Guide to Hiring International Students
We want to help our recruiters be successful and connect them with our Maverick international students. We recognize that there is a lot of misunderstanding around sponsorship, the amount of work on the part of the recruiter, and additional nuances for organizations depending on the nature of their industry.
If you want to discuss options to hire our Maverick international students, we welcome you to reach out and discuss this further! Please contact the career center at cdc@mnsu.edu or contact the Kearney International Student Center at 507-389-1281
Benefits of Hiring an International Student for an Internship
Hiring a Minnesota State Mankato international student is an excellent way to bring some of the world's best talent to your organization. The many benefits of hiring international students include:
- Broadening the diversity of ideas and perspectives of your teams through enhanced cultural understanding in a global market;
- Enhancing your economic, scientific and technological competitiveness through increased diversity in research, innovation and knowledge;
- Increasing understanding and knowledge of markets in STEM OPT students’ home countries and utilizing networks of such employees for the benefit of your organization
Webinar
Hiring International Mavericks: What Employers Should Know with guest speaker, immigration attorney: Erin Schutte Wadzinski (from Kivu Immigration Law PLLC), as well as representatives from the Career Development Center and the Kearney International Center.
Internships
You may offer an internship for summer or during the Fall or Spring semesters. The student would need to be enrolled for a course for credit supervised by a faculty member during each of those terms. During the semester, the student must be enrolled full-time; therefore, most internships during Fall or Spring are part-time. Full-time internships during the summer are common.
Many international student interns are able to be paid the same as U.S. native students as long as the internship is relevant to their academic area of study.
Employer’s role
You need to provide an offer letter which specifies the location/address of that internship site.
Student’s role
The international student will submit CPT work authorization application through Kearney International Center once they receive an offer.
Employment After Internship
Many international students attend Minnesota State Mankato and pursue majors in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. These students are provided with a STEM extension visa enabling an employer to hire them as an intern and offer then additional paid employment. An additional 24-month extension is potentially possible for students graduating in STEM fields.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
CPT is work authorization that allows F-1 student visa holders to accept employment in their academic field after being enrolled for an academic year as a full-time student for undergraduate students. Graduate students may start earlier.
Duration/Timing of employment
You may offer an internship for summer or during the Fall or Spring semesters. The student would need to be enrolled for a course for credit supervised by a faculty member during each of those terms. During the semester, the student must be enrolled full-time; therefore, most internships during Fall or Spring are part-time. Full-time internships during the summer are common. One consideration, if a student works full-time for a full 12 months on CPT work authorization, they will not be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization post-graduation.
Employer’s role
You need to provide an offer letter which specifies the location/address of that internship site.
Student’s role
The international student will submit CPT work authorization application through Kearney International Center once they receive an offer. The international student adviser will print out a SEVIS I-20 that meets the requirements for I-9 employment eligibility with the work authorization on page 3.
Cost to the employer
No cost
Processing time
May take up to 3-5 business days, but is usually less. The Kearney International Center can produce the I-20 once the student provides the CPT form completed by the faculty member, registers for that academic credit, and submits the offer letter.
Hiring international students for full-time employment upon graduation
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
OPT is work authorization that allows F-1 student visa holders who have graduated to gain practical work experience related to their major field of study.
Duration/Timing of Employment
Up to 12 months post-graduation. An additional 24 month extension is potentially possible for students graduating in STEM fields if you are enrolled in E-Verify.
Employer's Role
Complete and Certify the Form I-983: Specifically, STEM OPT employers are responsible for completing Section 3 to Section 6 on the Form I-983. These sections request specific information about the company and the agreed-upon practical training schedule and compensation, as well as the formal training plan, respectively.
Evaluation on Student Progress: The employer must review the student’s annual self-evaluation on their own progress and sign it to attest to its accuracy.
Material Changes to an Existing Form I-983: Employers must work with the STEM OPT student to report to the DSO any material changes to, or material deviations from, the student’s formal training plan, by filling out a new Form I-983.
Loss of Employment: The employer and student both must notify the DSO when the student’s employment is terminated for any reason before the end of the authorized extension period. The employer must report such a change in employment to the appropriate DSO no later than five business days after the student’s employment terminates or the student has departed.
For more information on Employer Responsibilities, see STEM OPT Hub for Employers
Student's Role
Student will contact the Kearney International Center and submit an application to United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). Student pays processing fee of $410 [cost as of 10/2022].
Cost to Employer
No cost
Processing Time
On average 45-60 days (may take up to 3 months) with students being encouraged to apply as early as 90 days prior to graduation to avoid any delay.
Permission to adapt material provided by Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis, 10/14/2013
