How to Hire Candidates

You may contact and hire candidates directly. Candidates work under F-1 visas permitting full-time work for 2 years with university authorization.

Fax the offer letter on company letterhead to (641) 470-1346. You may also email the letter as a Word or PDF attachment. Click on the contact name below for the email address. We will promptly issue the work authorization (usually the same day that we receive your offer letter).

The offer letter should include:

• 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
• Form I-94
• Social Security # (SS card says, "Valid for work only with DHS authorization.")

We provide the DHS work authorization from the SEVIS database; Form I-20 (page 3).

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 (page 48). Click here for more info.

From IRS Publication:

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."

Second IRS site titled 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.