assistantship, it will not be allowed. The only time that kind of work would be allowed is if it was during regular school breaks - spring break, christmas break, thanksgiving etc and it was paid for directly by the university.

[missaero 7]

More info here: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/employment/faq_f_on3.htm

[YozhikandBulochka 3]

Soo...Ive been reading more about this K-1 visa stuff and Ive been wondering...the Service centers are they selected for you at random or is it the one closest to your location? I hope its random and I hope I get california

[Boiler 43,764]

Soo...Ive been reading more about this K-1 visa stuff and Ive been wondering...the Service centers are they selected for you at random or is it the one closest to your location? I hope its random and I hope I get california

Theoretically it is geographical, but they do sometimes re allocate.

[YozhikandBulochka 3]

awesome...note to self....pray to god to get california =)

[Harsh_77 716]

Well, now you heard it

I did not have to pay a dime in tuition fees throughout my grad school experience while being on F-1. I am not special. None of grad students in my department did. The US citizens sometimes chose to work off campus for the summer, because they would make more money that way. Of course, it took away from their research plans and was not encouraged by the faculty. Nobody paid tuition fees. Everyone registered for classes was either teaching or received research assistanship (research was part of the thesis, anyway).

However, we had to get approval for taking any classes outside our department (and it was tough) and international students were not allowed to take on or off campus jobs at all (teaching and research were considered duties, not jobs).

It must really depend on the specialty and on the university.

Just curious what univ did u go to?

[Harsh_77 716]

awesome...note to self....pray to god to get california =)

There is nothing as once center is better over other, today one center can be processing faster, tomm it can be other center.

Where your app goes should not deal maker or breaker.

[Little_My 464]

I think we are on the same page about the employment options and requirements of an F1-student - i.e. on campus jobs allowed. I just had not heard of full tuition being waved at grad schools! Or hadn't come across that.. Live and learn I have been working on campus at my university since my first semester, but for us, instead of getting tuition waved we just get a regular pay check. Then, in addition I have a generous scholarship from my program - but definitely not a full ride.

But basically, information about how an F1 students is working comes from tax information - for example, I am now interning 40 hours a week, but since I am not paid and not getting credits, I don't need authorization for that. Also, when I work for pay, some weeks I actually work 30 hours a week and others 10 hours a week - but my pay stubs show I am paid steadily for 20hrs / week, which is what is allowed with F1.

And yes, it's true that during breaks from school F1 can work full time - though still on campus. And, like I mentioned earlier, for paid work F1 student needs to have authorization which is obtained through the international student services office at your university. Not difficult or hard, but takes a while and getting the SSN can also take 2-3 weeks.