International Student Employment
We provide international students with specialized support in a range of areas, including Social Security Number applications and tax treaties between your home country and the United States. See below for details.
Support for international students
At RISD, we understand the unique challenges you face as an international student stepping into a new academic, cultural and work environment. That’s why Student Employment, in collaboration with the staff at International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA), works to ensure that your transition into on-campus employment is seamless and supportive.
Our office is here to help you:
- find an on-campus job.
- apply for a US government-issued Social Security Number (use this Social Security checklist for further help).
- complete necessary employment paperwork like the Federal Form I-94.
- provide tax form assistance (see these instructions for completing international tax forms for more guidance).
- help you navigate our payroll and Workday systems.
Once you begin your on-campus job, our support doesn’t end. We recognize that cultural differences in the workplace can be challenging. Our team is always ready to assist you with any questions, from understanding how to get paid to making your job a transformative experience.
F-1 immigration status info
As an international student with F-1 immigration status, you are authorized to work on campus during your program of study. If you hold another immigration category, you may be eligible to work if you have US employment authorization.
See our quick guide below for key steps to follow before starting an on-campus job.
01
Find a job
First, you will need to find a job either on campus or with a qualified institutional affiliate.
02
Register for courses
To qualify for student employment, you will need to register for a full course of study.
03
Review work permissions
For help understanding your work permissions, you can review ISSA’s employment guide.
If you need any additional assistance, you can reach out to us at studentemployment@risd.edu or ISSA at issa@risd.edu
04
Obtain work authorization, if required.
05
Complete your I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification
You are responsible for completing the federally required I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form. To complete your I-9, please use Penji to make an appointment with our office.
International Students need to bring the following original documentation to our office in order to complete the I-9:
- an unexpired foreign passport
- printed I-94 (most recent)
- original I-20
- your Social Security Card, or
- a receipt from the Social Security Office confirming that you have completed and submitted an application for an SSN card.
06
Apply for a Social Security Number (SSN)
If you don't already have an SSN, follow the links below for application guidelines:
Social Security Number Checklist
ISSA Guide: International Student Social Security Numbers
07
Understand your US income tax obligations
International students must file taxes in the US even if you have not earned any income. The form you must complete depends on whether you earned income during the year, the type of income you received and the length of time you have been physically present in the US, among other factors.
You can get a discount code from ISSA for Sprintax, a tax filing platform. Sprintax can help you determine your "resident" or "nonresident" status for tax purposes, as well as help with processing and submitting your tax forms. For tax purposes, “residence” is defined based on the Substantial Presence Test (SPT), which is independent of your immigration classification.
The software is generally available in February. We email current students and students on optional practical training (OPT) with information on how to register and use our discount codes. For more information about federal taxes, visit irs.gov. For Rhode Island tax information, visit tax.ri.gov.
Tax treaty information
If your country of origin has a tax treaty with the US, then a portion of your earnings may be eligible for tax exemption.
You can schedule an appointment with us to run a tax treaty analysis that will determine if you are eligible for tax treaty benefits. You must bring the following documentation with you to the appointment:
- original, signed social security card.
- original, signed passport.
- original I-20.
- print out of your I-94.
If your country has a tax treaty with the US and you have passed the Substantial Presence Test (SPT), we will notify Payroll, who will ensure that your earnings are taxed appropriately. In March, Payroll will send you a Form 1042-S, which is a statement of earnings for international students who have declared a tax treaty.
If you need to update the address where you wish to receive your form, you must submit the address change to Payroll by January. Please email Payroll with the subject line "Address Change for Upcoming 1042-S" and include your full legal name, RISD ID number and new address.
Visit ISSA's guide to F-1 employment
For more information, visit International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA) guide to F-1 employment for international students.