H1-B Visa Sponsorship for International students

[Andy Nguyen]

If you are international student, take advantage of this opportunity to learn about H1-B visa sponsorship process as you will soon join the workplace.

Time: Tue 2/27 from 1-2pm
Room: 14-250
What: New immigration rules and regulations, H1-B visa sponsorship for F-1 visa holder, Q/A, etc
Who: Immigration Specialist Allan Wernick

Mr. Wernick has been writing immigration column for the NY Dailynews for a long time and I have read his column before. He covers immigration issues for US residents as well as international students.

He is [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chair of the Citizenship and Naturalization Project of the City of New York (CUNY).

Read his column and more info about him here http://www.allanwernick.com
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[Andy Nguyen]

Some sample Q/A by Mr. Wernick

Q. I'm here in my first year in F-1 status. Can I be employed before my first year as a student?

Luis Gonzalez, Manhattan​

A. To work during your first year, your options are on-campus employment, a co-op or internship program (if part of your academic program), or work for a recognized international organization such as the United Nations or the World Bank. If you are a graduate student, you can work under USCIS Optional Practical Training (OPT) rules. Once you have completed your first-year studies, you'll have more opportunities to work.

F-1 students, including first-year students, may work for the college they attend up to 20 hours per week and full-time during school breaks. To work "on campus," you don't need United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) employment permission. Permission from your foreign student adviser is all that the law requires.

If you get an on-campus job, you can get a Social Security card by presenting a letter from your foreign student adviser at a Social Security Administration office.

You may qualify to work during your first year in an internship program, called by the USCIS "Curricular Practical Training" (CPT). To get CPT work permission, the work must be a routine requirement for completing your studies. CPT work is not deducted from your one-year's OPT unless you work in your internship full time for one year or more.

Once you have completed two semesters (one academic year) of study, you qualify for OPT employment authorization. Only graduate students may work under the OPT program their first year. OPT allows you to work in a field related to your study. The law now allows one year's OPT for each degree received. You can work prior to receiving your degree with OPT permission up to 20 hours per week, full-time during breaks. However, time spent working in OPT while studying is deducted from the one year total available per degree. To work under the OPT program, you need USCIS employment authorization.

Another possibility after your first year is USCIS employment authorization based on economic hardship. To qualify, you must explain why the support promised you when you first applied for student status is no longer available or no longer meets your needs.

Acceptable reasons for qualifying for hardship work permission include loss of financial aid through no fault of your own, an unexpected increase in your cost of living or tuition, or an economic loss affecting your sponsor. With economic hardship work authorization, you can work 20 hours per week and full-time during school breaks.