International Student Services | Employer Guide for Hiring 暗网TV International Students

Employer Guide for Hiring 暗网TV International Students

Hiring a 暗网TV international student is an excellent way to bring some of the world's best talent to your organization and includes many benefits including broadening the diversity of ideas and perspectives of your teams through enhanced cultural understanding, enhancing your organization’s competitiveness through increased diversity in knowledge and innovation, and increasing unique global networking opportunities for your organization.

What is the F-1 Student Visa Status?

Non-immigrant students working towards a specific degree (e.g. BS, MS, EdD) and some exchange programs. Documents for these students include form I-20, F-1 visa, I-94 admission/departure record, and Admission Stamp.

What is F-1 work authorization?

A common misconception about international students is that they are not allowed to work鈥攖hat is simply not true! In fact, a benefit of the F-1 status is that most students may apply for work authorization to accept a variety of employment opportunities. Best of all, it is possible for students to begin working without their employers having to provide visa sponsorship. However, some work authorization types do require an application to the government or the student's international office at their school. The types of work authorization for F-1 international students which do not require a company’s sponsorship include CPT, OPT, and STEM OPT.

F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT is a type of F-1 work authorization that allows international students to work off campus for an employer while the student is actively pursuing their degree when the employment will fulfill 1) an integral part of the student's degree program, 2) the requirement of a student's 暗网TV course, or 3) is part of an established cooperative educational agreement between a Lewis University and the employer.

No employer sponsorship needed, but the application does require the employer to complete a CPT form/employment letter/agreement with the student.
Allows part-time or full-time work; must take place before the student graduates.
Employment may be in the form of an internship which is paid or unpaid.
Students must have a job offer before they can apply for CPT work authorization.
Lewis graduate students are eligible to apply for CPT authorization as early as their first semester. Lewis undergraduate students must complete one academic year before they are eligible for CPT.
Employer responsibilities for CPT: complete CPT employer form with the student.
Approval of CPT: CPT is authorized in approx 1 week by the ISGSS office. Upon approval, a new form I-20 is issued detailing the employment authorization on p.2. Students are NOT permitted to begin their off-campus employment until their work authorization has been approved and start date has been reached.
Students who do not already have a Social Security Number (SSN) can apply for a SSN after receiving their job offer letter & approved CPT I-20. The ISGSS Office will provide assistance with the SSN application process.
I-9 work verification documents include passport, I-94, & I-20 with CPT authorization.

F-1 Optional Practical Training (12 month initial OPT authorization)

OPT is a type of F-1 off campus work authorization for degree-seeking students who wish to gain experience in jobs directly related to their major area of study. Eligible students can work for up to 12 months, and must work 20+ hours per week, with OPT work authorization.

No employer sponsorship needed.
OPT may be used before or after a student completes their degree and most commonly takes place after degree completion (Post-completion OPT).
Application is initiated by the student and is authorized by USCIS in approx 3-4 months.
Students must work in a job that is directly related to their degree program.
A job offer is NOT required for a student to apply for OPT authorization.
Employer Responsibilities for OPT: Employers can choose to have little to no involvement with the OPT application process, however, students are required to report general employment information to ISGSS and may request an Employment Verification Letter for travel purposes.
Approval of OPT: USCIS will issue an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) which is a card that indicates the specific start and end dates for OPT (example below). Students must wait until they've received their EAD before they can begin working with OPT Authorization and before they can apply for a SSN.
I-9 verification documents include passport, I-20, I-94, and OPT EAD.

F-1 STEM OPT (24 month OPT extension)

No employer sponsorship needed, however, employers must provide an employment letter and complete a basic form with the student, and they must be an E-verify company. Employers must be involved in the student’s training and complete the I-983 Training Plan and follow-up progress reports. Students must work in a paid position for at least 20 hrs/wk that is directly related to their STEM degree.
I-9 verification documents include passport, I-20 with STEM OPT Authorization, I-94, and STEM OPT EAD.

Contact us!

Please contact the Office of International Student and Global Scholar Services at ISGSS@lewisu.edu or Angie Rodriguez, Ed.D., Director of ISGSS, at arodriguez58@lewisu.edu or 815.836.5549 with any questions about employing an international student.

More than 300+ employers recruit Lewis students annually. With 40,000+ alumni, you will have great networking connections. For more information, please contact careerservices@lewisu.edu or go to the Career Services website.