How to Hire Candidates
What to Provide and Expect
You may contact and hire candidates directly. Candidates work full-time for up to 2 years under University employment authorization.
Once a student receives an offer, they will send it to Career Services and this will initiate the hiring process. Your company will receive a Coop Agreement to sign for CPT and that is the only action needed from the company.
Ease of Hiring
Job title, work description, start date, term of employment, location, and salary.
Address, fax number, and phone number of headquarters of employer.
If different, the address that the employee will be working at (or name of client company, city, state).
Other information employer wants to include such as benefits, etc.
Name, phone number, email address of person who would monitor performance of employee.
Candidates can provide the following as proof of employment eligibility:
Passport (unexpired).
Form I-94 (showing entry into the U.S.).
We provide the DHS work authorization from the SEVIS database: Form I-20 (page 2). If needed, you may make your offer letter contingent on receiving the I-20, page 2 work authorization.
Other information employer wants to include such as benefits, etc.
For I-9 purposes, the above three documents are required. See: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/742-f-1-and-m-1-nonimmigrant-students
Note: Candidates cannot work corp to corp or 1099; only as W-2 employees.
FICA Tax Exemption (Social Security and Medicare)
F-1 visa holders are exempt from FICA taxes. Supporting documentation can be found in IRS Publication # 519, Chapter 8.Click here for more info.
From IRS Publication Linked Above:
Section on Students and Exchange Visitors- Nonresident Alien Students
"Students in 'F-1' status may be permitted to participate in a curricular practical training program that is an integral part of an established curriculum. Curricular practical training includes work/study programs, internships, and cooperative education programs. In this case, the educational institution endorses the Form I-20. Social security and Medicare taxes are not withheld from pay for this work unless the student is considered a resident alien."
Additional IRS Website Info:
Alien Liability for Social Security and Medicare Taxes
Under section Nonresident aliens, bullet point F-visas, are these sub-bullet points about students temporarily in the U.S. who are exempt on wages paid to them for services performed within the U.S.
Off-campus student employment allowed by USCIS.
Practical Training student employment on or off campus.