On-Campus Work Rules and Pay for Canadian Students on F-1 Status
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Jul 11, 2026 • Visas & Student Mobility, Canadians Studying Abroad
F-1 students work on campus without extra authorization: up to 20 hours a week while classes are in session, full-time during official school breaks, and Social Security and Medicare tax generally do not apply to those wages.
💵 No separate work permit needed for on-campus jobs, only your valid F-1 status and I-20.
20-hour weekly cap during fall and spring terms; more allowed during official breaks and summer if you continue the following term.
A Social Security Number (SSN) is required to get paid, applied for once you have a job offer.
F-1 students are generally exempt from FICA (Social Security and Medicare) tax on these wages while a nonresident alien for tax purposes.
What counts as on-campus work
On-campus employment covers jobs physically located on your school's campus, such as library assistant roles, research positions, dining hall work, or a role in an academic department. It also covers work for a commercial firm that provides direct services to students on campus, like a campus bookstore or food vendor, as long as the job supports the student body rather than the general public. Details sit on the Study in the States on-campus employment page .
You do not need separate authorization
Your F-1 status and valid, unexpired I-20 already authorize on-campus work. You do not file anything with USCIS or wait for a separate work permit before you start an on-campus job, unlike CPT or OPT. Check with your international student office about your school's own hiring process, since some campuses want you to confirm your F-1 status with them before your first paycheck.
Hour limits
| Period | Hour limit |
|---|---|
| Fall and spring terms, while classes are in session | Up to 20 hours a week |
| Summer, if you continue the following fall term | Full-time allowed |
| Summer, if it is your first or final term | Up to 20 hours a week |
| Official school breaks, winter break, reading week | Full-time allowed |
The 20-hour cap applies across all your on-campus jobs combined, not per job. Hold two part-time campus roles, and your total hours across both still cannot pass 20 a week during term time.
Getting paid: the Social Security Number
You need a Social Security Number (SSN) to receive on-campus wages. Apply once you have an actual job offer, since the Social Security Administration wants proof of employment before issuing one to an F-1 student. Your international student office usually gives you a letter confirming your job to support the application.
Tax treatment: FICA exemption
F-1 students working authorized on-campus jobs, CPT or OPT are generally exempt from FICA tax, covering Social Security and Medicare, on those wages while remaining a nonresident alien for US tax purposes. The IRS sets out this exemption for nonimmigrant students on its foreign student tax page . Federal and state income tax still apply as normal, and your employer withholds those the same way as for any employee.
Most Canadian students stay nonresident aliens for tax purposes for their first five calendar years in the US on F-1 status. If your payroll office withholds FICA tax by mistake, ask your school's tax office or international student office how to request a correction from your employer or a refund from the IRS.
What on-campus work does not do
On-campus work does not use up your CPT or OPT eligibility, since it runs on a separate authorization basis tied directly to your enrollment. It also does not require your job to relate to your field of study, unlike CPT and OPT. A student in a biology program works at the campus library or a front desk with no connection to their major.
Practical tips for Canadian students
Apply for campus jobs through your school's student employment office as soon as you arrive, since popular positions fill fast
Keep a record of your hours each week if you hold more than one campus job, so you do not pass 20 hours by accident
Ask your payroll office directly whether FICA was withheld on your first paycheck, and fix it early rather than waiting for tax season
Remember that on-campus wages count as US-source income, which affects your annual US tax filing even though you file as a nonresident