Immigration documents and procedures present complicated bureaucratic challenges for non-U.S. students and scholars. Employment opportunities for F-1 and J-1 international students are restricted. A few key things to be aware of:
- Never accept or engage in paid or unpaid off-campus employment, internships, fellowships, or other training without prior authorization from the PennWest Principle Designated School Official(s).
- Learn more about work authorizations, including Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Academic Training (AT).
- Understand your visa status and what types of employment authorizations are available to you in order to clearly communicate your work eligibility to the employer.
As an international student, you may also face additional challenges getting internships and jobs in the U.S. Complex and changing immigration regulations, a lack of clear information about which employers hire international students, and cultural differences will require you to spend additional time and effort to learn about employment policies and practices that may affect you. You may have concerns about whether employers in the U.S. will hire international students. Online research and networking conversations can help you identify organizations that have hired international workers in the past. As you conduct online research to learn more, consider using the resources linked below.
American Culture
If you are new to the U.S., you likely have questions about U.S. workplace culture. One aspect of American culture that may be different from yours is the importance of small talk. See this quora.com Q&A on American culture, which includes some things foreigners find strange about American culture.
Sharing your immigration status
Below are questions we often hear from international students who want to work in the U.S. after graduation.
- Can employers limit their interviewing and hiring to U.S. citizens?
- Sometimes, if citizenship is deemed to be an essential part of the position.
- Should I list my immigration status on my resume?
- You do not need to list your immigration status on your resume. Your educational background and work history will likely indicate that you are an international student. You should never lie about your immigration status, but are not required to disclose it on your resume.
- When in the hiring process do I reveal that I’m an international student?
- Some employers adhere to strict policies against hiring foreign nationals. Others may prefer to hire U.S. citizens, but can be convinced otherwise. It is usually recommended that students wait until an employer asks, but be aware of whether the company has petitioned for visas in the past. If you are being asked to travel for an interview, it would be wise to ask, “Is this a position in which the company is willing to petition for an H1-B as I am currently in F-1 status?”
- Are there questions that are illegal for an employer to ask me?
- An employer MAY NOT ask: “What is your visa type, nationality, place of birth?” or “Of which country are you a citizen?” or “What is your native language?” or “What language do you most often speak?”
- An employer MAY ask: “Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?” or “Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for an employment visa?” or “Which languages do you read, speak or write?” (provided that foreign language skills are job related)
- I am in F-1 status. What should I say when an employer asks about my work authorization?
- Explain that you have the legal right to work in the U.S. for up to twelve months using Optional Practical Training (OPT) following graduation. The employer does not need to do anything in order for this to happen. If you have graduated with a degree in a STEM (Sciences, Tech, Engineering, and Math) field, then share that you are eligible for a 24-month STEM extension of your OPT. If you do not have a degree in a STEM field or if you’ve completed your STEM extension, you should explain that your work authorization may be authorized for another three-to-six years with H-1B status. If the employer asks for more information, you should be able to clearly explain the H-1B process. Helpful hint: Avoid using the word “sponsor,” instead use the word “petition” when speaking about H-1B status.
Employers Hiring International Students & Job Posting Sites
All PennWest students have access to Handshake.
You can find positions in Handshake from employers sponsoring work authorization for international students by selecting ‘jobs’, then ‘filters’ and choosing all/any of the following options:
- Open to US visa sponsorship
- Open to Optional Practical Training (OPT)
- Usually for graduating students on F-1 visa
- Open to Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
- Usually for current students on F-1 visa
- No US work authorization required
My Visa Jobs identifies employment opportunities for foreign nationals who want to live and work in the U.S. and Canada.
The H-1B program allows employers in the United States to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent. Data can be searched by fiscal year, employer name, city, state, zip code, and NAICS code.
Directory of Foreign Firms Operating in the U.S. (and American Firms Operating in Foreign Countries)
