To receive an assistantship, students must first establish an academic record for at least one semester at USC and then compete for a position. All assistantships are awarded by the appropriate academic department based upon available funding, strength of the student s USC academic record, and existing financial need. This type of employment opportunity is available to those students whose major fields of study require an off-campus internship which affords a salary to participants. This type of employment does not require Immigration and Naturalization Service approval, or a formal work permit It does require, however, a recommendation by a student s academic advisor and the International Student Advisor. Other conditions must be met as well.
Several restrictions apply in both opportunities.
In either case, a student must be in good F-1 student status for at least one academic year prior to beginning the application process. For those students experiencing unforeseen economic crisis, an application can be made to the Immigration and Naturalization Service requesting permission to work off-campus based on such sudden circumstances. Again, all students must have been in good F-1 status student status minimally one year prior to submitting the application requesting a formal work permit. Securing a position on or off campus cannot be guaranteed and is subject to existing Immigration laws.