Guidelines for International Students Seeking Internships

There is a lot of information regarding international students pursuing internships and careers in the US. This post is designed to overview some key points which can help the reader know what to expect, gain some understanding of how to legally intern in the US, and find ideas for overcoming the barriers international students face.

Official Applications

My experience as an international student was fairly unsuccessful. Some of the difficulties with my online applications were associated with being from a non-target school, but my feeling is that many of my struggles came from having to say I would need a Visa sponsorship to work in the future. For example, I applied to the same place twice, first for an internship and second for a full-time position. The main difference between my two applications was my immigration status, and while I never heard back about the internship I received a prompt response regarding the full-time position. Thus, if you aren't hearing back from your official applications don't get discouraged.

Yes, being an international student can give you some disadvantages, but there are various approaches you can take to try to overcome these issues. From my experience, smaller places and places without a formal recruiting process are likely to be less bureaucratic and more flexible when dealing with international students. Additionally, places that do not traditionally hire undergrads could also be more willing to show flexibility because they are not looking to immediately hire the interns and hence will not be concerned about your future immigration status.

Know What You Can and Can't Do

Immigration law is a fairly complex subject, and for some employers hearing that you are an international student makes them think hiring you would cause headaches. In fact, there is a lot that can be done in order to enable you to intern legally. While different fields may have different rules, I will focus on my experience as a business major and my understanding of the CPT(Curricular Practical Training). For schools that do not allow CPT, Goldfinger wrote a great post describing what can be done. No matter what your situation is, your international adviser is a great resource -- use it!

Assuming that your school allows CPT, the procedure is relatively simple. CPT allows you to intern up to 20 hours during the school year and full-time during the summer for your specified dates. However, if you have more than 12 months of CPT, you will not be eligible for OPT upon graduation . Therefore, if you are planning on doing multiple internships and may need OPT after graduation, allocate your time wisely. The main requirement for receiving CPT is an offer letter from your employer followed by registration for an internship class which counts towards your major. This process is done within your school, and you will receive a new I-20 within a few business days which allows you to work. For students in schools that do not allow CPT, I would try talking to your academic adviser. When I was in a big state school an internship credit was only allowed after the junior year, but through speaking with my adviser I got permission to register for an internship credit after my freshman year. Ultimately, as long as your internship is relevant to your major there won't be a legal burden on the employer during the summer, and communicating this to potential employers might help.

Networking

While as an international student you are disadvantaged by your eligibility to work legally in the US, when it comes to networking you have some unique advantages that could prove very useful. One approach is to network with people that speak your language(s). Beyond just speaking a language, your cultural identity can serve as an icebreaker and help you make connections with people in many different positions. Writing in one's mother tongue can make miracles for cold emails. Another idea is that often times in the US one region can have a high concentration of immigrants from your home country. Even if this will not directly help you get an internship on Wall Street, particularly early on in your academic career such a networking opportunity can allow you to gain valuable experience. Don't underestimate your networking potential as an international student. The US is a multicultural society, and some people in powerful positions may have faced their own difficulties with immigration and be open to helping.