For the past 50 years, the US has been the go-to country for young international students looking for quality education and opportunities. After graduation, many of these international students end up remaining in the US and getting jobs afterward, thereby contributing to the growth of America.
Moreover, international students have the advantage already because they have been given the legal right to study in the country beforehand. You have the option of turning your F-1 visa into permanent residency.
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Although, with your F-1 visa, the USA will allow you to remain for at least 60 days after your graduation date. Therefore, you need to start working on your stay even before you graduate. In this guide, we look at ways an international student can get a job after graduation in the US.
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6 Ways to Get Jobs After Graduation in the US
1. Apply for the Optional Practical Training (OPT) Program:
The Optional Practical Training (OPT) program offers international undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to stay and work in the USA for 12 months. For you to be eligible for this, you must have a degree or study in the USA for one full academic year.
Additionally, students or graduates of the STEM field may get a 24-month extension. However, this program has few spots available to international students, so the earlier you start applying, the better.
Before applying, you must note that:
- You must seek employment in professions that relate to your field of study.
- You will need to fill out and submit a work authorization form to the USCIS to verify your eligibility.
- If the program accepts you, note that you can only work for 20 hours a week during school sessions.
For more information, you need to visit the USCIS website.
2. Apply for the H-1B visa (non-immigrant visa):
With the aid of a sponsor in the USA, international students can change their F-1 student visa to an H-1B visa. The H-1B allows you to work in the USA for six years after you graduate from the university. However, to be eligible for this visa, you must first prove to the USCIS that you have the qualities that the company requires. Note that you must apply to companies that relate to your field of study.
Furthermore, your employer can file for employment-based permanent residency after five years of working with you. This will cause your H-1B visa to be extended past the six-year limit. Note that you will have to apply for the H-1B visa again if you change jobs during these six years.
3. Obtain a Green card:
The main goal of most international students studying in the United States is to get a green card. Fortunately, international students have the advantage of getting it because they have already spent a significant number of years staying in the US, legally.
Unlike H-1B, which has limitations, the green card allows you to stay in the USA permanently. The advantages of having a green card are:
- You can work anywhere and anytime without restrictions in the US,
- get financial benefits,
- and live in the US indefinitely.
Due to the high demand for a green card, it is the most difficult to get and can take a lot of years to obtain. The best way to get it is by proving to your employer in the US that you are a valuable member of the company. Therefore, they can sponsor your application process for the green card.
Additionally, you can also “self-petition” for a green card. To get more information, you can visit the Green Card Eligibility page on the USCIS website.
4. Family sponsorship:
If you have a family member in the US, they can help you sponsor your green card petition. However, they have to meet the following criteria to sponsor you:
- your family member must be your spouse,
- child over 21,
- parent,
- or siblings.
To learn more about this, check out the Family of US Citizens page on the USCIS website.
5. Marriage
The application for a visa or permanent residency can be made through your spouse or fiancé who lives in the US. However, marrying a citizen of the US does not guarantee your citizenship. Therefore, you must prove the validity of the marriage.
6. Military service
For international students who have studied in the US for two years, they should be eligible to serve in the US military. You can serve in positions like medical fields or as an interpreter. However, only green card holders can get high-ranking and security clearance.
This military service is not an automatic path to gaining a green card, but it is sure to accelerate your process. This is because it allows you to skip the required five years of residency in the United States.
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For international students looking to get jobs after graduation in the US, it can be difficult and demanding. At AfterSchoolAfrica, we understand the economic and academic potential that staying in the US has for international students.
Therefore, we can help make this dream a reality by offering scholarships, loans, and work-study programs for financial assistance. Therefore, by exploring these avenues, you can accelerate your residency application while focusing on your studies without worrying about financial burdens.
Additionally, through our global education lending partners, we now help and support African students to fund their graduate education in Canada, the UK, or the US. You don’t need collateral or a Cosigner.
Are you an African graduate student with future career potential? The Edxtra Student Loan Support Service will provide you with the required expert support and guidance to get student loans. Our alliance with our global lending partners will help you get that education at leading international universities.
