International student work rules relaxed

Changes to student visa rules for international students mean that students can now work part-time without their professor’s permission. Before the changes professors could restrict students from working. Students studying on D-2 visas are still required to inform their assistant professor or higher of their part-time work. D-4-1 visas holders must inform the director of their language center, although they must have held their visa for six months before commencing work. Undergraduate students are able to work up to 20 hours a week and postgraduate students up to 30 hours a week. Students are only eligible to work “non-professional” positions, including: translators/interpreters, restaurant staff, sales clerks, office assistants, staff at foreign language camps and tour guides. Students must be suitably qualified for the position and domestic laws must be followed requiring hiring. Students are also now able to change workplaces during their visa validity period and this must be done by reporting to the local immigration office within 15 days of the change. There are cases where students may not be judged fit to work, such as when their attendance rate for the semester is 70 percent or lower or their GPA is C (2.0) or lower. Students are also limited to two workplaces per year of sojourn and if the student does not properly inform the university of their work situation, including workplace and hours, or if changes are not reported, permission to work will not be extended. 23 Jan'2014 http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=3822