isso job fall2016 - cornell career services · 2020. 6. 24. · • h1b databases: myvisajobs.com...

Upcoming Presentation:

Interviewing Tips for International Students and

PostdocsThursday, August 25

5:15-6:15175 Warren Hall

US Job-Search Tips and Work Authorization for International

Students and Postdocs

Anne Poduska, Cornell Career ServicesAdriana Rovers, International Students & Scholars Office

Presentation Goals

• Identify common challenges and issues international students and postdocs may face in their US job search

• Provide resources and suggestions to overcome these challenges

• Outline the work authorization requirements for working in the US after graduation

Career Services: What Can We Help With?

Career Offices: Undergraduates

• Arts & Sciences: 172 Goldwin Smith• Agriculture and Life Sciences: 140 Roberts• Architecture, Art & Planning: B1 West Sibley • Engineering: 201 Carpenter• Hotel: 180 Statler • Human Ecology: 172 MVR• ILR: 201 Ives• University-wide: 103 Barnes

Career Offices: Research Master’s and PhD students

• Agriculture and Life Sciences: 140 Roberts• Engineering: 201 Carpenter• Hotel: 180 Statler • ILR: 201 Ives• University-wide: 103 Barnes

Professional Master’s Students: Visit your program office

Career Services: Postdocs and Graduate Students Interested

in a Postdoc

• Christine Holmes, Director of Postdoctoral Studies: Caldwell Hall, ch18@cornell.edu

Common Questions

• Which employers will sponsor me?

• What job can I get as an international student or scholar?

Considering Work Authorization: Finding Jobs and Employers

• Excel Spreadsheet on CCS webpage

• Handshake

• H1B databases: Myvisajobs.com

• Hear from friends, colleagues, alumni, recruiters

Considering Work Authorization: Finding Jobs and Employers

Ideal SituationWhich employers sponsor visas?

Find employers

Find jobs

Find and apply for jobs with

employers that sponsor

You get the perfect job in the United

States!

Potential ChallengesWhich employers sponsor visas?

Can’t find employers that sponsor visas in

your field

Can find employers

Job postings want someone

with more experience

Can find jobs

Found and applied for jobs with employers

that sponsorCan’t find open job postings

You’re not getting any responses

You don’t have time or energy

to do this amount of research!

Potential Challenges: General Advice • There is no easy solution—for the job or career path you’d

like, you might need to work outside of the US

• Identify what skills you have that would make you the most competitive applicant: buyer/seller model*

• Talk to people

* Power Ties: The International Student’s Guide to Finding a Job in the United States by Dan Beaudry

Potential ChallengesWhich employers sponsor visas?

Can’t find employers that sponsor visas in

your field

Can’t Find Employers Sponsoring Visas1. Widen your list of employers• Hoovers

Can’t Find Employers Sponsoring Visas1. Widen your list of employers2. Consider working in a different area/use wider definition

of skills• Google LinkedIn profiles

Can’t Find Employers Sponsoring Visas1. Widen your list of employers2. Consider working in a different area/use wider definition

of skills3. Consider working abroad:• Uniworld• GoinGlobal

Can’t Find Employers Sponsoring Visas1. Widen your list of employers2. Consider working in a different area/use wider definition

of skills3. Consider working abroad:4. Talk to people:• LinkedIn

Potential ChallengesWhich employers sponsor visas?

Can find employers

Can’t find open job postings

Companies Sponsor But Don’t Have Job Postings

1. Talk to individuals about when jobs might be posted• Human resources representatives at companies• Alumni• Individuals in the field (LinkedIn)• Representatives at Career Fairs or information sessions• Career Services staff

Companies Sponsor But Don’t Have Job Postings

1. Talk to individuals about when jobs might be posted

2. Find additional companies• Hoovers

Potential ChallengesWhich employers sponsor visas?

Can find employers

Job postings want someone

with more experience

Can find jobs

Companies Can Sponsor But Not For Entry-Level Job Postings

1. Talk to individuals in the field• Would you be competitive for higher-level jobs?• Could you gain experience (through courses, volunteering,

internships) that would improve your chances?• Are there training programs?

Companies Can Sponsor But Not For Entry-Level Job Postings

1. Talk to individuals in the field

2. Consider working abroad, moving back to the U.S.• Talk to individuals in your home country • Speak with individuals at multinational corporations

Potential ChallengesWhich employers sponsor visas?

Can find employers

Can find jobs

Found and applied for jobs with employers

that sponsor

You’re not getting any responses

You Found Employers and Job Postings But You Haven’t Heard Anything!

1. Meet with someone in your career office• Bring resume, cover letter, job posting, and talk about

approaches

2. Speak with individuals in your field and ask for advice

3. Submit application to a real person

Potential ChallengesWhich employers sponsor visas?

You don’t have time or energy

to do this amount of research!

You Don’t Have Enough Time• Decide how much time you realistically have to spend on

this and set goals and a timeline

• Know your OPT timeline

• Talk to people (sometimes more efficient)

• Schedule appointments with Career Office, friends, colleagues

• Attend on-campus career events and workshops

WorkAuthorizationF-1&J-1Students

• “Maintaining”Status• F1PracticalTraining• J-1AcademicTraining• OtherWorkVisas

“MaintainingYourStatus”

• Enrollfulltime• Updateyouraddresswhenyoumove• Keepyourdocumentsvalid:extendI-20orDS-2019!• DoNOTworkoffcampuswithoutauthorization

F1OffCampusWorkAuthorization

Therearetwotypesof“PracticalTraining”WorkAuthorization:Ø CurricularPracticalTraining(CPT)ØOptionalPracticalTraining(OPT)

Thetraining/workmustbeinyourmajorfieldofstudyandNOTyourminor.

F-1CurricularPracticalTraining(CPT)• CPTWorkAuthorizationismostoftenusedforinternshipsifyouareeligible.

• EASY-applicationisthroughISSOinsteadofUSCIS

• CanbeusedforPAID internships,cooperativeeducationjob,apracticum,oranyotherworkexperience

IfthejobisUNPAIDyoudon’tneedworkauthorization!

F-1CurricularPracticalTraining(CPT)EligibilityRequirements

http://isso.cornell.edu/students/working-us/f1-internships-cpt

• Mustbeenrolledforatleastonefullacademicyear

• WorkmustbeREQUIREDforyourdegreeor

• Youmustreceivecreditinacourse

F- 1CurricularPracticalTraining(CPT)EligibilityRequirements

• Workmustberequiredforthedegree(forexample,hotelstudentsarerequiredtohave800hoursofworkexperience)

• Mustreceiveacademiccreditinacourse(suchasNMI510;ILR599;Law673orindependentstudy)

• Theworkwillformanintegralpartoftheresearchforthegraduatestudent’sthesisordissertation

F- 1CurricularPracticalTraining(CPT)

• Mayonlybeusedbefore graduation,whilestillindegreeprogram

• Full-timeduringthesummerorwinterbreak• Part-timeduringtheacademicyear(limitedto20

hourstotalperweek,includinganyon-campuswork)• Iftheyaregettingcreditforacourse,studentswork

fulltimeinsummerandtakeaspecificcourseinthefall

• CPTwillNOTaffectOPTunlessyouworkcumulativelymorethan12fullmonthsoffulltimeCPT

F-1CPTApplicationProcedures

• Musthavejobofferinordertoapply• GotoISSOwebsiteanddownloadCPTapp:

http://isso.cornell.edu/students/working-us/f1-internships-cptCompleteapplication—haveacademicadvisorsignoffonit,andbringcompletedapplicationtotheISSOatleasttwoweeksbeforeyoustartworking

• MUSTgetworkauthorizationpriortoworking!!WillrequirenewCPTI-20,passportandI-94cardtocompleteI-9EmploymentEligibilityFormwithemployer

F-1CPTWorkAuthorization

• ISSOAdvisorwillissueyouanewI-20withworkauthorizationonpage2

F-1OptionalPracticalTraining(OPT)

IfyouarenoteligibleforCPTanalternativewouldbetoapplyfor“pre-completion”OPT.

F-1OptionalPracticalTraining(OPT)

• EligibleforOPTafterbeingenrolledfulltimeforoneacademicyear

• Practicaltrainingmustbeinyourfield/major

• Maybeusedbeforeyougraduateoraftergraduation

• 12monthstotalperdegreelevel

(StudentsinSTEM(science,technology,engineeringandmath)fieldsmaybeeligibleforanadditional24monthsandcanbeappliedfor,3monthsbeforetheinitial12monthsends.)

F-1OptionalPracticalTraining(OPT)

• Timeusedbeforegraduationisdeductedfromthe12months

• Shouldhavespecificdatesofemployment,asyoudonotwanttorequestmoretimethanyouneedforthework

F-1OPTApplicationProcedures:ApplyEarly

• PickupapplicationfromISSOordownloadfromourISSOwebsite:isso.cornell.edu

• SubmitcompletedapplicationtotheISSO.WewillcreateanewI-20andthenyouwillsendyourapplicationtoUSCISalongwithfee

F-1OptionalPracticalTraining(OPT)• Applyearly.Itcouldtake3monthstoreceiveyourEmploymentAuthorizationCard(EAD/OPTCard)

• Youcannotapplymorethan120daysbeforethestartdateyouchoose

• MustsubmitapplicationtoUSCISwithin30daysofissuedateofnewI-20fromISSO

F-1OptionalPracticalTraining(OPT)

• YoucannotbeginworkuntilyouhavetheOPTcardinhandandhavearrivedatthestartdateonthecard

• OPTcardisrequiredtocompletetheI-9EmploymentEligibilityVerificationformwithemployer

J1WorkAuthorization• “AcademicTraining”

– Forpracticaltraininginyourfield– Eitherinsummervacationoraftergraduation

• DownloadorpickupapplicationatISSO

• CometotheISSOwithapplicationandjobofferletter.

J-1AcademicTraining

• ISSOissuesyouworkauthorizationletterfor“AcademicTraining”

• Totaltimeavailableis18months

• Additional18monthsmaybepossibleforpostdoctoralresearchpositions

OtherVisaCategoriesCometotheworkshop:“VisasAfterGraduation”

• ETreatytrader/investors• H TemporaryWorker• J ExchangeVisitor• L Intra-companyTransferees• O PersonsofExtraordinaryAbility• TN NAFTAprofessionals(MexicoandCanada)

TNVisaNorthAmericanFreeTradeAgreement(NAFTA)

ForCanadiansandMexicans

Requires at least a baccalaureate (bachelor's) degree or appropriate credentials demonstrating status as a professional see list of professional occupations).•Visa issued for a maximum of three years at a time depending on the job offer dates, and is renewable indefinitely

Canadian citizen applies at a port of entry with the following:•evidence of Canadian citizenship •documentation of professional qualifications, (diplomas, degrees, transcripts). These must show that the educational requirements for the above professional occupations have been met. •letter or contract from hiring company that includes: a description of the professional-level activity in which the visitor will be engaged; a full description of the nature of the job duties that the visitor will be performing; the anticipated length of stay; and the salary •$50 fee. •the visitor must be otherwise admissible under U.S. immigration law.

H-1BTemporaryWorkerVisa

• H1Bquestions?• H1BBasics:

– 6years– Employerspecific– Portable– Dualintent

• U.S.PermanentResidence

H-1BApplicationProcedures§ FileLaborConditionApplication(LCA)-- Employermustpayhigherofprevailingoractualwage;noadverseworkconditionsforUSworkers

§ FileH-1Bpetition(FormI-129)

§ Overallprocessingtimeframe:• 3-4monthsnormally• Premiumprocessingpossibility:2weeks

H-1BAdvantages

§ Duration:• 6yearmaximum• 1yearstayoutsideU.S.refreshes6yrs• additionalHextensionsifgreencardstartedbyendof5th year

§ Timetoworktowardgreencard§ NoadvertisingortestoftheU.S.labormarket§ H-1Bportabilitywhenchangeemployers

H-1BDisadvantages§ Tiedtooneemployer§ NotflexiblelikeF-1OPT§ Paperwork,costanddelay§ October1st startdate+caprace§ “Self-sponsorship” canbedifficult§ Mustworktomaintainstatus§ Fees:• $825– cap-exempt• $2,325– cap-subject• $1,125– expedite• $3,000– legalfee

WhatistheH-1B“cap”?• 65,000perfiscalyear• Of65,000,6,800carvedoutforChileandSingapore• Separate20,000forgraduateswithU.S.master’sdegreeorhigher• RaceforHcapvisas§ Quotayear:October1toSeptember30§ ApplyEarliest:April1(6monthsbefore)§ Pastyears’ H-1Bquotafilled:

v June11,2012(FY2013)v April5,2013(FY2014)v Ifneeded,USCISconducts“lottery” toselectcasestobe

consideredforH-1Bapproval

H-1BCapExemptions

• Lowerfilingfees/applyanytime• College/universityemployees• Relatedoraffiliatednonprofitentities(i.e.universityteachinghospitals)• Nonprofitresearchorganizations• Governmentresearchorganizations• PriorcapH-1Bholders• J-1shortageareawaivereddoctors

InternationalStudents&ScholarsOffice(ISSO)B-50CaldwellHall

Hours:Mon,Tues,Thurs,Fri:9:00-4:30;Wed:1:00-4:30

Ontheweb:www.isso.cornell.edu

Byemail:isso@cornell.edu