As so many of our blogs have shared, work and internships are an essential part of the college experience as this is a way to transfer your classroom learning in a practical setting. Without such experiences, it can be extremely difficult to find a job after graduating from school. International students who need to seek such experiences may be challenged in securing paid positions but the goal of acquiring professional workplace experience is much more important than financial compensation alone. Thus, as an international student in the United States, you may see unpaid internships as a means to gain work experience.
International students who hold an unpaid internship typically need authorization to legally engage in their internships. Whether you should use Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT) depends on several factors:
- CPT (Curricular Practical Training): CPT is typically used for internships that are an integral part of the curriculum or degree program. If the unpaid internship is required by your academic program or if you are earning academic credit for it, then CPT would likely be the appropriate authorization. However, CPT usually requires that you have been enrolled in your program for at least one academic year before you are eligible (some institutions may offer day one CPT).
- OPT (Optional Practical Training): OPT, on the other hand, is typically used for off-campus employment opportunities that are directly related to your field of study but are not required for your degree. If the unpaid internship is not a requirement for your degree and you are not earning academic credit for it, OPT might be a better fit. OPT can be used before or after completion of studies and requires approval from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- Unpaid Internship Regulations: Unpaid internships for international students are subject to strict regulations that ensure that unpaid internships meet certain criteria, such as being primarily educational, not displacing regular employees, and providing training similar to that which would be given in an educational environment. To find such unpaid (and paid) opportunities, download theFrogHire.aiextension for your job hunt!
TLDR: Before proceeding with any internship, make sure you talk to your designated school official (DSO) or international student advisor to discuss which authorization is right for your internship, and make sure you are aware of all the paperwork you must complete because this is essential for maintaining legal status in the United States. To search for your internship, download theFrogHire.aiextension as a way to make your job search easier and more efficient—this extension will not only help you filter jobs across all five major job sites, but can also point you towards employers who will employ nondomestic workers with CPT or OPT needs.