<p>First, I want to say that I am ecstatic to have been admitted to University of Richmond. I am an international student and I received a perfect fin aid package so I would like to show you my extreme happiness right now. However, I know that internships for international students are really hard. I am planning of doing a business major, so I would be glad if someone could elaborate on the opportunities of internships for internationals (paid or unpaid) and the chance of getting recruited after graduation. I've heard it's extremely difficult and I am bit worried about this.</p>
<p>There are two different things to consider: getting an internship during college and getting a job after college.</p>
<p>Visa-wise you are allowed to work up to 12 months off-campus during your undergraduate time ('Optional Practical Training'); that is time that you can use for internships. If you can get course credit for internships you can work an additional 12 months ('Curricular Practical Training'). I have heard that some employers are hesitant to give an internship to international students because they expect you to leave the country once you are done with your degree (so you would not be a potential employee after college) - and even if you want to stay to work you will probably not be able to legally.</p>
<p>I don't have to time to elaborate on this right now, but don't expect to get a working visa straight out of college due to timing issues in the working visa process. Getting a working visa is possible if you graduate at the end of the fall semester instead of the spring and still have at least 9 months of OPT left (which means you can only do 3 months of internships over 4 years - not advisable) or if you go to graduate school for a year first. All of this has not been an issue until recently when the number of working visa issued annually has been decreased significantly. Maybe someone can find a link to a previous post that explains all the issues around getting a working visa in more detail.</p>
<p>It's changed to 29 months.. I haven't exactly read thru the article.. </p>
<p>what does it mean to be highly skilled? Which are the certified schools?</p>
<p>Thanks for the link! That might be good news for many of us. The extended OPT-time seems to apply to F-1 students who are currently in post-completion OPT status and have a Bachelor's degree in one of the following subjects:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Actuarial Science. NCES CIP Code 52.1304
Computer Science: NCES CIP Codes 1 1 .xxxx (except Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications, NCES CIP Codes 1 1 . 0 6 ~ ~ )
Engineering: NCES CIP Codes 14.xxxx
Engineering Technologies: NCES CIP Codes 15.xxxx
Biological and Biomedical Sciences: NCES CIP Codes 26.xxxx
Mathematics and Statistics: NCES CIP Codes 2 7 . m
Military Technologies: NCES CIP Codes 29.xxxx
Physical Sciences: NCES CIP Codes 4 0 . m
Science Technologies: NCES CIP Codes 41 .xxxx
Medical Scientist (MS, PhD): NCES CIP Code 51.1401
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The one drawback is that it involves significantly more paperwork than traditional OPT. Traditionally, your employer did not have to do anything. Now employers have to register with E-Verify and pay a fee to hire student workers on extended OPT status. Also note that the extended OPT period is not "guaranteed" like traditional OPT.</p>
<p>Are there also restrictions on unpaid internships during the summer?</p>
<p>I have heard conflicting opinions on this. Some colleges say that students need to apply for OPT if they are doing an unpaid internship. Others say that if you do not receive any compensation or benefits whatsoever for your work and if it is usually an unpaid position, it is technically not employment but volunteer work and does not require a work authorization. Note that 'compensation and benefits' includes salary, housing, a transportation subsidy, tuition support and even just free lunches or drinks at work, and that "usually an unpaid position" means that you cannot just forego a stipend that is offered to all interns so that you would not have to apply for OPT.</p>
<p>Tromsy,
if you do not get paid, but just work for free and even if they pay for your ticket etc... , you will be working as a volunteer. This is what I am going to do this summer and it won't affect my visa stautus nor the lenght of my OPT or my CPT.</p>
<p>This is how it goes:
Employer might give you a job after you finish your degree because unlike of what bar!um said, you are not expected to leave the country. The Homeland security gives you 12 months to stay after graduation to do your OPT however if you start another degree right after graduation, your OPT will be over. </p>
<p>During school year, you can also do a Curricular Practical training. In order to do so, you will have to do this in a field that is related to your major adn it should be required for your major. Your scholl should also give you the authorization to do so and you will need to apply for the CPT. When you do CPT, I think that it count as a part of your OPT. So if you do CPT for 3 months, they will substracted one month from the twelve that was given to you for you OPY.</p>
<p>Now with the trend of the business world and globalization, you might be able to get a job for a US company that can send you abroad to work at an international branch.</p>
<p>I check for some information on the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They are the one who are in charge of international students regulation .... I copy some information from the ICE website. I don't if it is forbidden to do so in the forum so moderator just remove my post if it violates the rule here.</p>
<p>This is what it is written :</p>
<p>"Practical Training</p>
<p>8 CFR 214.2(f)(10) Practical training. Practical training may be authorized to an F1 student who has been lawfully enrolled on a full time basis, in a Service-approved college, university, conservatory, or seminary for one full academic year. This provision also includes students who, during their course of study, were enrolled in a study abroad program, if the student had spent at least one full academic term enrolled in a full course of study in the United States prior to studying abroad. A student may be authorized 12 months of practical training, and becomes eligible for another 12 months of practical training when he or she changes to a higher educational level. Students in English language training programs are ineligible for practical training. An eligible student may request employment authorization for practical training in a position that is directly related to his or her major area of study. There are two types of practical training available:"</p>
<p>"Curricular Practical Training </p>
<p>Curricular practical training. An F 1 student may be authorized by the DSO to participate in a curricular practical training program that is an integral part of an established curriculum. Curricular practical training is defined to be alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school. Students who have received one year or more of full time curricular practical training are ineligible for post-completion academic training. Exceptions to the one academic year requirement are provided for students enrolled in graduate studies that require immediate participation in curricular practical training. A request for authorization for curricular practical training must be made to the DSO. A student may begin curricular practical training only after receiving his or her Form I20 with the DSO endorsement. </p>
<p>(B) SEVIS process. To grant authorization for a student to engage in curricular practical training, a DSO at a SEVIS school will update the students record in SEVIS as being authorized for curricular practical training that is directly related to the students major area of study. The DSO will indicate whether the training is full-time or part-time, the employer and location, and the employment start and end date. The DSO will then print a copy of the employment page of the SEVIS Form I20 indicating that curricular practical training has been approved. The DSO must sign, date, and return the SEVIS Form I20 to the student prior to the students commencement of employment. "</p>
<p>Optional Practical Training</p>
<p>student may apply to the Service for authorization for temporary employment for optional practical training directly related to the students major area of study. The student may not begin optional practical training until the date indicated on his or her employment authorization document, Form I766 or Form 688B. A student may submit an application for authorization to engage in optional practical training up to 90 days prior to being enrolled for one full academic year, provided that the period of employment will not begin until after the completion of the full academic year as indicated by the DSO. A student may be granted authorization to engage in temporary employment for optional practical training: </p>
<p>(1) During the students annual vacation and at other times when school is not in session, if the student is currently enrolled, and is eligible for registration and intends to register for the next term or session; </p>
<p>(2) While school is in session, provided that practical training does not exceed 20 hours a week while school is in session; or </p>
<p>(3) After completion of the course of study, or, for a student in a bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree program, after completion of all course requirements for the degree (excluding thesis or equivalent). Continued enrollment, for the schools administrative purposes, after all requirements for the degree have been met does not preclude eligibility for optional practical training. However, optional practical training must be requested prior to the completion of all course requirements for the degree or prior to the completion of the course of study. A student must complete all practical training within a 14-month period following the completion of study. </p>
<p>(B) Termination of practical training. Authorization to engage in optional practical training employment is automatically terminated when the student transfers to another school or begins study at another educational level.
(D) Action of the DSO-Non SEVIS schools. No longer applies</p>
<p>Their web page is :ice.gov</p>
<p>Please don't miss-quote me. I said that employers expect international students doing summer internships to leave the country after graduation, and that is what happens in most cases. Of course you can get a job after college on OPT - but what do you do once that OPT expires? Getting a working visa right out of college with only a Bachelor's degree is virtually impossible due to timing issues in the H-1B visa application process. The new extended OPT rule alleviates that problem for science majors - but all others still have to be creative to stay and work in the States continuously after college.</p>
<p>I just found another interesting article on this topic. Apparently OPT rules were also changed for non-science majors:
[quote]
Cap Gap Relief</p>
<p>The second part of the rule ameliorates the so-called "cap gap" for students who are the beneficiaries of H- 1B petitions, and whose OPT work authorization would expire before the H-1B validity begins. A student who is the beneficiary of valid H-1B petition will receive an extension of stay, and an extension of work authorization, until October 1st of the year in which the petition has been filed, as long as the H-1B petition is pending or approved.
[/quote]
<p>If the current conditions persist until you graduate, you would have to manage your OPT-time so that you are still in OPT status in April of the year after you graduated to benefit from the extended OPT rule. The reason is that currently the H-1B cap is reached in early April, which is before you receive your degree and therefore before you are eligible to apply for a H-1B. Hence you would have to wait until the April after the year that you graduate to apply for a H-1B, and you still have to be in OPT status at that time to be eligible for an extended OPT.</p>
<p>ok b!um I understand what you meant. By the way, If I am not wrong, "study abroad" is counted as part of your OPT. I mean the lenght of the time you wills send abroad while attending college in the US</p>
<p>that 17-month extension could be a godsend for a lot of us</p>
<p>studying abroad is OPT?</p>
<p>I said that studying abroad might ce counted as part of OPT but I will have to look it up to verify it</p>
<p>Wow thanks b@rium, Cap Gap Relief sounds great.</p>
<p>Nope, studying abroad is not part of OPT unless you have applied for OPT and THEN decide to study abroad during that time frame.</p>
<p>^thanks! .</p>
<p>I am copying this from my international student handbook for you.</p>
<p>Study Abroad</p>
<p>If you choose to participate in a study abroad program, you will most likely be outside of the US for more than 5 months. While you will be need new I-20, the time you spent on the study abroad program counts towards your eligibility for Optional Practical Training.</p>
<p>"While you will be need new I-20" -- I doubt that this comes from a student handbook!</p>
<p>I think what they mean to say is that if you leave the US for more than 5 months, you need a new I-20 and you might have to apply for a new F-1 visa but you will not re-gain any OPT time that you have already used on your old visa/I-20.</p>
<p>" I doubt that this comes from a student handbook!"
Well I guess that they put some lie in my international student handbook, I might as well throw it away. Anyway, depending on the reason you are staying abroad, you will need a new I-20. You want need a new I20 if your school keep your Sevis form valide while you are studying abroad. Sorry for the incorrect information about studying abroad and the I-20, my handbook did not go into the details so I looked it up.</p>
<p>"Students who are enrolled in schools in the United States may take a break from studies and return home for a semester or more, with their schools permission. An F-1 student returning to the United States from a temporary absence of five months or less may be readmitted for study upon presentation of a valid I-20. However, when a student has been out of the country for more than five months (and is not pursuing studies overseas) the students F-1 or M-1 visa is considered to be invalid, even though the actual visa may not have expired. In this situation a new visa is required for re-entry into the United States. Students who have the approval of their schools to take an extended break from study must have their SEVIS record terminated for Authorized Withdrawal. When the student is ready to resume study, the school will issue the student a new initial Form I-20 with a new SEVIS number. These students must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee."</p>
<p>Student</a> Visa Validity Following a Break in Studies</p>
<p>I hope that you all get to do whatever you want after or before graduation</p>
<p>You want need a new I20 if your school keep your Sevis form valide while you are studying abroad. Stupid mistake again. I better go bed.</p>
<p>I meant that you "won't" need a new......</p>