HR84 Practical Training for Foreign Students

POLICY'S INITIAL DATE: December 1, 1974

THIS VERSION EFFECTIVE: June 14, 1983

Contents:

• Purpose
• Practical Training
• Criteria for Practical Training
• Application for Practical Training
• Periods of Employment
• Requests for Extension of Practical Training
• Conclusion of Practical Training

PURPOSE:

To provide information concerning the employment of foreign students by the University.

PRACTICAL TRAINING:

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides that aliens may be admitted to the United States to pursue academic degrees. The Act provides that, upon the completion of a degree program, the alien is to promptly depart from the United States. However, the Act provides that an alien student may request permission to accept employment in order to obtain practical training. Practical training is not a necessary part of a foreign student's educational process in the United States and permission may be denied. Practical Training will be denied if the Immigration Service determines that the alien is being employed rather than performing duties of a training nature.

CRITERIA FOR PRACTICAL TRAINING:

The following criteria for practical training must be met:

1. Such practical training must be recommended by a person so authorized by the University, and
2. The proposed training must be in the student's field of study.
3. Permission for employment will not be granted until the student has completed all requirements for the degree sought, including any dissertations required, and
4. A certifying University official must describe the duties to be performed and provide a plausible explanation as to why such training is not available to the student in the student's country of residence.

APPLICATION FOR PRACTICAL TRAINING:

It shall be the responsibility of the alien student to request an application for practical training from the appropriate International Student Affairs office at the institution at which the course of study was completed.That office has the responsibility of determining that the student is eligible to apply, and that the proposed training is in the student's field of study. The application for practical training shall be submitted to the Regional Office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service having jurisdiction over the educational institution.

PERIODS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Permission to accept temporary employment to obtain practical training may be granted in increments of not more than 6 months each for a maximum of not more than 12 months in the aggregate for a foreign national on a F-1 visa, or not more than 18 months in the aggregate for a foreign national on a J-1 visa. However, if the course of study is completed in less than the 12 month or 18 month periods, the maximum period may not exceed the length of the course of study.

REQUESTS FOR EXTENSION OF PRACTICAL TRAINING:

Subsequent applications to continue employment for practical training shall consist of:

1. An extension of stay form obtained from and signed by the appropriate International Student Affairs office at the institution in which the course of study was completed, and
2. A supporting letter from the employing department stating that the duties being performed are training and describing the duties.

Each period of practical training is reviewed on an individual basis by the appropriate Immigration and Naturalization Office. Subsequent applications to continue practical training are increasingly difficult to obtain. Approval of one period does not guarantee approval of subsequent requests. Applications for an extension of stay for practical training are filed with the district office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service having jurisdiction over the place where training is being conducted.

CONCLUSION OF PRACTICAL TRAINING:

When an alien has completed the maximum of two periods of practical training (F-1), or three periods of practical training (J-1), he/she is expected to return home to utilize the education and training received in the United States. Further offers of University employment should be discouraged.