What Are the Work Programs for F-1 Visa Students?
As an international student studying in the United States, you may be familiar with your educational institution’s designated school official (DSO). This individual may serve as your primary point of contact for any questions or issues surrounding your F-1 student visa status. And so, you are encouraged to turn to them if and when you are interested in retaining employment to support yourself financially through your studies. In this case, please continue reading to learn the work programs made available for F-1 students like yourself and how an experienced Lyndhurst student visa lawyer at the Law Offices of Salvatore A. Falletta, LLC, can work to ensure you stay within the parameters of your visa status.
What are the available work programs for F-1 visa students?
During your studies at a United States educational institution, you may participate in a curricular practical training (CPT) program. This may be an employment opportunity relevant and beneficial to your academic curriculum for your degree, such as an internship or a cooperative education program. It is important to note that you can only apply for this program once successfully completed the first year of your academic program.
Then, you may opt for an optional practical training (OPT) program either during or after your time as a student. Namely, the time you dedicate to a CPT may directly affect your eligibility for an OPT. That is, you should try to work 20 hours or fewer per week during your CPT and avoid putting in any full-time hours, especially for 12 months or longer. With that said, a regular post-completion OPT allows you to work for up to 12 months after your graduation date.
What happens once these programs expire for an F-1 visa holder?
As you know all too well, your F-1 visa gives you temporary nonimmigrant status. Meaning, even with opportunities to extend your legal stay with work programs, you must plan to exit the country eventually. Well, while engaging in an OPT program, we highly encourage you to look into an H-1B visa. This is similarly a temporary nonimmigration visa type, but gives work authorization exclusively to individuals like yourself with educational degrees that make them qualified to participate in specialty work.
What’s more, you may have a dual intent behind petitioning for an H-1B visa. That is, while this may give you temporary authorization to work and live in the United States, it may serve as a pathway to apply for permanent residency status (i.e., a green card). Of note, there is no specific waiting period after obtaining an H-1B visa before you can fill out and file a green card application with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
If you desire more clarity before you head into the immigration process, please do not wait any longer to reach out to a skilled Lyndhurst H-1B visa attorney. Retain the services of the Law Offices of Salvatore A. Falletta, LLC, today.
