Employment Opportunities for International Students in the United States Presented by: Fina Alatas, Adviser, EducationUSA @america

What is EducationUSA? A U.S. Department of State network of over 400 international student advising centers in more than 170 countries. The network promotes U.S. higher education to students around the world by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institution in the United States.

8 centers 10 advisers EducationUSA Indonesia EducationUSA Indonesia – U.S. Embassy Jakarta EducationUSA @america – Pacific Place, Jakarta EducationUSA Surabaya – U.S. Consulate General Surabaya EducationUSA Surabaya – Universitas Surabaya EducationUSA Medan – U.S. Consulate Medan EducationUSA Malang – Universitas Muhammadiyah, Malang EducationUSA Makassar – Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar EducationUSA Banda Aceh – Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Ar-Raniry, Aceh

EducationUSA NETWORK promote Our services? By the U.S. Department of State over 400 international student advising centers in more than 170 countries. U.S. higher education to students around the world by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States. Learn about the variety of options available and how to identify an institution that best fits your needs. Need funding? Explore options or check out our university financial aid opportunity list. Plan ahead and know the documents and requirements to apply for your program. Become familiar with U.S. student visa requirements and allow plenty of time to prepare your application. Pre-departure information including gathering documents for arrival and immigration compliance.

Study and Exchange Visas A U.S. Department of State network of over 400 international student advising centers in more than 170 countries. The network promotes U.S. higher education to students around the world by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited postsecondary institution in the United States.

F-1 VISA Student Visas (F, M) and Exchange Visitor Visa (J) An F-1 visa is issued to international students who are attending an academic program or English Language Program at a US college or university. This visa categories include: University or college, high school, private elementary school, seminar, conservatory, and another academic institution, including a language training program

M-1 VISA Student Visas (F, M) and Exchange Visitor Visa (J) The M-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa for international students who wish to pursue a course of study that is not principally academic in nature. The M-1 visa is for vocational or non-academic students and an M-1 vocational student is admitted for no more than one year at a time. There are many fewer M-1 than F-1 students overall. If your intention is to study and obtain a degree, you should apply as an international undergraduate or graduate student with an F-1 visa. Source: http://www.fit.edu/isss/m-1/#17

J-1 VISA Student Visas (F, M) and Exchange Visitor Visa (J) Exchange visitor (J-1) visas are nonimmigrant visas for individuals approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States. The programs include promoting cultural exchange and applicants must be sponsored either by a university, private sector or government program. Source: https://www.internationalstudent.com/immigration/j1-student-visa/

F-1 Employment Options

Employment for F-1 Visa Most international students in the United States hold an F-1 visa and F-1 students are allowed to work in the United States, but only under certain conditions and in accordance with complex guidelines and restrictions issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year, but may accept on-campus employment. After the first academic year, F-1 students may engage in the three type of off-campus employment: Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Optional Practical Training (OPT) (pre-completion or post-completion) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Optional Practical Training Extension (OPT)

You can work up to 20 hours a week while school is in session On-Campus Employment You can work up to 20 hours a week while school is in session

You can work full-time on campus during holidays and vacation periods. On-Campus Employment You can work full-time on campus during holidays and vacation periods. Note: Only if you intend to register for the next academic semester

On-Campus Employment Talk to the International Student Office (ISO) of your Designated School Officials (DSOs). Note: DSOs can answer your questions and guide your through the process of studying in the United States.

On-Campus Employment You need a Social Security Number (SSN) in order to work. Talk to your DSO.

On-Campus Employment Dependents in F-2 visa status may not accept employment in the U.S. They may volunteer only if the position in which they are interested has always been a volunteer position, and always will be. Source: https://www.ice.gov/sevis/employment#_1_7

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is defined as employment which is an integral part of an established curriculum, including: “alternate work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreement with the school.” CPT is available only prior to the completion of your degree program and you must have a job offer at the time of application. CPT employment may not delay completion of the academic program. You need to have a job offer ready to be eligible for CPT. Source: https://internationalcenter.umich.edu/students/f1-students/cpt

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) There are two types of CPT: required and not required. Required CPT is when the academic program mandates practical work training experience in order to graduate. Not required or option CPT is when the practical work experience is for credit and directly related to your field of study. (Note: You must be enrolled in a CPT course) Source: https://internationalcenter.umich.edu/students/f1-students/cpt

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) There are two categories of CPT: Part-time CPT and full-time CPT Part-time CPT: Employment for 20 hours or less per week is considered part-time. You must be simultaneously enrolled in classes full-time in order to maintain lawful F-1 status. Full-time CPT: Employment for more than 20 hours per week is considered full-time. Please be aware that 12 months or more of full-time CPT will invalidate your eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT). During the academic year (fall and winter/spring semesters), you must be simultaneously enrolled full-time (12 credit hours for undergraduate students and 8 credit hours for graduate students) in order to maintain lawful F-1 status, unless it is your last term of enrollment. Source: https://internationalcenter.umich.edu/students/f1-students/cpt

Optional Practical Training (OPT) International students in the U.S. in valid F-1 immigration status are permitted to work off-campus in optional practical training (OPT) status both during and after completion of their degree. You can apply for OPT after being enrolled for at least 9 months, but you cannot begin employment until you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and you have been enrolled for at least a year. You do not need to have a job offer to apply for your OPT EAD, and your OPT employment can occur anywhere in the US. USCIS takes up to 90 days to process your application – work closely with your school’s International Student Office. Source: https://www.internationalstudent.com/study_usa/way-of-life/working-in-the-usa/

Employment must be “directly related” to the student’s major. Optional Practical Training (OPT) Employment must be “directly related” to the student’s major.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) Student must apply for OPT before completion of all work towards a degree.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) Students who have engaged in 12 months or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) are not eligible for OPT.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) OPT is permitted for up to 12 months full-time in total. Part-time OPT (while still in school) reduces available full-time OPT by half of the amount of part-time work (for instance, if you work part-time for 6 months, you can work full-time for up to 9 months). Note: Students can be authorized for 12 months of OPT for each successive level of degree achieved – for instance, you can do 12 months of OPT after receiving your undergraduate degree, go back to graduate school, and then do 12 months of OPT after receiving your graduate degree.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) Authorization for OPT is granted by USCIS and processing can take up to 3 months. Therefore it is important that you apply for the authorization well in advance of the date you wish to start working. You may apply up to 120 days before the start date that you choose. Source: https://internationalservices.georgetown.edu/pre-completion-opt-faqs

Optional Practical Training (OPT) There are two types of OPT: Pre-completion OPT (students are still in school) and post-completion OPT (students have completed their degree). OPT before completing a degree: Students must be enrolled in school full-time Students may only work 20 hours per week while school is in session Students may work full-time during summer and other breaks (as long as the student will return to school after the break) Student may work full-time after completion of all coursework, if a thesis or dissertation is still required and student is making normal progress towards the degree OPT after completing a degree: After completion of your degree, OPT work must be full time (40 hours/week) All OPT must be completed within 14 months after completion of your degree Applications for post-completion OPT must be received by USCIS before the completion of the degree Source: https://www.internationalstudent.com/study_usa/way-of-life/working-in-the-usa/

CPT vs. OPT at a Glance CPT: Student must be registered for a course corresponding to the employment of experience OPT: No course registration required CPT: May only be used before completing one’s studies OPT: May be used during one’s studies (pre-completion OPT) and after completing one’s studies (post-completion OPT) CPT: Semester-specific OPT: Not semester-specific CPT: 12 months of full-time CPT eliminates eligibility for OPT. Part-time CPT employment does not affect eligibility for OPT OPT: Any periods of pre-completion OPT, whether part- or full-time, are deducted from the total 12-month OPT period.

CPT vs. OPT at a Glance (cont’d) CPT: Employer specific – student can only work for the employer listed on the student’s I-20 and in SEVIS OPT: Not employer specific – student can work for any employer as long as the position is related to his/her field of study CPT: Processing time is 5-7 business days OPT: Processing times vary, but are generally 1-3 months

STEM OPT Extension Students who have earned degrees in certain science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields may apply for 24-month extension of their post-completion OPT employment authorization if they: Are an F-1 student who received a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degree included on the STEM Designated Degree Program List Are employed by an employer enrolled in E-Verify, and Received an initial grant of post-completion OPT employment authorization based on their STEM degree. Source: https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/students-and-exchange-visitors/students-and-employment/optional-practical-training

J-1 Employment Options

J-1 Employment There are two categories of employment available to J-1 students: Student Employment Academic Training Source: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ovis/updates/j1/training.html

J-1 Student Employment There are three types of student employment available to J-1 students: Employment required by a scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship. This employment occurs on campus, and is paid by the campus. On-campus jobs unrelated to study. Off-campus jobs necessary because of serious, urgent, and unforeseen economic circumstances that have arisen since your arrival in the United States as an Exchange Visitor. Source: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ovis/updates/j1/training.html

J-1 Academic Training Academic Training (AT) offers employment to supplement your academic program in the United States. It is available before completion of your program of study as well as afterwards. As long as you stay within the stipulated time limits, it lets you work part-time while classes are in session and full-time during vacation periods; and, under certain circumstances, you may interrupt study to work full-time, for example while you are writing a thesis. Source: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ovis/updates/j1/training.html

J-1 Academic Training Obtain approval in writing from your J-1 Responsible Officer (R.O) or Alternate Responsible Officer (A.R.O) in the Office of Visa and Immigration Services.

J-1 Academic Training The proposed employment must be directly related to your major of study.

J-1 Academic Training It may not exceed the period of full course of study, or 18 months, whichever is shorter. Note: If you receive a Ph.D., however, your post-doctoral training may last as long as 36 months, as long as it is valid, supervised, post-doctoral research.

J-1 Academic Training AT approved after completion of your program must be reduced by any prior periods of Academic Training.

J-2 Employment In most cases a J-2 Visa holder can seek employment. To work, a J-2 Visa holder must obtain an Employment Authorization Document from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Money earned by a J-2 cannot be used to support the principal J-1 Visa holder. Source: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ovis/updates/j1/training.html

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