<p>Hello, this does not concern me, but just really intrigued me since in NY, schools usually have a large number of internationals. I was wondering, how a student on a student vida (F1 ?)goes about finding a job to pay for college? A close friend of mine from high school says that his visa does not allow him to work outside of the institution that he attends. So, if you are not allowed to work, how would an international student pay for a private university like NYU, vassar, etc. Is it the case that student is supposed to leave the US after the completion of his/her degree? If yes, it just seems like a big financial burden and detrimental decision since in most countries, oos or full tuition would take a long time to be covered. Or perhaps I am wrong and the student is able to enter the us job market after all?</p>
<p>It's confusing. From my understanding, under US federal law students holding a student visa can work for a maximum of 15 or 20 hours a week during school term and up to 40 out of school. But then, some school websites like you say, say that one cannot pursue job outside of campus. Regardless, a lot of schools do have some sort of scheme for intl's to work on campus.</p>
<p>You may work up to 20 hours a week ON-CAMPUS while school is in session and up to 40 hours (on-campus) during breaks.
You may usually not work off-campus unless you meet one of the following three requirements:
(1) You may work off-campus for up to 12 months if it is part of your college studies and you receive credit for it ("curricular practical training").
(2) You may request to work off-campus for 12 months in addition to (1) as "optional practical training" starting no sooner than after your first year of college and no later than 60 days after graduation.
(3) If you can prove that you are experiencing an UNFORESEEN financial hardship (e.g. if your parents get unemployed) you may apply for a regular working visa to work off-campus. The requirements to get this permission are said to be really really tough.</p>
<p>But from what I've heard it shouldn't be too hard to find a job somewhere on campus at most residential colleges (e.g. for dining services or as a tutor of your native language). But these jobs do not pay well in most cases (somewhere from $6 - $10 per hour).</p>
<p>the student would still have to work in his/her country to pay any debts after the completion of studies, correct?</p>
<p>As I already said, you may work up to twelve months after graduation via optional practical training, and after that you might apply for a regular working visa in the US. Alternatively, you can also go back to your home country or anywhere else to pay off your debts.</p>
<p>b@r!um said, "Alternatively, you can also go back to your home country or anywhere else to pay off your debts".</p>
<p>to pay off your DEBTS? so u mean int can get a loan?
I am an int student, and I am about to transfer to UC Berkeley but my big concern is a money. it cost for about 40k per year to live and study at UC Berkeley. I dont want my parents spent that much money for me and I think 40k per year it's too expensive for them.</p>
<p>But If I can get a loan that would be great.</p>
<p>Please tell me more about that,</p>
<p>Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>You can get a loan, but student loans in the US always require a co-signer who is US-citizen. But you can get a loan from your home country of course.</p>
<p><a href="2">QUOTE</a> You may request to work off-campus for 12 months in addition to (1) as "optional practical training" starting no sooner than after your first year of college and no later than 60 days after graduation.
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I was recently told that there have been changes to this policy and it is no longer allowed to do OPT during college attendence but only after graduation. Or that the USCIS simply doesn't allow students to do this during college anymore.</p>
<p>Does anybody know something about this? Anyone here who recently applied for OPT?</p>
<p>ooh ok! that's great</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I don't know about that new OPT rule. The latest information that I have are that you are allowed to work part-time with OPT when school is in session, and full-time during breaks and after graduation. Well, I don't really care, I was going to save my OPT until after graduation anyway ;-)
And concerning the loans: True, in most cases you need an American co-signer. But some colleges give out loans directly to international students as part of their financial aid packages. I've also come across a bank that gives out student loans to international students without an American co-signer; you would "only" need a co-signer (e.g. your parents) from a country that they've got an affiliated bank in. But I can't recall that bank's name right now....</p>
<p>
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I don't know about that new OPT rule. The latest information that I have are that you are allowed to work part-time with OPT when school is in session, and full-time during breaks and after graduation. Well, I don't really care, I was going to save my OPT until after graduation anyway ;-)
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Yeah, that's what i know too. I was just told by someone who asked for this OPT thing a few weeks ago and they told him that it's no longer possible before graduation and that they don't give out SSNs to internationals any longer either.</p>
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But some colleges give out loans directly to international students as part of their financial aid packages.
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Oh right, i wasn't thinking about school specific loans here. There also is a company out there who gives loans to students at certain schools without requiring a co-signer (don't remember the name though).</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
I've also come across a bank that gives out student loans to international students without an American co-signer; you would "only" need a co-signer (e.g. your parents) from a country that they've got an affiliated bank in. But I can't recall that bank's name right now....
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Really? It'd be great if you could look into that again or tell me how you found this bank... Because I thought that i did a pretty thorough search on international loans some time ago but I didn't find anything without a co-signer (except for this school specific company mentioned above).</p>