Showing posts with label Job in USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Job in USA. Show all posts

Sunday, February 2, 2014

The Best On-Campus Jobs for Making Some Money

Greenbacks. Bucks. The bacon. The dough. Moolah. Scratch. Bread. The big green. Pecuniary notes.
I'm talking about money here, folks.



If you're a college student, in all likelihood, you don't have much of it. Whether that's because it's going to pay for your college education directly, without even stopping for a visit in your palm, or because you're spending it on any of the cavalcade of other money sinks out there in the college world, it doesn't matter. You're almost certainly going to be looking for ways to get some more clams into your wallet. (Quite an image, isn't it?)
Good news! College campuses are riddled with job opportunities, if you know where to look. Read on to find out about some of the best job opportunities available on college campuses.

Website Manager

You're here, so you already know that the Internet is a cornucopia of valuable writing. That's not likely to change any time soon, and as a result, nearly every organization that wants to have any kind of significant presence needs its own website. If you've got the skills to make one, then you can be of great value to your college, or really to any on-campus organization in need of a website manager. What's more, you can learn how to use content management systems and how to do crazy and wonderful things with a website that'll make you all the more valuable as a potential employee down the road. Huzzah for websites!

Tour Guide

Can you walk backwards like a pro? Can you talk while you walk backwards? Can you smile and make jokes even when it's snowing and you're walking backwards and taking at the same time? Then you've got a perfect campus job waiting for you in tour guiding.  This is an important job, too; if you're a tour guide, you're nothing less than the face of your college or university to prospective students. You've got to convince them that your college is by far the best choice they can make, by showing it off in all its glory. It's a social job, so you have to be up for being charming and talking, but it's good, important work on any campus. 

Library Assistant

At any college or university, there's one building which will be critical to nearly every student: the library. Even if you don't necessarily have to pick up books or do research in the library, the place is still a refuge of silence and solace for studying, and most likely has plenty of computers and printers for use, too. So, your school's library is almost certainly going to need some help. You can get a job at the library, doing things like putting the books back on the shelves, helping your fellow students to find whatever they're looking for, and keeping track of rented out books and other resources. It may  not be terribly glamorous, but it's helpful, doesn't involve a lot of stress, and might even give you resources and skills that you can use when trying to do your own work.

Alumni Center

Every college or university is likely to have some kind of alumni center, to keep in touch with and track alumni and (most importantly) implore them for donations. If you get a job with the alumni center, you'll most likely be calling up alumni and other individuals associated with the college and informing them of important campus news and information, as well as asking them for donations. Sometimes, this job can be pretty stressful, but when you successfully contribute to some major charity project your school is running by getting donations from hundreds of people, then the whole thing will be worth it. 

RA

Everyone living at college has a residential adviser, or a resident assistant. RAs are the students who fill leadership and administrative rolls in and around their dorms. They're the people you go to when something breaks in your dorm room, just as much as they're the people you go to when there's a major emergency and you need immediate help. Being an RA will give you a lot responsibility, but you'll be helping people, and you'll be getting paid for it. Some schools even give RAs a pretty good selection of rooms, at no cost to them. TAs, SAs, Lab Assistants, and the other RAs
These three sort of go together, due to the similarities in work you'd be doing in any of the three roles. TAs are teaching assistants; SAs are student assistants; and these RAs are research assistants.   Each role is pretty much some form of assistantship position for a faculty member.
Teaching assistants would, as their name suggests, help professors to teach their courses, likely by providing extra sessions to lower-level students, or even teaching classes themselves. Student assistants, depending upon how the role is interpreted, might work similarly to TAs, or they might help professors with their more administrative tasks, like getting books or distributing documents online.
Research assistants would help professors in their own research, focusing likely on specific topics. Lab assistants might help to run labs for when students are performing their own work, or they might help professors in lab work in the same way that research assistants might.
Any of these roles is likely to come with pay and with good, experience-growing work. Plus, you might get to help your professors with important research, or even wind up teaching your peers! How awesome is that!

Writing tutor

Know how to write? Count yourself lucky, because there are plenty of other students out there who don't. If you're feeling magnanimous with your skill, then you can become a writing tutor at your college's writing center. Peer writing tutors help their fellow students with essays, research papers, and more. We're talking about more than just grammatical editing, too; we're talking about the whole shebang. Argument structure, discussion, reasoning, and stylistic choices are all subjects that a writing tutor might help with, among others. So if you've got some skill in writing, lend your fellow students a hand and earn some cash for your efforts by becoming a writing tutor. 

Newspaper writer/editor

Not every college has a newspaper that pays its writers, but plenty do, so if you've got printer's ink in your veins, then there's no better place for you to get a job than at your college newspaper. Obviously, you'll need to know what you're doing, from a writing standpoint, a journalistic standpoint, and an editorial standpoint, but this is one of those jobs that can pay you back in spades if you work hard. If your college paper doesn't pay its writers, you might want to see if there are any administrative roles in or around the paper that might offer up any kind of small-scale payment, too. 

Post Office

Email is replacing the paper letter, sure, but everybody still needs a way to receive packages from Amazon, right? Campuses still have their own post offices, where mail comes in for students and has to be sorted between mailboxes, or distributed in some other fashion. There are plenty of jobs for students looking to earn a few bucks who are willing to help out with the post. Not terribly glamorous, but a good way to make some money on campus without adding too much onto your workload. 


Career Services Assistant

A great many campuses have career centers focused on helping students plan out their career paths. These centers provide advice, assistance, and information year round. If you've got the skills needed to help your fellow students in thinking about their futures, then you could probably secure a position for yourself as a career services assistant. At some colleges, this position might mean directly meeting with students and talking to them about their goals. At others, this might mean just helping out with the more administrative tasks of the career center. Either way, it's a good place to get some experience with giving advice and planning your own career, all while earning some money.

User Assistant or IT Guy

Are you the one that everyone on your dorm floor comes to for technical expertise? Then…uh…could you fix my laptop? It's been showing me this message, "TERMINATE THE HUMANS," ever since Thursday. Oh, also, you could probably get a job as a user assistant or an IT assistant at your college. Most colleges have their own on-campus IT centers, and they probably need all the help they can get, what with the problems students are likely to cause. (Stop that, computer! No, I will not submit to your will!) Working at the IT center will help you hone your own skills and give you some great experience if you want to go into technology. And, of course, you'll make some money, and potentially avert an apocalypse.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I think my laptop is trying to steal the nuclear launch codes from the White House. I'm going to apply some brute force repairs to its software. With a hammer.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Bringing your dependents: USA Student VISA

Bringing your dependents

The Spouse and/or unmarried children (under the age of 21) who wish to accompany or join the student in the USA, need to apply for a dependent visa. The type of dependent visa will depend on the type of student visa the student has been granted. For more information visit: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-typefandm.asp#supportingdocsdependents

Work rights for your spouse

The spouse of a student cannot work if they have travelled to the USA on a dependent visa. If seeking employment, the appropriate work visa will be required.
For more information visit: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-typefandm.asp#supportingdocsdependents

Work rights during studies: USA

International students studying in the USA on F-1 status visa are eligible to work on campus up to 20 hours a week while school is in session, and can work full time during vacations / scheduled breaks. Students are eligible to begin employment immediately upon being admitted to the United States in F-1 status.

Work rights for your spouse

The spouse of a student cannot work if they have travelled to the USA on a dependent visa. If seeking employment, the appropriate work visa will be required.
For more information visit: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/in/in-niv-typefandm.asp#dependents

Temporary Worker Visas in USA

Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Temporary worker visas are for persons who want to enter the United States for employment lasting a fixed period of time, and are not considered permanent or indefinite. Each of these visas requires the prospective employer to first file a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). An approved petition is required to apply for a work visa.

Temporary worker visa categories

Visa category                 
General description – About an individual in this category:
H-1B: Person in Specialty Occupation
To work in a specialty occupation. Requires a higher education degree or its equivalent. Includes fashion models of distinguished merit and ability and government-to-government research and development, or co-production projects administered by the Department of Defense.
H-2A: Temporary Agricultural Worker
For temporary or seasonal agricultural work. Limited to citizens or nationals of designated countries, with limited exceptions, if determined to be in the United States interest.
H-2B: Temporary Non-agricultural Worker
For temporary or seasonal non- agricultural work. Limited to citizens or nationals of designated countries, with limited exceptions, if determined to be in the United States interest.
H-3: Trainee or Special Education visitor
To receive training, other than graduate medical or academic, that is not available in the trainee’s home country or practical training programs in the education of children with mental, physical, or emotional disabilities.
L: Intracompany Transferee
To work at a branch, parent, affiliate, or subsidiary of the current employer in a managerial or executive capacity, or in a position requiring specialized knowledge.  Individual must have been employed by the same employer abroad continuously for 1 year within the three preceding years.
O: Individual with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement
For persons with extraordinary ability or achievement in the sciences, arts, education, business, athletics, or extraordinary recognized achievements in the motion picture and television fields, demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim, to work in their field of expertise. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
P-1: Individual or Team Athlete, or Member of an Entertainment Group
To perform at a specific athletic competition as an athlete or as a member of an entertainment group. Requires an internationally recognized level of sustained performance. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
P-2: Artist or Entertainer (Individual or Group)
For performance under a reciprocal exchange program between an organization in the United States and an organization in another country. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
P-3: Artist or Entertainer (Individual or Group)
To perform, teach or coach under a program that is culturally unique or a traditional ethnic, folk, cultural, musical, theatrical, or artistic performance or presentation. Includes persons providing essential services in support of the above individual.
Q-1: Participant in an International Cultural Exchange Program
For practical training and employment and for sharing of the history, culture, and traditions of your home country through participation in an international cultural exchange program.
Labor Certification - Some temporary worker visa categories require your prospective employer to obtain a labor certification or other approval from the Department of Labor on your behalf before filing the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, with USCIS. Your prospective employer should review the Instructions for Form I-129 on the USCIS website to determine whether labor certification is required for you.
Petition Approval - Some temporary worker categories are limited in total number of petitions which can be approved on a yearly basis. Before you can apply for a temporary worker visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, a Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, must be filed on your behalf by a prospective employer and be approved by USCIS. For more information  about the petition process, eligibility requirements by visa category, and numerical limits, if applicable, see Working in the U.S. and Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Workers on the USCIS website. Once the petition is approved, USCIS will send your prospective employer a Notice of Action, Form I-797.

How to Apply

After USCIS approves the Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (Form I-129), you may apply for a visa. There are several steps in the visa application process. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you apply. Please consult the instructions available on the embassy or consulate website where you will apply.

Complete The Online Visa Application

  • Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160Learn more about completing the DS-160. You must: 1) complete the online visa application and 2) print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
  • Photo –You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. Your photo must be in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements.

Schedule an Interview

While interviews are generally not required for applicants of certain ages outlined below, consular officers have the discretion to require an interview of any applicant, regardless of age.
If you are age:
Then an interview is:
13 and younger
Generally not required
14-79
Required (some exceptions for renewals)
80 and older
Generally not required
You must schedule an appointment for your visa interview, generally, at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but be aware that it may be difficult to qualify for a visa outside of your place of permanent residence.
Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. Review the interview wait time for the location where you will apply:
You will need to provide the receipt number that is printed on your approved Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, or Notice of Action, Form I-797, to schedule an interview.

Prepare for your Interview

  • Fees - Pay the non-refundable visa application fee, if you are required to pay it before your interview. When your visa is approved, you may also pay a visa issuance fee, if applicable to your nationality. Fee information is provided below:
Review the instructions available on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply to learn more about fee payment.
  • L visa applicants included in a L blanket petition: You must also pay the Fraud Prevention and Detection fee and may need to pay the Border Security Act fee. Select All Fees to learn more.

Gather Required Documentation

Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview:
  • Passport valid for travel to the United States - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application.
  • Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page.
  • Application fee payment receipt, if you are required to pay before your interview.
  • Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements
  • Receipt Number for your approved petition as it appears on your Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, or Notice of Action, Form I-797, from USCIS.
  • L Visa Applicants – If you are included in an L blanket petition, you must bring Form I-129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition, to your interview.

Legal Rights and Protections

H-1B, H-2A, and H-2B visa applicants should read the Legal Rights and Protections pamphlet to learn about your rights in the United States and protection available to you. Review this important pamphlet before applying for your visa.

Additional Documentation May Be Required

Review the instructions on how to apply for a visa on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply. Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified.  
All visa applicants, except H-1B and L, will generally need to show proof of compelling ties to your home country to demonstrate your intent to return after your temporary stay in the United States. Examples of compelling ties include:
  • A residence abroad which you do not intend to abandon
  • Your family relationships
  • Your economic situation
  • Your long term plans

Attend your Visa Interview

During your visa interview, a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa, and if so, which visa category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel. You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.
Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location.
After your visa interview, your application may require further administrative processing. You will be informed by the consular officer if further processing is necessary for your application.
When the visa is approved, you may pay a visa issuance fee if applicable to your nationality, and will be informed how your passport with visa will be returned to you. Review the visa processing time, to learn how soon your passport with visa will generally be ready for pick-up or delivery by the courier.

Additional Information

  • The approval of a petition does not guarantee that you will be issued a visa. Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa.
  •  Spouse and Children –
    • With the exception of Cultural Exchange Visitor Q-1 visa applicants, your spouse and unmarried, minor children may also apply for the same visa category as you to accompany or join you. You must be able to show that you will be able to financially support your family in the United States. 
    • For information about employment and study, review Temporary Workers information and Employment Authorization on the USCIS website.
  • Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date.  Therefore, a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport is still valid. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport. You may use your valid visa in your expired passport along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.

Exchange Visitor Visa: USA

Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Exchange visitor (J-1) visas are nonimmigrant visas for individuals approved to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States.
Exchange visitor categories include:
Au pair and EduCare
 Short-term Scholar
Camp Counselor
 Specialist
Government Visitor
 Student, college/university
Intern
 Student, secondary
International Visitor (Dept. of State use)
 Summer Work Travel
Physician
 Teacher
Professor and Research Scholar
 Trainee
Exchange Visitor Pilot Programs:

Summer work/travel: Australians
Summer work/travel: New Zealanders
Intern work/travel: Irish
Work/English Study/Travel: South Koreans


Exchange Visitors cannot travel on the Visa Waiver Program or with Visitor Visas - Exchange visitors who are citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) participating countries are not permitted to travel without a visa on the VWP, if their purpose of travel is to participate in an exchange visitor program, as explained below. For more information on the VWP, see Visa Waiver Program. Exchange visitors are not permitted to travel on business/tourist (B-1/B-2) visas if their purpose is to participate in an exchange visitor program. All exchange visitors must travel to the United States with exchange visitor (J-1) visas.
Acceptance in Exchange Visitor Program -  Before you can apply at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate for a J-1 visa, you must first apply for and be accepted into an exchange visitor program through a designated sponsoring organization. Visit the Department of State J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program website to learn about program requirements, regulations, and more.

When you are accepted into the exchange visitor program you plan to participate in, you will be enrolled in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Most J-1 Exchange Visitors must pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee. Visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) website to learn more about SEVIS and the SEVIS I-901 Fee.

How to Apply

There are several steps to apply for a visa. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you apply. Please consult the instructions available on the embassy or consulate website where you will apply.

Complete the Online Visa Application

  • Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160Learn more about completing the DS-160. You must: 1) complete the online visa application and 2) print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
  • Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. Your photo must be in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements.

Schedule an Interview

While interviews are generally not required for applicants of certain ages outlined above, consular officers have the discretion to require an interview of any applicant, regardless of age.
If you are age: Then an interview is:
13 and younger Generally not required
14-79 Required (some exceptions for renewals)
80 and older Generally not required
You must schedule an appointment for your visa interview, generally, at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but be aware that it may be difficult to qualify for a visa outside of your place of permanent residence.
Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. Review the interview wait time for the location where you will apply:
Prepare for Your Interview
  • Fees - Pay the non-refundable visa application fee, if you are required to pay it before your interview. When your visa is approved, you may also pay a visa issuance fee, if applicable to your nationality. Fee information is provided below:  
Review the instructions available on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply to learn more about fee payment.
  • NOTE: U.S. government sponsored exchange visitor (J visa) applicants and their dependents are not required to pay application processing fees if participating in a Department of State, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), or a Federally funded educational and cultural exchange program which has a program serial number beginning with G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-7 printed on Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. U.S. government sponsored exchange visitor (J visa) applicants and their dependents are also not required to pay applicable issuance fees.

Gather Required Documentation

Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview:
  • Passport valid for travel to the United States - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application.
  • Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page
  • Application fee payment receipt, if you are required to pay before your interview
  • Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements
  • Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status, Form DS-2019 – A SEVIS-generated Form DS-2019 is provided to you by your program sponsor after the sponsor enters your information in the SEVIS system. All exchange visitors, including their spouses and minor children, must be registered in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Each person receives a separate Form DS-2019.
  • Training/Internship Placement Plan, Form DS-7002 – In addition to the Form DS 2019, participants in the J-1 Trainee and Intern categories require Form DS-7002 (based on Box 7 on Form DS-2019). Learn more about the Trainee and Intern programs.

Legal Rights and Protections

You must read the Legal Rights and Protections pamphlet to learn about your rights in the United States and protection available to you. Review this important pamphlet before applying for your visa.

Additional Documentation May Be Required

Review the instructions for how to apply for a visa on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply. Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified. For example, additional requested documents may include evidence of:
  • The purpose of your travel;
  • Your intent to depart the United States after your travel;
  • Your ability to pay all travel costs; and/or
  • Other documents the consular officer may request.
Evidence of your employment and/or your family ties may be sufficient to show the purpose of your travel and your intent to return to your home country. If you cannot cover all the costs for your travel, you may show evidence that another person will cover some or all costs for your travel.

Attend Your Visa Interview

During your visa interview, a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa, and if so, which visa category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel. You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.
Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location.
After your visa interview, your application may require further administrative processing. You will be informed by the consular officer if further processing is necessary for your application.
When the visa is approved, you will be informed how your passport with visa will be returned to you. Review the visa processing time, to learn how soon your passport with visa will generally be ready for pick-up or delivery by the courier.

Two-year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement

When you agree to participate in an Exchange Visitor Program and your program falls under the conditions explained below, you will be subject to the two-year home-country physical presence (foreign residence) requirement. This means you will be required to return to your home country for two years at the end of your exchange visitor program. This requirement under immigration law is based on Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Two-year Home-country Physical Presence Requirement Conditions - An exchange visitor is subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement if the following conditions exist:
  • Government funded exchange program - The program in which the exchange visitor was participating was financed in whole or in part directly or indirectly by the U.S. government or the government of the exchange visitor's nationality or last residence;
  • Graduate medical education or training - The exchange visitor entered the United States to receive graduate medical education or training;
  • Specialized knowledge or skill: Skills List - The exchange visitor is a national or permanent resident of a country which has deemed the field of specialized knowledge or skill necessary to the development of the country, as shown on the Exchange Visitor Skills List. Review the Exchange Visitor Skills List 2009.
Restrictions - When you, as an exchange visitor are subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement, you must return to your home country for a cumulative total period of at least two years before you can do any of the following:
  • Change status while in the United Staes to the nonimmigrant categories of temporary worker (H) or intracompany transferee (L);
  • Adjust status while in the United States to immigrant visa/lawful permanent resident status (LPR);
  • Receive an immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate; or
  • Receive a temporary worker (H), intracompany transferee (L), or fiancé (K) visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Waiver of Two Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement - If you are not able to fulfill the home country presence requirement, you may be able to apply for a waiver. Select Waiver of the Exchange Visitor Two-Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement to learn more about this requirement and how to request a waiver.

Additional Information

  • We cannot guarantee that you will be issued a visa. Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa.
  • For information about employment, review Exchange Visitors and Employment Authorization on the USCIS website.
  • Spouse and children
    • Your spouse and unmarried, minor children may be able to apply for J-2 visas to accompany or join you at a later date to reside with you during your J program, if permitted on your exchange program category. While SEVIS fee payment is not required, your sponsor must issue them separate DS-2019 Forms, which are required when they apply for their visas, along with a copy of the primary visa holder’s J-1 visa and proof of relationship.
    • Your minor children are permitted to attend school while in the United States on J-2 visas and are not required to obtain student (F) visas
  • Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport is still valid. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport. You may use your valid visa in your expired passport along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States

Thursday, January 23, 2014

How to work while you study in the United States of America

usa-work-studyAny student can work and study without the authorization of the Immigration Service. The options to work and study are most common in universities that offer Co – Op programs.




F – 1 Visa, J – 1 Visa, Co – Op Program
United States of America is country whose educative offer is so diverse and has so much quality that many foreign students are interested in applying for the F – 1 Visa for Fulltime Students or the J – 1 Visa of Educational and Cultural Exchange, and the ones who accomplish to obtain it find themselves in a situation in which educational costs are high, and if they add the accommodations and the alimentation, it contributes to the fact that many students have economic difficulties not only to install themselves, but also to maintain themselves.
But the ones who try to work without been authorized by the Immigration Service, can be forced to return to their country of origin, because the rules of the Immigration Service say that the immigrant students who obtain the F – 1 Visa for Fulltime Students or the J – 1 Visa of Educational and Cultural Exchange, cannot work as long as they are studying. However, there are ways to be able to study and work without breaking the migratory rules.
It is possible that during the first year of studies, some universities allow the immigrant students to work inside the university campus, performing minimum activities, which are related to giving lessons, helping in the library, managing, keeping the garden, among others, perceiving a pretty reduced salary, which can be, in addition, compensated with a tuition waivers of the courses the international student is taking.
There are also other universities that offer Co – Op programs, which are programs of cooperative education, in which universities and companies participate, allowing the student not only to study, but also, to work outside the campus, gaining a salary that goes according to the market. The ways in which the Co – Op program can be applied, are many, depending on the employer, because you can work for half the day and then study the other half, or you can work during the day and study during the night, or you can, also, work during a trimester and study the following.
The access to the program demands from the students the fulfillment of conditions such as keeping a minimum average of grades, an authorization from the academic counselor for foreign students.
The F – 1 Visa for Fulltime Students or the J – 1 Visa of Educational and Cultural Exchange, allow the immigrant student to request for an authorization to work outside from the university campus for exceptional reasons, before he or she finishes the first year of studies. These circumstances can be related to economic crisis reasons in the country of origin, medical treatments or accidents. The request is presented before the Immigration Service, after the academic counselor for foreign students has approved it and keeping the condition of a fulltime student. The employment search options are not limited to the field the student is seeing, and he or she has the option to decide in which field he or she would like to work in.
One the of most important educational exchange programs, is the Au Pair program, which takes women to work as baby sitters, receiving accommodations, alimentation and a salary in charge of the receptor family, and in their free time, they can study whatever they wish in a college or a university.
Summing up, the students who benefit from the F – 1 Visa for Fulltime Students and the J – 1 Visa of Educational and Cultural Exchange, can work inside or outside the campus, as long as they have the authorization of the Immigration Service.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Working Facility For Foreign Student in the USA

Working in the USA

Remember that you are restricted by your visa in terms of being able to work in the USA. It is a MUST that you know all the requirements and restrictions concerning your visa! Please be sure to visit our international student immigration center to learn more about your visa and consult an immigration attorney if you have any questions.

US Employment Rules for F1 Students

Most international students in the United States hold an F-1 visa, which is the U.S. non-immigrant student visa. F-1 students are allowed to work in the United States, but only under certain conditions and in accordance with complex guidelines and restrictions issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
Generally, all employment is contingent on remaining within the terms and restrictions of your F-1 visa. There are several categories of employment during the term of your stay as an F-1 student in the United States. On-campus employment is the most freely available, and then there are four categories of off-campus employment: optional practical training (OPT), curricular practical training (CPT), severe economic hardship, and approved international organizations.
  • On-campus employment
  • OPT
  • CPT
  • Economic Hardship
  • International Institutions

On-Campus Employment

On-campus employment is the category most freely permitted by the USCIS regulations, and it does not require USCIS approval. However, although F-1 status includes an on-campus employment privilege, on-campus employment opportunities at most schools are limited. Even if you can obtain a job on campus, you may not rely on it to prove financial resources for the year, and often these jobs are not related to your studies. Many schools do require that you obtain permission from the International Student Office prior to accepting any on-campus employment, and may not permit such employment in a student's first semester or year.
For on-campus work, an F-1 student is subject to the following rules:
  1. You must maintain valid F-1 status
  2. You can work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session
  3. You can work full-time on campus during holidays and vacation periods if you intend to register for the next academic semester.
  4. The employment may not displace (take a job away from) a U.S. resident
The definition of on-campus employment includes:
  • Work performed on the school's premises directly for your school (including work affiliated with a grant or assistantship).
  • Work performed for on-location commercial firms which provide services for students on campus, such as the school bookstore or cafeteria. (Employment with on-site commercial firms which do not provide direct student services, such as a construction company building a school building, is not deemed on-campus employment for the purposes of the rule.)
  • Work performed at an off-campus location which is educationally affiliated with the school. The educational affiliation must be associated with the school's established curriculum or related to contractually funded research projects at the post-graduate level. In any event, the employment must be an integral part of the student's educational program.
Since your status is always contingent on your school's support, you must seek guidance and clearance from your International Student Office prior to applying for or accepting any employment, and you should request their particular interpretation of any ambiguous situation. You will also need your school's guidance to ensure that you file all appropriate forms with USCIS and receive any necessary USCIS approval.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

International students in the U.S. in valid F-1 immigration status are permitted to work off-campus in optional practical training (OPT) status both during and after completion of their degree. Rules established by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) govern the implementation of OPT, and all OPT employment requires prior authorization from USCIS and from your school’s International Student Office.
You can apply for OPT after being enrolled for at least 9 months, but you cannot begin employment until you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS and you have been enrolled for at least a year. You do not need to have a job offer to apply for your OPT EAD, and your OPT employment can occur anywhere in the US. Start early—USCIS takes up to 90 days to process your application—and make sure you work closely with your school’s International Student Office. As with everything you will do while in the U.S., permission is based on maintaining lawful F-1 status, and your International Student Office is there to help you maintain that status throughout your stay.
General OPT Requirements:
  1. Employment must be “directly related” to the student’s major
  2. Student must maintain lawful F-1 status
  3. Student must apply for OPT before completion of all work towards a degree
  4. Students who have engaged in 12 months or more of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) are not eligible for OPT
  5. OPT is permitted for up to 12 months full-time in total – part-time OPT (while still in school) reduces available full-time OPT by half of the amount of part-time work (for instance, if you work part time for 6 months, you can work full-time for up to 9 months)
Students can be authorized for 12 months of OPT for each successive level of degree achieved – for instance, you can do 12 months of OPT after receiving your undergraduate degree, go back to graduate school, and then do 12 months of OPT after receiving your graduate degree. Pre-completion OPT (students are still in school) and post-completion OPT (students have completed their degree) each have different rules:
OPT before completing a degree:
  • Students must be enrolled in school full-time
  • Students may only work 20 hours per week while school is in session
  • Students may work full-time during summer and other breaks (as long as the student will return to school after the break)
  • Student may work full-time after completion of all coursework, if a thesis or dissertation is still required and student is making normal progress towards the degree
OPT after completing a degree:
  • After completion of your degree, OPT work must be full time (40 hours/week)
  • All OPT must be completed within 14 months after completion of your degree
  • Applications for post-completion OPT must be received by USCIS before the completion of the degree
One final note – be mindful of the travel regulations governing F-1 students on OPT. If you leave the country after completion of your degree, but before receiving your EAD and obtaining a job, you may not be readmitted. You can leave the country after completion of your degree if you have your EAD and a job, but make sure you bring everything that you’ll need to get back in (including valid passport, valid EAD card, valid F1 visa, all your I-20s with page 3 endorsed for travel by your international student advisor within the past 6 months, and a letter of employment, including dates of employment and salary).

OPT Update - April 2008

In April 2008, the Department of Homeland Security updated their OPT requirements for students who are studying certain degree programs so that OPT can be extended for an additional 17 months, up to a total of 29 months of OPT. This was instituted to plug the gap between students who completed their OPT and did not have a chance to file for an H1B visa due to the time frames and visa caps that exist on the H1B visa. Students can now extend their OPT so they still have the opportunity to apply for an H1B visa.
The special extension of the OPT program is only available to those who are employed by companies who are enrolled in the E-Verify program, and you have to be studying one of the following subjects:
  • Actuarial Science
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Engineering
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Life Sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Military Technologies
  • Physical Sciences

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an off-campus employment option for F-1 students when the practical training is an integral part of the established curriculum or academic program. CPT employment is defined as “alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.” To qualify, the work experience must be required for your degree, or academic credit must awarded. And yes, you can get paid for CPT employment. Prior authorization by your school’s international student office and notification to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) is required.
To be eligible for CPT employment:
  1. You must have been enrolled in school full-time for one year on valid F-1 status (except for graduate students where the program requires immediate CPT)
  2. The CPT employment must be an integral part of your degree program or requirement for a course for which you receive academic credit
  3. You must have received a job offer that qualifies before you submit your CPT authorization request
  4. Your job offer must be in your major or field of study
Your International Student Office must authorize you for CPT. Once you receive CPT authorization, you can only work for the specific employer and for the specific dates authorized (unlike with OPT or severe economic hardship off-campus employment, where you can work anywhere in the US). Your CPT authorization will also specify whether you are approved for part-time (20 hours per week or less) or full-time (more than 20 hours per week) CPT employment. While in school, you can only be approved for part-time CPT.
Regardless of whether you are approved for full or part-time on CPT, there is no limit to how long you can work. However, if you work full-time on CPT for 12 months or more, you are not eligible for OPT. If you work part-time on CPT, or full-time on CPT for less than 12 months, you are still eligible for all of your allowable OPT. So make sure you watch the dates and hours closely – don’t jeopardize your OPT!
As with all employment, you should work closely with your international student office. The general rules will apply somewhat differently to undergraduates, graduate students and PhD candidates, and they can guide you. The office can help you determine your eligibility for CPT, make sure your job offer qualifies, and make sure you follow all necessary steps in applying to USCIS. They also have to authorize your CPT, so you have no choice – you have to work with them. But they are pros, especially when it comes to USCIS regulations, so use them – they are there to help you.
Many schools in the United States offer work and study programs that coordinate immediate employment through CPT programs. Not only does this give international students the opportunity to help cover the costs of their education, but they will at the same time gain valuable work experience and obtain their masters degree.

Severe Economic Hardship

Any F-1 student suffering "severe economic hardship" as defined by USCIS is eligible to work off-campus for up to 20 hours per week while school is in session, and full-time during breaks.
To be eligible under "sever economic hardship", a student must:
  1. be in valid F-1 status for at least one academic year (9 months)
  2. be in good academic standing
  3. provide evidence of economic hardship based on unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control
  4. show that on-campus employment is neither available nor sufficient
  5. make a good faith effort to locate employment on campus before applying
The rule gives examples of the types of things that could be considered "severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student’s control." These circumstances may include:
  • loss of financial aid or on-campus employment without fault on the part of the student
  • substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rate
  • inordinate increases in tuition and/or living costs
  • unexpected changes in the financial condition of the student's source of support
  • medical bills or other substantial and unexpected expenses.
You must apply for an "employment authorization document" (EAD) with the help and guidance of your International Student Office -- you do not need a job offer before you apply for the EAD. But several forms and documents are required, together with fees and photos, etc., and processing can take up to 12 weeks or longer -- and you cannot start work until you receive the EAD. Once you receive the EAD, you may work for an employer at any job, anywhere in the United States. Employment authorization is automatically terminated when a student fails to maintain valid F-1 status.

Employment with an International Organization

The final category of employment for international students in the U.S. on F-1 visas is employment with a “recognized international organization.” To qualify, an organization must be on the official State Department list, and listed organizations include the Red Cross, African and Asian Development Banks, the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, and many other similar but less well-known organizations. Because it does not have the universal application of OPT or CPT, this category of employment is often overlooked. Only students with a job offer and sponsorship from one of the listed organizations are eligible. However, for those lucky students who do have such sponsorship, there are clear benefits of this employment category.
Requirements to work for an international organization:
  1. The student must have an internship/employment with a “recognized international organization.” Click here to see a recent listing of all "recognized international organizations"
  2. The employment must be within the scope of the organization’s sponsorship, and within the student’s field of study.
  3. The student must have been in valid F-1 status for at least one full academic year.
  4. The student must be in good academic standing.
If you meet these requirements, you can apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). You can start to work only after you receive your EAD, which can take up to 3 months.
There are certain advantages of this type of employment when compared to CPT or OPT.
  • Employment does not have to be for-credit nor required for your degree program.
  • Regardless of how much or how long you work, this type of employment will not take away from your 12-month post-completion OPT.