Employment
F-1 Students
F-1 students are permitted to work on campus without special authorization.
During the fall and spring semesters, you may work up to 20 hours per week.
During official university breaks (such as summer or winter break), you may work up to 40 hours per week.
Be sure that any job is on campus and that your I-20 and enrollment remain valid while you work.
J-1 Students
J-1 students must receive written authorization from the Office of International Programs (OIP) before beginning any on-campus employment.
During the fall and spring semesters, you may work up to 20 hours per week.
During official university breaks, you may work up to 40 hours per week once you have your OIP work permit.
How to Request Work Authorization:
Log in to eoip.um.maine.edu using your MaineStreet credentials.
Go to Current Student Services.
Select J-1 Student On-Campus Work Permit Request.
OIP will review your request and email your work permit to you once approved.
Graduate Students
If you hold a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (TA) or Research Assistantship (RA), this counts as 20 hours of on-campus work per week.
Because of this workload limit, you may not accept additional employment during the semester while your assistantship is active.
Intensive English Students
If you are enrolled in the Intensive English Institute (IEI), your session breaks may differ from the university’s regular academic calendar.
Before working full time (up to 40 hours per week) during a break, check with an International Student Advisor at OIP to confirm that your break qualifies as an official vacation period.
Academic Training
Academic Training (AT) is employment integral to an exchange visitor’s academic program which may occur during and/or after the completion of studies. Such training may include, but is not limited to: internships, practica, and field work.
Requirements for Authorization
- Your form DS2019 must be unexpired
- You must be in good academic standing
- You must participate in AT that is directly related to your field of studies
- You must have a firm offer of employment before completion of studies
- You must begin the AT within 30 days of the completion of your studies
- You must receive written approval, in advance, from your J-1 sponsor (which ever school or program issued your DS2019)
To apply for Academic Training Authorization (University of Maine sponsored students only)
- After obtaining an offer of employment meet with your academic adviser to be sure that he/she supports the work experience. Provide your adviser with a full description of the job including: the name and address of your company, your supervisor’s name, your dates of employment, your salary and a summary of the tasks you will be responsible for.
- Log in to eoip.um.maine.edu using your MaineStreet credentials.
- Go to Current Student Services.
- Select Academic Training Request and complete the form. The form will be routed to your academic advisor for approval and then to OIP.
- OIP will review your request and email your updated DS2019 showing AT approval once approved.
- Do not begin working until you have received a new DS2019 and authorization letter.
If you are under the sponsorship of an outside organization, such as IIE, you must contact your organizations adviser to discuss the AT application process.
Click here to sign up for a virtual AT workshop, on one of those dates:
Dates for the Spring 2026 semester have not been announced.
Severe Economic Hardship
Both F-1 and J-1 students may be eligible for off campus work authorization which is necessary because of serious, urgent and unforeseen economic circumstances that have arisen since acquiring F-1 or J-1 student status. For J-1 students this authorization is issued by OIP and is for a specific job. F-1 students must file an application with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and if approved will be eligible to work for any employer. There are many factors to consider when applying for Severe Economic Hardship work authorization. Please make an appointment with your OIP adviser before applying to decide whether or not this is right for you.
For more information on F-1 and J-1 Severe Economic Hardship visit this site.
Employment Resources
On-campus
To explore employment opportunities on campus please visit the Student Employment website. Please note that international students are not eligible to accept any positions designated as “Work-Study”.
Off-campus
The University of Maine’s Career Center is an excellent place to search for jobs and internships. Be sure to check out Going Global, a search engine that offers access to international career resources including world-wide job openings, internship listings, industry profiles, and country-specific career information. The Career Center also has many other important resources such as career counseling, resume writing workshops, and programs to connect you with UMaine alumni working in your field.
Employer’s Guide to hiring international students
Share this valuable resource with potential employers to explain CPT, OPT and various options for work authorization after F-1.