International Students and Employment

Getting started

As an international student at CMU, you are eligible to apply for GSA (General Student Assistant) jobs only.

You can view available GSA positions on the Student Employment website by clicking Current Vacant Positions and selecting either Academic Year Jobs or Summer Jobs. Jobs are listed alphabetically by department.

Note: You are not eligible for Work‑Study jobs. These are funded by the U.S. government and reserved for domestic students with financial aid.

Keep checking the website regularly for updates, and don’t hesitate to reach out via email to departments you’re interested in working with.

Once you've been offered a job

Landscape Student Employee sits on John Deere gator Step 1: Get a Work Verification Form
Visit Student Employment Services (Bovee UC 121) to receive your Work Verification Form

Step 2: Have Your Supervisor Complete the Form
Take the form to your new supervisor and ask them to fill it out completely.

Step 3: Using the completed Work Verification Form, request your Employment Letter from International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS).

Requesting an employment letter

Log in to the International Student Portal
Under “Reason for Letter,” choose:
- “To apply for a Social Security Card to begin employment”
Your Employment Letter will be available for pickup in Ronan 330 within:

3 business days during the Fast Process period
Up to 5–7 business days during the Standard Process period

Fast Process (January–March & July–October)	Standard Process (April–June & November–December)
Step 4: Return to Student Employment Services with your: •I-94 •I-20 •Passport •Employment Letter Complete your I-9 paperwork, receive your red Hire Authorization Card, and schedule your appointment with Social Security Administration (SSA) office.	Step 4: Return to Student Employment Services with your: •I-94 •Employment Letter Schedule your Social Security Administration (SSA) appointment only.
Step 5: Return to your supervisor and give them the red Hire Authorization Card.	Step 5: Attend your SSA appointment. Bring: •Employment Letter •I-94 •I-20 •Passport •SSA Application Confirmation 1940 Sweeney Street, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 Social Security Card (SSC) arrives in 10–14 days
Step 6: Attend your SSA appointment. Bring: •Employment Letter •I-94 •I-20 •Passport •SSA Application Confirmation 1940 Sweeney Street, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 SSC arrives in 10–14 days	Step 6: Return to Student Employment Services with your: •SSC •I-94 •I-20 •Passport •Employment Letter Complete your I-9 paperwork and receive the red Hire Authorization Card.
Step 7: Return to Student Employment Services with your new SSC.	Step 7: Return to your Supervisor to hand them the red Hire Authorization Card.

REMEMBER: The maximum number of hours you may work in a week during the Academic Year is twenty (20). This includes hours you work as a Graduate Assistant (GA), if applicable. It is your responsibility to schedule yourself no more than 20 hours per week. During the Summer, you may work as many as forty (40) hours per week. STUDENTS HAVE BEEN SENT HOME FOR VIOLATING THIS WORK HOUR LIMITATION.