Internship
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is work authorization that allows international students to accept practical training in their academic field after one year of full-time study. Students are required to register for at least one academic credit for the experience. As an employer, your only requirement is to provide an offer letter outlining the terms of employment. It is the student’s responsibility to receive university authorization for internships, a process that typically takes two weeks or less.
Full-Time Employment
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is work authorization that allows international students who have graduated to gain practical work experience related to their major field of study for 12 months of full-time employment. Students must obtain this authorization from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Applying for OPT is solely the responsibility of the student and therefore requires no action on the part of the hiring organization. OPT can be granted to the student with or without an offer of employment. There is no cost nor additional paperwork to the employer.
STEM Graduates: An additional 24 months of OPT work authorization (for a total of 36 months) allows for international students who have graduated with the following PSU Business degrees to gain extra practical work experience related to their STEM field.
- Bachelor of Arts/Science in Business, Technology & Analytics
- Master of Science in Finance
As with the initial OPT period described above, the STEM Extension application is primarily the responsibility of the student. However, the employer needs to be enrolled and in good-standing with E-Verify. Employers also prepare and document a formal training program to support the student's academic learning through practical experience by completing Form 1-983 with the student. There is no cost to the employer for completing that form, and the information included in the form may be based in whole or in part on the employer's existing procedures and managing talent.
Long Term: If an employer is interested in hiring an international student beyond OPT, they can initiate an application for an H-1B. Applications for H-1Bs are submitted to USCIS by the sponsoring employer on behalf of the international employee. Each Federal fiscal year, a general pool of 65,000 visas is available for employees to begin a new period of H-1B status. An additional pool of 20,000 visas is available for individuals with advanced degrees (master’s or higher) earned from a U.S. institution of higher education.. While most employers in the U.S. are subject to this “cap” of 85,000 new H-1Bs per fiscal year, some employers, including higher education institutions, non-profit organizations associated with higher education institutions, non-profit research organizations or government research organizations, and for-profit companies seeking to hire an individual for specialty occupation services to be provided to an approved non-profit, are exempt. H-1B status may be initially granted for up to three years, but can be renewed for a total of six years. Many companies find that retaining an experienced immigration attorney is helpful to facilitate the process.