need help US study and work visa

[dildar 0]

Hello,

I need some advice regarding student and work visa in US. This is for my friend who wants to pursue master degree in US. Is there any way she can work while continue to study in US and work after finish her degree?

Please advice and thank you in advance for your reply.

Best,

Dildar

[David & Diana R 1,005]

NO

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hello,

I need some advice regarding student and work visa in US. This is for my friend who wants to pursue master degree in US. Is there any way she can work while continue to study in US and work after finish her degree?

Please advice and thank you in advance for your reply.

Best,

Dildar

A foreign student must show that she can pay for her tuition and living expense before the US will issue a student visa. F-1 students are only allowed to work on campus after the first year. There are opportunities to work after she gets her degree. However, these positions are temporary and usually end in a year.

A work visa requires a US employer to show the need for a foreign worker. The employer applies for the work visa on behalf of the employee.

[dildar 0]

A foreign student must show that she can pay for her tuition and living expense before the US will issue a student visa. F-1 students are only allowed to work on campus after the first year. There are opportunities to work after she gets her degree. However, these positions are temporary and usually end in a year.

A work visa requires a US employer to show the need for a foreign worker. The employer applies for the work visa on behalf of the employee.

Hi Aaron thank you for your quick reply.

"However, these positions are temporary and usually end in a year." --> can you define temporary work permit? how is this different from H1B?

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hi Aaron thank you for your quick reply.

"However, these positions are temporary and usually end in a year." --> can you define temporary work permit? how is this different from H1B?

Google "OPT."

OPT is for one year after graduation.

H1B is for 3 years. The number of visas are limited. In some years, the visas are gone within days.

[dildar 0]

Google "OPT."

OPT is for one year after graduation.

H1B is for 3 years. The number of visas are limited. In some years, the visas are gone within days.

Thank you

[JayJayH 546]

There are four ways in which a student can work in the US while enrolled in school.

1. On-campus employment - International students in the US can work any on-campus job, no work authorization required. The employer must be the school itself, or contracted by the school for on-campus services. The student can work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, and 40 hours during holidays.

2. Severe financial hardship - The student can apply for an EAD card (work authorization) if he/she is suffering severe financial hardship, and the hardship could have not been reasonably foreseen prior to the student Enrolling, and the reason for the hardship is outside of the student's own control. Once granted, the work permits are unrestricted, but temporary.

3. Curricular Practical Training - The job must be a part of the student's curriculum.

4. Optional practical Training (OPT)

Let me expand on this one..

OPT is a one year work permit available to any international student on an F-1 visa who has been enrolled in school full-time in the US for at least 9 months. While OPT is one of the least restrictive work permit available in that it requires no sponsor, it does require the student to work in a field related to his/her major. So.. A biology major cannot work at McDonald's, nor can a drama major work for an aerospace company. However, if the job description can be related to the major without insulting the intelligence of USCIS employees - it's allowed. No sponsor needed. The student is free to apply for, accept, and work any job reasonably related to their major.

OPT is available to any foreign student in F-1 status with a valid I-20, regardless of major. As long as they are pursuing a Bachelor's degree or higher, and have been attending full-time for 9 months or more.

The student is allowed to work on OPT for one year. It does not matter whether the job is 10 hours a week or 60 hours a week, OPT is good for one year. OPT comes in two ways. There is pre-completion and post-completion OPT. The difference between the two is that while pre-completion OPT allows the student work while school is in session for up to 20 hours a week, post-completion OPT allows the student to work full-time for one year after graduation. These can be combined into i.e. 6 months pre-completion and 6 month post-completion, but the total cannot exceed one year. Also note that a student on post-completion OPT cannot remain unemployed for more than 90 days total during the year. If OPT is granted, the student should leave the US, or enrolle back in school if they have not found a job within 90 days.

The only exception to the one year rule is for students who have majored in, and work in one of the STEM fields, through a STEM extension. STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics. For workers in either of these fields, a 17 month extension is available on top of the one year.

For many foreign students who wish to later work in the US, post-completion OPT is a bridge between an F-1 visa and an H-1b. OPT is particularly helpful because it allows graduated students to get a "foot in the door" with an American company. Most companies are reluctant to sponsor foreign workers because of the cost involved, but many companies are a lot more willing to sponsor when the foreign worker is already employed with them.

Edited December 17, 2013 by Yang-Ja

[Leo7777 243]

Excellent and well written post Yang-Ja.

Thanks for sharing