International Students

It is important that you understand your status and the circumstances in which you can apply for work authorization. Make sure to maintain up-to-date information about your employment eligibility.

Advising on work authorization

• Connect with your academic advisor through International Student and Scholar Advising, (ISSA) to discuss specific and updated immigration advise to determine your eligibility to work in the United States during school or after graduation. You can make an appointment on Starfish.
• Understanding Legal Requirements: This resource has information about maintaining your F-1 and J-1 immigration status.

• U.S. government information for working in the U.S as an international person: 
  • United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) 
  • United States Department of Labor (USDOL) Foreign Labor Certification 
  • United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Not all organizations can hire international students. Target your job search to find those willing to work with you.

• Know that some organizations are unable to hire international students. Most government agencies or organizations that receive U.S. government contracts may face limits their ability to hire international student candidates. 
• Meet with a career counselor to help identify organizations and have your resume and materials reviewed.

Job boards catered to International Students: 

• MyVisaJobs.com: Employers who have sponsored H-1B visas
• GoinGlobal: Sign in to Nittany Lion Careers and navigate to the resources tab to access it for free
• Interstride : A job search platform that supports international students. Available to Penn State students with your login credentials
• International Association for the Exchange of Student for Technical Experience: Specific to internship searches for international students

There are more general job search resources available in the Internship and Job Search section of the Career Services webpage

Some organizations may be unfamiliar with hiring an international student. Be your own advocate and educate employers with accurate information.

•  Always be honest and up-front about your status. Be prepared to explain what that means for you and your employer if they choose to hire you.
• When asked, always include complete and accurate visa information.
• Depending on your status consider including 'US Permanent Resident' on your visa status.
• Educate employers on the process of hiring and what they may need to research. Become familiar with resources that you can also share with potential employers

Building a professional network is a crucial component for succeeding in the U.S. job search process. Here are resources to cultivate professional networks: 

• LinkedIn– Searching Penn State University and navigating to the Alumni tab on the homepage can provide you with alumni who are in your major or desired career path to talk with. 
• LionLink – Connect with Penn State Alumni who want to help students by discussing career paths, major switches and interviewing. This is a networking tool for students. 
• Networking- More helpful guidelines for Networking on our website.

• International Student's Guide for Studying in the USA
• International House Philadelphia: Working as an International Student 
• Articles and Resources about the International Student Job Search 
• United States Citizenship and Immigration Services H-1B Employer Data Hub 
• Information on working in the United States with an F-1 Visa, through OPT or CPT

Helpful Articles 

• How to get a job with no work experience as an international student 
• Back- up Options for International Students
• American Workplace Etiquette
• How to Land a Job in The U.S. (as a foreigner) 
• Questions International Students Should and Should Not ask at Career Fairs 
• Networking Tips for International Students · Ten Steps to Successful Networking as an International Student 
• A Career Guide Podcast For F-1 International Students 
• How, Why, And When To Share Your Immigration Status 
• 4 Steps for International Students to Excel at U.S. Interviews

Typically, those on F-1 or J-1 visa, may be authorized to work on-campus or off-campus. To determine if you are eligible to work in the United States, schedule an appointment with your ISSA advisor on Starfish or for more information or look at the Understanding Your Eligibility Tab.

• It is recommended that students wait until an employer asks. You are not required to list your visa or work authorization status on your resume or cover letter. However, you may be asked about work authorization on a job application, and you should answer honestly.
• You may wish to share your international student status with an employer upon first contact. This will reduce the likelihood that you will go through the hiring process with an employer that cannot hire you because of your work authorization.
• Do not wait until the very end of the process because this will waste time if they are unwilling to hire international students.
• Research if the company has petitioned for visas in the past to help ensure the interview process is worth your time. If you are being asked to travel for an interview, you could ask, “Is this a position in which the company is willing to petition for an H1-B as I am currently in F-1 status?”

Once you are employed, the employer will petition for H-1B visa sponsorship on your behalf, so you must seek employers that are willing to do so. More information about H-1B visa sponsorship can be found through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and to find companies willing to sponsor, using international student specific job search sites can be helpful.

Interviewers are unable to ask questions about your age, race, ethnicity, gender, country of origin, religion, disability or family status to avoid discrimination.

• An employer MAY NOT ask:
  • “What is your visa type, nationality, place of birth?”
  • “Of which country are you a citizen?”
  • “What is your native language?”
  • What language do you most often speak?”
• An employer MAY ask:
  • “Are you legally authorized to work in the U.S.?” 
  • "Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for an employment visa?”
  • “Which languages do you read, speak or write (if relevant to job)

• Explain what your F-1 status means. You have the legal right to work in the U.S. for up to twelve months using Optional Practical Training (OPT) following graduation. The employer does not need to do anything for this to happen. If you have graduated with a degree in one of the STEM (Sciences, Tech, Engineering, and Math) fields, then share that you are eligible for a 24-month STEM extension of your OPT.
• If you do not have a degree in a STEM field or if you’ve completed your STEM extension, you should explain that your work authorization may be authorized for another three-to-six years with H-1B status. If the employer asks for more information, you should be able to clearly explain the H-1B process.
• Avoid using the word “sponsor,” instead use the word “petition” when speaking about H-1B status.