Many foreign nationals studying in the United States would like to work in the U.S. after graduation on either a short- or long-term basis. Unfortunately, the United States has one of the world’s most complex visa programs and, like most other countries, has very strict immigration laws aimed at preserving full-time career opportunities for its own citizens. While the Owen Career Management Center will work to assist international students, please understand that the immigration laws will limit the options that are available to you.
The immigration rules and regulations developed and enforced by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services change often. Foreign national students seeking employment in the United States must work closely with the International Student Office to stay informed of the current regulations and to allow enough time to file for Practical Training or change their visa status. For more information, please see the U.S. government Web site: http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm
Short-term employment
International students studying in the U.S. on F-1 (student) or J-1 (exchange visitor) visas are eligible to receive employment authorization for degree-related part-time or temporary work during their summer internship or for 12 months after graduation, depending on the visa type.
Students should go through the International Students and Scholars Office to obtain the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Some MBAs are successful in later obtaining the H-1B visa, which allows them to work in the United States for an additional three to six years with the company that petitioned for them.
A student on a J-1 visa may be required to return home for two years before changing to the H-1B visa. The concern with the H-1B often voiced by employers is that the annual quota set by the U.S. government (currently 65,000 for the entire United States) is often reached by mid-year.
Long-term employment
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires U.S. employers to search for qualified American candidates before hiring anyone who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. For this reason, U.S. employers recruiting in MBA career services offices generally restrict their interview schedules to candidates with permanent full-time work authorization in the United States. Exceptions are usually made only for uniquely qualified individuals or for specific high-demand fields where there are severe labor shortages in the United States.
