Working whileyou study in the USA.

Unauthorised off-campus work, including cash jobs or freelancing for US clients, can end your F-1 status and affect future visas. Ask your international office before accepting any work outside campus.

F-1 students in their first five calendar years in the US are usually nonresident aliens for tax. They pay federal and most state income tax on wages but are exempt from Social Security and Medicare (FICA) on authorised on-campus, CPT and OPT work; check your payslip and ask your employer to correct wrong deductions.

Every F-1 student files Form 8843 each year, even with no income. If you earned money, you also file Form 1040-NR, usually by mid-April. Under Article 21(2) of the India–US tax treaty, Indian students can generally claim the standard deduction, which ordinary nonresidents cannot. Many universities give free access to nonresident tax software; avoid preparers who file you as a resident.