Hiring International Students
Companies are encouraged to interview international students
for both internship and permanent positions. Qualified international
students often wish to begin their career in the United States
with a multinational firm. This provides students an opportunity
to learn your firm's culture, values, and operational philosophy.
These employees are then well suited to return to their home
country or region to take on a leadership role in your company.
Summer Internships
Through "Curricular Practical Training", international
students are eligible to work in the United States in a summer
intern position, which is an important or integral part of
the student's academic program, with no expense or additional
work on your part. The international student must arrange
to receive academic credit for the employment experience.
Your firm need only provide a letter stating employment dates,
location of employment and description of the internship employment
duties. The information in this letter will be used by an
academic advisor in recommending that "Curricular Practical
Training" be authorized by International Student and
Scholar Services at the University of Illinois.
Full-Time Employment
Most international students are eligible to apply to the Department
of Homeland Security for 12 months of employment for "practical
training" , employment that is both directly related
to one's field of study and commensurate with the academic
degree received. It is not necessary for students to change
their visa status for this type of legal employment, nor is
it required that U.S. citizen applicants be recruited before
international applicants.
Longer-Term Employment
International students are eligible for up to an additional
six years of employment through the H-1B Temporary Worker
Visa program. Employer and employee apply for the H-1B for
an initial three years of "professional" employment
which may be extended for an additional three years. The H-1B
allows the employee to work only for the company that sponsored
the H-1B.
Application for the H-1B is made by the employer through
the Labor Department and the Department of Homeland Security's
Bureau of Citizen Immigration Services (BCIS). Although an
attorney is not required, these applications should be prepared
with careful attention to the instructions provided concerning
documentation to accompany the completed forms.
We encourage employers to consult the Career Services office
if assistance is needed in verifying the employment eligibility
of a student holding a nonimmigrant visa. Please feel free
to contact:
Lois A. Meerdink, PhD
Assistant Dean and Director of Career Services
College of Business
phone (217) 333-4483 fax (217) 333-7205
email lmeerdin@uiuc.edu
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