TCALC students are allowed to work on campus during their program. TCALC students are not allowed to work off campus. If a TCALC student works off campus, the student will lose their F-1 status.

ON-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT RULES:

  1. You may work at an on-campus job as soon as you arrive to TCALC (no earlier than 30 days before your program begins). You must stop working at any on-campus job when you complete your studies in TCALC.
  2. You must continue to attend all of your scheduled TCALC classes. You cannot skip classes to go to work.
  3. The job is considered "on campus" if the work is located in a Temple University building and provides services to Temple University students
    (​If you find a job and are not sure if it is considered "on campus," please check with the ISSS office before accepting the job.)
    ​Examples:
    • Jobs at stores and restaurants: please see a list of Temple's stores and restaurants here.
    • Student Worker job: This is a job that only Temple students can do. These jobs are located at various offices at Temple. The work usually involves being an office assistant; however, there are also student worker jobs at the Tech Center, libraries, gyms, and computer labs on campus.
  4. You cannot work more than 20 hours per week while you are taking classes.

 

HOW TO APPLY:

  • Student Worker Positions
    For all Temple University student worker positions you must apply online.
    Note: Do not apply for any positions that are for "work-study". Work Study is federally funded financial aid for which international students in F-1 or J-1 status are not eligible.
  • Social Security Number
    When you are offered an on-campus job, you will need to apply for a social security number before you can receive payment for the job (unless you already have a social security number). You are only able to have a social security number if you are working in the U.S.

    To apply for the social security number, you must do the following.

    • Ask your employer to give you a social security letter. Please ask your employer to use the following letter template: Social Security Letter Template
    • After your employer prints and signs the letter, you must bring the letter to the ISSS office for a signature at the bottom of the letter.
    • You must then take the following documents with you to the Social Security Administration to apply:
      1. Most recent I-20/DS-2019
      2. I-94 (you can find this online)
      3. Valid passport
      4. F-1 or J-1 visa
      5. The signed Social Security letter

Below is the address and contact information for the Social Security Administration:

U.S. Social Security Administration:
2 Penn Ctr Ste 2000A
1500 JFK Blvd 20th fl
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Phone number: 1-800-772-1213
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.