Employment Resources for International Students
What is Employment?
Do's and Don'ts for International Job Applicants
Unpaid Internships and Volunteer Positions
Do's and Don'ts for Employers
Starting Your Own Business/Entrepreneurs
Tax Withholding forms and new employee paperwork
Helpful Links
Resources for New Employees
Guide for Employers
What is Employment?
"Employment" is any type of work performed, or services provided, in exchange for money, tuition, fees, books, supplies, lodging, or for any other benefit. The U.S. government has a wide definition of 'employment', so it is very important to understand your work authorization options and have any necessary approvals/documentation before work begins.
Unpaid Internships and Volunteer Positions
Unpaid internships or volunteer positions which are not recreational or avocational in nature (i.e. unpaid or volunteer opportunities which may be directly related to a student's area of study) would require work authorization. Recreation or avocational volunteer opportunities (unrelated to one's studies or professional pursuits) may not require authorization, and should be allowed where this practice does not violate U.S. labor law. Refusing or delaying payment to make a position "unpaid" is considered a violation of your F-1 or J-1 student status.
Unpaid internships are a very specific type of opportunity in labor law that is of benefit to the intern and not necessarily the company. With bona fide unpaid internships, no one would get paid—international or domestic, it is advertised as unpaid, the position is usually called ‘unpaid intern’, you are not refusing or delaying payment to make it ‘unpaid’ etc), and it does not violate any labor laws.
With every position (paid or unpaid, vocational or avocational), it is recommended that you keep thorough documentation, such as a copy of the original position posting and/or a letter from the organization, showing that the position is a true unpaid internship or volunteer opportunity.
If you are changing anything about the opportunity to “make” it an unpaid internship, or if you will eventually get paid for doing the same job, then it is most likely not a bona fide unpaid internship and you would need approved work authorization to do it.
See the Department of Labor Unpaid Internship Factsheet for more information.
Unpaid Work for the University
Any potential unpaid for work for a University of Chicago faculty member or department must also meet the unpaid work criteria stipulated on the Department of Labor fact sheet listed above. Taking an unpaid job for which you should receive compensation would be a violation of both immigration and labor law.
Work that is normally performed by paid employees may not be assigned to someone who is not a paid employee. Because of this, it is unlikely that you would be able to partake in work as an RA for University of Chicago professors or departments without pay. If you are offered an unpaid research with the University, you must check with the HR administrator for the department to confirm: 1) Whether or not it is a bona fide unpaid internship opportunity, and 2) Whether or not the proposed unpaid employment would violate labor law.
A student who receives a grant, stipend or scholarship is not considered to be employed under that award, even if service, research, or other requirements are a condition of the award being made.
Starting Your Own Business/Entrepreneurs
With some F-1 and J-1 Student work authorization options, you can start your own business, as long as you are operating legally and have any required business licenses. Remember than you will require work authorization for any work that you do.
USCIS has created an Entrepreneur Pathways website to provide information and guidance in operating your own in business in the U.S. You can review this website to answer questions and see your work authorization options. If you plan on starting a business or are thinking about ways you can continue your business after your student work authorization ends, you may want to consult an immigration attorney.
Helpful Links
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Employment/Practical Training Authorization Options for F-1/J-1 Students
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Undergraduate Career Assistance: Career Advancement
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Resume & Interview Toolkit (log-in required)
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Graduate Student Career Assistance: UChicago Grad
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Unpaid Internships and Volunteer Opportunities
Working after F-1/J-1 Status (after F-1 OPT/STEM and J-1 Academic Training):
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published additional online resources on uscis.gov to provide an overview of some of the temporary and permanent pathways for noncitizen entrepreneurs to work in the United States. This guide also highlights some of the most important immigration-related considerations for entrepreneurs contemplating starting or managing a business in the United States.
Do's and Don'ts for International Job Applicants
Realize that résumés in the U.S. and other countries may look different but that you must follow the U.S. standard.
Realize that résumés in the U.S. and other countries may look different but that you must follow the U.S. standard.
Do | Don't |
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Understand that your skills represent a valuable resource for an employer. |
Assume that good job skills are all you need to get a job; good interview skills are essential. |
Realize that your international experience brings important perspectives to your work; your employer will benefit from this. |
Rely on the advice of family or friends; do consult professionals, such as Career Advancement and the I-House ESL Program. |
Prepare thoroughly and carefully for the job application and interview/s: Have a professional (such as an adviser at CA) review your résumé; Learn as much as you can about potential employers; Consult resources for job interview preparation; Schedule mock interviews to help you prepare; Read American self-help books about job searching and interviewing. |
Feel that being international makes you a second-rate applicant. The opposite is true: You will bring valuable new perspective to everything the company does. |
Realize that résumés in the U.S. and other countries may look different but that you must follow the U.S. standard. |
Mention visa sponsorship; all you have to disclose in the interview process -if asked- is whether you are legally authorized to be employed in the U.S. If you are in F-1 or J-1 status, the answer is “yes.” |
Dress and act professionally. |
Attempt to draw attention to your clothing, jewelry, etc. The focus should be on your skills and what you will bring to the company interviewing you. |
Show up on time; that means, be there and ready for the interview at least 5 minutes ahead of time. |
Let inappropriate questions throw you off. Rather, practice redirecting the question. For example, if you are female and someone asks you whether you plan to have children in the coming years, indicate that you would be happy to discuss your professional aspirations for the coming years and proceed to do just that. |
Check things out ahead of time (transportation, parking options, etc.). |
Burn bridges if the interview does not go well. Extricate yourself politely and professionally, if needed. For example, thank the interviewer for his/her time and indicate that you believe the company would not be a good fit for you. |
Use a firm handshake and make eye contact. |
Dwell on a job you did not get, but do review each job interview analytically afterwards: What can you do better next time? If you are unsure, consult a professional at CA to review with you. |
More Tips for International Applicants:
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Use a formal approach, at least at first. Address the interviewer as Mr. or Ms. ..., unless you are greeted with something like: “Hi, I’m Christopher. Feel free to call me Chris.”
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Focus on what you can do for the company to help it be successful; while self-promotion is considered in very poor taste in some cultures, in the U.S. it is essential to getting the job.
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Treat every job interview as the employer’s opportunity to assess what you could do for the company and your opportunity to determine whether you really would want to work there.
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Prepare good questions that will give you more information about the job.
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If applicable, apply for off-campus work authorization well in advance of your start date.
Do's and Don'ts for Employers
Do | Don't |
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Consider international student applicants a valuable resource for your company! |
Assume that an international applicant is “not worth the bother” because of visa issues; there is incredible talent in this applicant pool! |
Consult with your Human Resources Department before going on a recruiting trip - ask what you should know regarding international applicants. |
Discriminate when faced with an international applicant. For example, you cannot choose to accept job applications only from U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent Residents unless there is a legal requirement for the job that says so. |
Give some consideration to requirements for a position, such as degree required and the wording “or foreign equivalent” to account for those applicants with equivalent but different international degrees. |
Ask the job applicant what his/her visa status is. (You may ask whether the individual is legally authorized to be employed in the U.S.). |
Develop resources that let you readily understand an international applicant’s credentials. See www.ece.org and www.wes.org. |
Assume that labor law does not apply to an applicant because s/he is international. |
Inform yourself of what constitutes unlawful discrimination in hiring. |
Assume that because an applicant is international s/he won’t file a complaint against you if you violate labor law or discriminate. |
More Do's:
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Realize that the interview and hiring process works very differently in other countries.
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Focus on the bona fide job qualifications of the applicant rather than ask questions about his/her country and culture (unless you are fairly well informed about them).
Tax Withholding and Other New Employee Forms FAQs
When you get hired, employees and employers are required to fill out a few forms that establish the employee's legal right to work in the U.S. and their tax withholding elections. 'Tax withholding' means the amount of money that is withheld from each paycheck for federal, state, and/or local taxes.
OIA can assist with your F-1/J-1 immigration questions, but we are not Human Resources or tax experts. As such, we are unable to help you complete or review your employment on-boarding forms or tax documents. Contact the HR person for your department or employer if you have any questions about employment forms or any other onboarding issue.
There are several resources available for you to get help with filling out your I-9 and W-4 forms:
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Contact your employer's Payroll or HR representative. If you're not sure who to contact, start with the person who instructed you to fill out the forms
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Review the IRS information for 'Aliens Employed in the U.S.'. This will give you detailed instructions and links to other resources
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Learn about determining your tax residency on our tax filing page. You will likley need to determine your tax residency status** to complete these forms.
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USCIS I-9 Resources, including the USCIS I-9 Handbook for Employers help orient you to the form and your rights as an employee. The I-9 handbook also explains how to complete these forms for employers and what documents are needed for I-9 verificationn purposes.
Are you working for or receiving taxable money from UChicago?
If so, the following information may be helpful:
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Payroll Website: How does the University tax my income or stipend?
Contact your company's HR representative or Payroll Department for any questions you have about tax withholdings. Because advisers in our office are not tax professionals, we do not have the required expertise are not legally allowed to advise on tax matters.
Visit our SSN page for information about Social Security Numbers and answers to frequently asked questions.
Get a New Job? Resources for New Employees
You've been offered the job; now what? Here is a selection of resources to help you navigate the next steps.
Resources for New Employees
- "How To Get Paid" International Student Pay and Taxes Webinar
Learn about the process and documentation required to receive pay (through stipends or employment) and how this relates to your taxes.
- Work Authorization
Learn what kind of work authorization you need for a new job and how to apply by reviewing the Work Authorization section on the Current F-1 and J-1 Students webpage.
- Applying for a Social Security Number (SSN)
SSN Eligibility requirements and application instructions.
- Filling Out Tax Forms/Tax Withholdings
See how to fill out the I-9 & W-4 for your employer and learn about the taxes that will be withheld from your paycheck.
- UChicago Student Employment
Learn about opportunities for for work-study and non-work study, on campus jobs.
- Career Advancement: University Resources for Workplace Skills
Find assistance with career planning and workplace skills with University of Chicago's Office of Career Advancement.
Employer Guide
We've created a guide for employers to help companies understand immigration statuses and work authorization eligibility. Feel free to share this information with potential employers.