Can an international undergrad student, with F1 visa, work off-campus while staying on-campus ?
As far as I know, no
There are a few (limited) options to work off campus legally while on an F-1 visa.
- You can apply for CPT (Curricular Practical Training) for internships that are "an integral component" of your program of study. In practice, this means internships for college credit, or internships required for your degree or a license you are pursuing.
- After your first year of study, you can apply for OPT (Optional Practical Training) to work an off-campus job related to your program of study, part-time while classes are in session or full-time during breaks. The word "related" gets interpreted very generously and would allow e.g. a physics major to do a consulting internship, but you cannot use it to work as a barista at Starbucks (well, maybe if you were studying hospitality). Your total OPT time is limited to 12 months of full-time work (or 24 months part-time), unless you qualify for a STEM extension.
- After your first year of study, if your financial circumstances change due to events unforeseen and beyond your control, you can apply for a "severe economic hardship" work permit that would allow you to work any job off campus, even as a Starbucks barista. Circumstances that may qualify are e.g. the death of a parent or a dramatic change in currency exchange rates.
Can a student work in a restaurant outside campus that while residing on-campus ?
If the restaurant isn’t university-related, no.
Only exception I know is when you study in private institution other than colleges, like English learning school or someting. I heard that under the permission of school you CAN work, but this doesn’t really apply to many people here since the F-1 students who are PARENTS go English learnig school
Even students who are enrolled in an ESL program with an F1 visa would still fall under the same rules. They would need to be studying for a full year before getting a job off campus, and the job would have to be directly related to their studies here except in the emergencies described above.
Could you clarify your question? I am a bit confused that you keep saying “while staying/residing on campus”. Where you live is irrelevant to your authorization to work. But maybe I am misunderstanding your question. Are you asking if you are allowed to work for an off-campus employer if the work is performed on campus? The regulations for that are a bit complicated (it may or may not be classified as on-campus employment) and the international student office at your university can help you figure that out.