Cornell University highlights some salient aspects of hiring international students in regards to legal considerations based on their visa status.

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STUDENTS (/STUDENTS)
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LIFE AT CORNELL (/LIFE­CORNELL)
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ABOUT (/ABOUT)
Employer Guide
Employer's Guide to Hiring International Students
Cornell University enrolls over 4,300 international students who hold temporary, "non­immigrant" visa status in the US. Their Cornell education combined with multicultural and
multilingual skills make these students an excellent asset to any US employer. This brochure is designed to clarify the employment eligibility of international students in general
terms, and to encourage you as a prospective employer to consider these talented graduates in your human resource development plan.
Advantages of Hiring International Students
Minimal paperwork is required to hire an international student
Employment authorization possible for up to seven years even without applying for a permanent residence status
Talented multicultural & multilingual employees
Easily verifiable employment eligibility
"Practical Training" Employment after Graduation
The majority of international students studying in the US hold F1 student visa status. A few hold J1 student visa status. In both cases, the regulations allow these students to apply
for work authorization during their studies AND after graduation. Just as the name implies, this "practical training" period is meant to give students real world experience in their major
field of study.
Time Limits
F1 students may work during the summers before they graduate full time on F1 Curricular Practical Training or "CPT" (/students/working­us/f1­internships­cpt)
F1 students may work for up to 12 months on F1 Optional Practical Training or "OPT." (/students/working­us/f1­work­post­grad­opt)

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Two types of extensions of OPT are available—STEM 24 month for students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields (/students/working­us/f1­work­post­grad­
opt/opt­stem­extension), and one for students on OPT whose employers apply for the H1B on their behalf (/students/working­us/f1­work­post­grad­opt/opt­h1b­cap­gap­
extension).
J1 students may work for up to 18 months (/students/working­us/j1­student­work) on J1 in their field of study (longer for post­doctoral research).
Little Paperwork for Employers
All paperwork is handled by the student and Cornell University's International Students and Scholars Office, or the J1's program sponsor. In some cases, a job offer letter is
required.
Long­Term Employment: Changing to a Different Visa Status
After practical training, most students may continue to work if the employer sponsors the student's application for another visa type—usually the H1B, or the TN for Canadians and
Mexicans.
TN or Trade Nafta Visa
The TN visa allows Canadians and Mexicans (http://www.uscis.gov/working­united­states/temporary­workers/tn­nafta­professionals) to work in the US for three years at a time
renewable indefinitely in certain occupations.
Temporary Worker (H1B) Status
An employer can apply to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) for an H1B visa for an employee (http://www.uscis.gov/working­united­states/temporary­workers/h­
1b­specialty­occupations­dod­cooperative­research­and­development­project­workers­and­fashion­models). The H1B visa may be used for up to six years. There are forms that
must be filed with the state and federal labor departments for the H1B, but the employer does NOT have to prove that there are no US workers available. The employer only has to
demonstrate that the international is qualified for the job and will be paid the "prevailing wage" for that job. The H1B can take from 2 weeks to 5 months to be approved. More
information is available on the website of the Miller Mayer law firm.
A Note About "Green Cards" or "Permanent Residence"
Attention is often drawn to these options (student and temporary worker visas) because they are satisfactory alternatives to the green card or permanent resident status and involve
much less time, expense, and paperwork than the green card process.
Many international students seeking opportunities for post­graduate career employment in the US fully intend to return to their home countries after spending a few years establishing
themselves professionally. These internationals and the companies they work for are well served by the non­immigrant employment options discussed here. In these cases, efforts
to secure U.S. permanent residence are not at all necessary.
Verifying Employment Eligibility: Completing the I­9

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All employees, including international students, must complete the I­9 "Employment Eligibility Verification" form. The I­9 requires the employer to verify the identity and work
authorization of every person hired. The I­9 form is available in a paper form, on the USCIS website (http://www.uscis.gov) but there is also an electronic verification process called
"e­verify" which is becoming increasingly required by the US federal government. More information on E­Verify is available here. (http://www.uscis.gov/e­verify)
International Students & Scholars Office
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