Here is one easy way to obtain work authorization in the US
Working in the US under a non-immigrant visa entails uncertainty, risks, and constraints. As such, there is a possibility that you will find yourself in a situation in which your current visa prevents you from fulfilling your dreams and achieving your goals. Those hardships can range from your ability to remain in the country to your ability to change jobs.
Here are some common reasons why this might happen to you:
· You take a job straight out of college under an OPT visa. If your employer does not agree to sponsor an H-1B, you have to leave the country within 60 days after the OPT expires. To put it simply, you have two months to find a new visa before you are obligated to leave the US.
· Similar to the case above, you take a job under an OPT, and your employer applies for your H-1B. However, these days there is no guarantee that you will receive an H-1B because there is a lottery every year. The graph below displays the chances of getting an H-1B over the past five years.
If you have the option of STEM extension and do not get the H-1B on your first try, you might be able to apply again next year. However, this is not an option for everyone.
· You came to the US to work under an L-1 Visa. L-1 is a strict visa category that allows you to work only for the company that brought you to the US from an office located abroad. The L-1 is not transferable, which means that you cannot change jobs unless you want to leave the US. But what happens if you have decided to change employers?
If you belong in any of the categories above or even in a particular category that is not part of the list, you might be desperate. Well, the good news is that there are proven solutions that work like a charm. It is worth noting that the strategy described below abides by the law and is a low-risk option. On the contrary, there are “professionals” in the market that claim that they can secure you a work authorization. Those people charge high fees (~$25,000 — $30,000) and do not guarantee a successful outcome. You might even get in trouble with the USCIS.
The optimal way to get a work authorization is by getting back to school! Well, that would probably interrupt your career; you would have to leave your job and pay tuition and living expenses out of pocket. Not so fast.
Over the last years, accredited schools across the country have developed programs tailored to the needs of students who need work authorization from day one. Simply said, this means that if you enroll in one of these programs, you have the privilege that all students have to work post-graduation (OPT visa) or prior to graduation (CPT). In fact, these programs allow you to apply for a CPT on day one of your studies.
Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) is a visa that allows international students to work full-time while attending school. CPT is valid for twelve months and does not require employer sponsorship. However, students must have a job offer before they can apply.
Proven Case Study: Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Located in Harrisburg, PA since 2001, HU is a privately owned, STEM-focused university. Harrisburg University is a premier option for those looking to obtain immediate work authorization under a CPT visa. Although the curriculum programs offered are legit, the very low graduation rate (28%) is a testament to why students choose to pursue a degree in that school. Most students enroll to apply for a CPT visa instead take a degree.
What it takes to apply (F-1 students):
· Undergraduate transcript
· Personal goal statement
· Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS)
· Copy of passport
· Two letters of recommendation
· Bank statement with at least $26,5000
The list of application requirements is typical for graduate programs with the bold exception of GRE/GMAT scores. Note that you will not have to pay the full $26,500 unless you plan to graduate from Harrisburg University. For more information about graduate admission requirements, click here.
Class attendance and academic requirements:
Students do not have to be physically located in Harrisburg to attend classes. Even before COVID-19, students had the option to choose fully remote classes. Besides, as you might expect by now, academic requirements are relatively light. In most courses, students work on team projects that require few hours of work per semester. Finals have the form of either virtual presentations or online exams. F-1 students need to register for only one online course per semester while they are doing CPT.
Full list of programs that provide CPT from day one:
· International Technological University (San Jose, California)
· United States University (Chula Vista, California)
· Knowledge Systems Institute (St. Skokie, Illinois)
· University of the Cumberlands (Williamsburg, Kentucky)
· Campbellsville University (Campbellsville, Kentucky)
· Globe University/Minnesota School of Business (Woodbury, Minnesota)
· Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
· Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee)
· Virginia International University (Fairfax, Virginia)
· University of North America (Vienna, Virginia)
· Stratford University (Falls Church, Virginia)
