International Students and Employment

Getting started

Landscape Student Employee sits on John Deere gator

As an international student at Central Michigan University, you are eligible to apply for General Student Assistant, GSA, positions.

All available GSA opportunities are posted in Career Central, CMU’s official student employment platform. Your student account is automatically created, so you can log in using your CMU credentials and begin exploring open positions right away.

Please note that Work-Study positions are not available to international students. Work-Study roles are funded through U.S. federal financial aid and are reserved for eligible domestic students.

We encourage you to check Career Central regularly, as new positions are added throughout the semester. If you have questions about eligibility, the student employment process, or need assistance accessing your Career Central account, Student Employment Services is here to help.

Once you've been offered a job

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).

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.