Do you need work authorization for unpaid internships?

All dependent on the country you're looking to work in, but in general the rules are consistent across the board. Technically you would need to get a work permit of some kind even if you are not getting financially compensated. Volunteers even need to apply for a special permits. With that being said, you don't have to apply for one if your company doesn't require you to and if you plan on staying in the country for less then 90 days (assuming you're traveling on an American passport). When you get to customs you just say you're there for travel, and they stamp your passport and you're on your way. The larger firms you mentioned are most likely going to go by the books so I would assume you would need to get one, then again, can't imagine they would go through paper work for an internship.

At my school, the International Office provides a letter to the Social Security Office; then you take your VISA, passport, and that letter to the Social Security Office. The office then provides you with a SS number + EAD card, which you will need to provide to the employer before starting to work. You don't need to get a green card, but you will need EAD. From what I've seen from students around me, even unpaid internships require you to have work authorization in the U.S.

Not required if its unpaid. Big firms will, however, require you to take credits for unpaid internships

bumpp

technically you do need one, at larger BBs they would require you even if its unpaid

however you may be able to get away with it if its boutiques

thanks for the responses, wow I didn't know that they needed passport, fingerprints etc. for a lower-end unpaid internship like PWM. I thought being a financial advisor's assistant would qualify more as a "volunteer" internship...

Do you guys have any suggestions or recommendations of boutiques in NYC? Also what positions are most common for freshmen/sophomores? wealth management? research? ops?