Hiring and Supervising International Students

Hiring and Supervising International Students

Kathleen Hurley and Leigh Myers

Wake Forest University Benson University Center ACUI Region III, November 2023

The Why

Gives them marketable experience for jobs in the US and abroad

A unique way to get involved on campus

Student employees can reflect the diversity of the student body

Can help the university be more attractive to international students

Contributes to sense of belonging for student employees and student body

Helps American students grow and learn cultural humility

WFU Undergraduate Enrollment by Geographic Origin 2022-2023

Benson Student Employees by Geographic Origin 2023-2024

Countries represented at WFU

90%

is visual

Hiring Process for International Students

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Obtain a formal offer letter from supervisor

Fill out Foreign National Information Form

Collect necessary documentation to apply for SSN

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Hiring Process for International Students

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Supervisor starts hiring process with HR (WFU Workday)

Fill out non-resident tax forms (8233) with the Payroll office

Request a Social Security Letter from institution (at WFU this is through the Center for Immigration Services and Support)

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Hiring Process for International Students

Step 7

Step 8

Step 9

Student can begin work! Students can work for up to 30 days while waiting for Social Security Card. As soon as the Social Security Card arrives, the student must take it to Human Resources to complete I -9.

Take an in person trip to local Social Security Office with all necessary documentation

Take the receipt from the Social Security Office to Human Resources and begin to fill out the I-9

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Questions and Things We've Learned

What about the budget? And Federal Work Study?

Paying attention to global politics and campus response

Navigating given vs. chosen names

Value of one-on-one training and follow up

Supervising/training students with a language barrier

Profile

Quotes from our team

Since I got an SSN from this job, I was able to apply for credit cards and build my credit score, so very helpful also from a living perspective!

I have more sense of belonging

Other places on campus usually prioritize non-international students (e.g., the library) and/or they need special skills that I do not possess (e.g., gym positions)

I feel more engaged in this community

I got to learn about the "vibe" in a work environment in the U.S., and I was able to improve my communication skills, verbally and in writing.

Profile

I think most of the time people just treat me like a normal student instead of "an international student", which makes the work place inclusive; and most of my co-workers greet each other, so it's a really good working environment.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR SSN APPLICATION: ❏ Passport ❏ F-1 or J-1 Visa Stamp (except Canadian citizens) ❏ I-94 record (http://cbp.gov/i94) ❏ Form I-20 (F1) or Form DS-2019 (J1) ❏ Letter from WFU ISS Office/Program Sponsor verifying student and employment status. Request online: http://global.wfu.edu/iss/ssn/ ❏ Offer letter from employer (this should include salary, supervisor name, department, your job title, and brief duties. (The letter should be printed on department/company letterhead) ❏ Completed application form (SS-5): https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf