It is always smart to be proactive in much of what we can plan for — and for international students seeking to discover their Computer Science careers in the US, this is especially important since immigration policies can shift with the political winds. We know policy changes can happen at any moment and while they usually take time and often don’t apply retroactively, it is always better to be prepared as best you can.
Regardless of who is in office, there are practical steps you can take to put your best foot forward in your Computer Science career — a highly coveted field of study with increasing job growth opportunities in the US!
Freshman & Sophomore Years
- Keep immigration status clean: Always maintain full-time enrollment and F-1 rules.
- Delete social media posts that you would not want an employer to see (making an account private may not be sufficient!).
- Get to know your Career Services Office.
- Start to practice interview skills.
- Start building your resume:
- Join CS clubs, hackathons, open-source projects.
- Get involved in on-campus jobs (e.g., research assistant, IT help desk).
- Apply for internships: Target summer internships starting as early as sophomore summer. Some companies will consider Curricular Practical Training (CPT) even in early years.
- Use the FrogHire.ai extension to search for internships and work opportunities which are available at companies with a history of work visa sponsorship.
- Learn how CPT works:
- Talk to your DSO early so you’re ready when you land a summer job.
- Requires a job related to your major and often tied to an internship course.
Don’t forget: Always Keep Your Immigration Status Clean
- Stay in status: Keep your I-20 updated, maintain full-time enrollment, and follow all F-1 rules.
- Avoid unauthorized work: Don’t work off-campus without proper CPT/OPT approval — it can seriously risk your future immigration options.
- File your taxes correctly, even if you didn’t earn income.
- From the US IRS Website: “Aliens temporarily present in the United States as students, trainees, scholars, teachers, researchers, exchange visitors, and cultural exchange visitors are subject to special rules with respect to the taxation of their income.”
Junior Year
- Go hard on internships — this is your biggest year to make connections with companies that sponsor visas.
- Use CPT again for summer work (you’re allowed multiple CPT uses).
- Start tracking which companies sponsor H-1Bs
- Use the FrogHire.ai extension, which allow you to search efficiently across five job platforms (e.g., Indeed, LinkedIn) for employers that are non-domestic worker friendly
- Attend career fairs and talk with recruiters about sponsorship policies.
- Polish your LinkedIn and GitHub — employers look!
- Network like crazy: Job referrals and internal contacts make a huge difference in visa-sponsoring companies.
Senior Year (or Final Year if Accelerated)
- Continue to network like crazy!
- Start job applications early (fall/winter):
- Target companies who will sponsor H-1B
- Prioritize roles that match your CS major (OPT must be related!)
- Apply for OPT:
- Earliest: 90 days before graduation
- Latest: 60 days after graduation — but don’t wait!
- Talk to your DSO to get your OPT I-20 and submit Form I-765 to USCIS.
- If you’re in a STEM major, you can get a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Make sure your school and job are STEM-OPT eligible.
- Talk with your school’s Designated School Official (DSO) to make sure you’re maximizing your timeline.
- Make sure to use the FrogHire.ai extension to create your tailored resume and help you track your applications on a personal dashboard.
Bonus Tips
- Keep records: Save copies of I-20s, job offer letters, pay stubs, transcripts.
- Know your rights: If you’re ever questioned by immigration authorities, you don’t have to answer everything without legal counsel.
- Have a backup plan: Canada, the UK, or returning to your home country with U.S. experience can still open big doors.
TLDR: Plan ahead carefully for your career in the US. While you may be inclined to only focus on work authorization (which is vital to working in the US!), there are many other components that are integral to your securing a job offer and do not shirk those responsibilities (e.g., networking, professionalism, communication skills, work/internship experiences).