Student Employment Process for International Students

International students, unlike U.S. citizens, do not go to Student Employment to complete employment paperwork. Instead, international studetns meet with Nancy Colón in the Office of International Taxation (OIT) to complete paperwork and to obtain a Work Release Form.  Please follow the steps laid out below.

International students are restricted by U.S. law to working only 20 hours per week when school is in session and 40 hours per week during school breaks and in the summer. This law is strictly enforced at the University of Richmond. Students who exceed the allowable work hours will be terminated from the student employment system. Please check Student Employment's list of holiday/break maximum work hours.

If an international student obtains a different or an additional on-campus job, the student does not need to revisit OIT.  Once an international student has been approved to work on-campus, the student may work until the date of graduation or the date of the end of their exchange program. 

Hiring Process for International Students -- Steps to Follow

Step #1: Obtain an on-campus job.  The Student Employment Office maintains an online listing of open jobs on campus. Follow the application instructions on this site to apply for and obtain a job.

Step #2:  Once you have been hired for a job, send an e-mail to Nancy Colón in the Office of International Taxation (OIT) to

  • obtain a secure pasworded link to FNIS (Foreign National Information System)
  • set-up a time to meet to complete employment paperwork

Step #3:  Ask you supervisor to email Nancy Colón to let her know that you have been hired for an on-campus job

Step #4:  Visit the Office of International Education to request a letter from Krittika Onsant stating that your visa status allows you to work on-campus

Step #5:  Bring the following required forms and documents to your meeting with Nancy Colón in OIT:

  • Passport
  • Visa
  • I-94 with Customs & Border Protection entry stamp
  • I-20 or DS-2019
  • Letter from Office of International Education permitting work on campus
  • Social Security Card (if available)

Step #6:  Forms to be completed during the meeting with OIT:

  • I-9 Form
  • 20/40 Work Hour Regulation Form
  • W8-BEN (Certificate of Foreign Status) or W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification)
  • SS-5 (Social Security application form, if you currently do not have a social security number)
  • W-4 and VA-4 (federal and state tax forms)
  • Form 8233 (if treaty benefits are allowed). Note: This will be faxed to the IRS by the Office of International Taxation.

Step #7:  Give the Work Release Form, signed by Nancy Colón, to your supervisor