Options for foreign students to gain work experience in the US

Thousands of foreigners from all over the world choose the US to complete their higher education and, where possible, to gain work experience. One of the programs available for international students is the F-1 visa, which allows them to access a period of study in the US, whether in a university, college, high school, seminary, language training program, inter alia.

Adding to that, there is a program called OPT (Optional Practical Training), which allows eligible F-1 visa holders to gain work experience in the US even though their initial permit is only to complete their studies.

International students can apply to OPT:

• Before completing their studies.
• After completing their studies, within a specific time frame.
• If they need to apply to STEM OPT Extension, which allows graduates in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to extend their OPT for 24 months.

OPT is an employment authorization that allows international students, F-1 visa holders, to gain work experience in the US for a total of 12 months, as long as they meet eligibility requirements. If international students want to stay in the country after completing the OPT period, they would have to go through a different process and change their legal status.

To learn more about alternatives available to international students, feel free to contact Motion Law Immigration and follow the advice of our experienced attorneys. Adding to that, if you need help with any other immigration process, you can also request a FREE Consultation with our team of experts.

USCIS: International students may submit their employment applications now

On April 12, 2021, the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) announced that eligible foreign students can now submit their Employment Authorization Applications (Form I-765) online.

It is important to clarify that the USCIS is the entity in charge of receiving and responding to both immigrant and non-immigrant applications. In this case, the immigration agency will respond electronically to OPT applicants.

The USCIS has expanded its technology and virtual tools primarily after the sudden arrival of the global Coronavirus pandemic, allowing foreigners to complete their applications online and reduce the backlog of immigration cases.

Follow the advice of experts during your immigration process

The reason why the US attracts thousands of foreigners annually is precisely because the local immigration system offers multiple viable alternatives for interested individuals to come to the country to gain work experience, study, or reunite with their families.

However, on many occasions, foreigners receive a negative response to their immigration applications due to lack of information or reliable sources, despite the fact that they very possibly had the opportunity to come to the US by following legal guidelines. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary inconvenience, the best alternative is undoubtedly to follow the advice of experts in immigration matters, who will provide constant support every step of the way and help you choose the right process for your particular case.

If you have any questions about an immigration issue or relating to a case you may have currently in progress, then please don’t hesitate to contact us for a FREE Phone Consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys.

Simply call Motion Law today at: (202) 918-1799.