Want to work in the U.S. after graduation Its time to think about visas.

Note:  Weve made every effort to ensure that the information in this article is  correct at time of publishing. However, because visa and immigration laws are complex and ever-changing, please check the U.S. Department of State or U.K. Home Office website for the most up-to-date information on visa requirements. At Hult International Business School, a significant portion of our students pursue career opportunities outside of their home country after graduation. In fact,  61% of Hult MBA graduates changed country after their studies. It’s a wonderful benefit—even an inevitability—of the global network fostered as part of a Hult degree. But the logistics of working overseas after your studies aren’t always as straightforward as making the right connections. Visa and immigration laws are complex and ever-changing, no matter where in the world you hope to work. And being granted a visa to study doesn’t guarantee a visa to work—particularly if you have your sights set on a career in the U.S. We recently spoke with Katharine Boshkoff, Hult’s Vice President of Global Career Development, to see what students should know about their visa options if they hope to work in the U.S. after graduation. What’s your advice for students who would like to work in the U.S.? If you are studying for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree on a U.S. campus, the best way to start the job process is to do an internship as part of your program. Skills get students jobs, and the more expert you are the better your chances at securing employment. Internships are an ideal way to develop new skills, learn more about your target job, and demonstrate your competencies to an employer. More than half of our students convert an internship directly into a U.S. job offer. If youre an F-1 student, you can get U.S. workrights via Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which is a component of your academic program. CPT internships are in support of your learning, and you will earn course credit as part of them. To demonstrate your learning, you’ll be required to complete a project or assignment in conjunction with the internship. What about students who want to work in the U.S. but aren’t currently studying there? In this scenario, you need to land a job first. This means searching for a job from your home country. It isn’t easy, but it can be done. Once hired, your employer will oversee the visa process on your behalf. Employers may be willing to consider candidates outside of their home geography because they have specific business goals they need to meet, and they need the personnel to help them get there. My advice is to focus on employers who will value your specific skills. Make it easy for potential employers to identify that you’ve got what it takes—and more—to meet their job description. Do you need to have a job offer to get a work visa after graduating from a U.S. program? Not necessarily. If you’re studying in the U.S. for at least one full academic year, you may be eligible to receive OPT at graduation. OPT stands for Optional Practical Training and is a 12-month extension to your F-1 status. This extension allows you to look for work in the U.S. that’s related to your area of study. The key word is look. Unlike other U.S. work visas, getting OPT is not contingent on a job offer. The visa is attached to you, not the job. What about students who want to work in the U.S. after OPT? After 12 months, your OPT expires. At this point you need to switch to an employer-sponsored visa. The most common employer-sponsored visa for the U.S. is the H1B visa, which is tied to a specific job. To be eligible, you will need to be recruited by a sponsoring employer. Your employer needs to submit your application to the U.S. lottery, which takes place every April. An employer can only apply once a year, so if the deadline is missed, you’ll need to wait until the following year. Only 85,000 visas are issued each year. Due to the large number of applications, demand usually exceeds supply. Depending on the year, between 30% and 50% of applicants receive a visa, which typically becomes effective four or five months after the lottery. You’re not eligible to work until your visa is issued, so unless you’re already working in the U.S. on another visa like OPT, you will need to remain in your home country. Your H1B visa also provides entry into the U.S. H1Bs awarded by lottery are typically associated with skilled, â€Å"specialty occupations† like those in science, accounting, data analytics, medicine, specialized product development, computer science, and engineering. There are also non-lottery H1Bs for employees in the nonprofit sector. An eligible nonprofit can be a company, educational or research institution, hospital, or government institution. Be sure to explore this option if you’re seeking employment with a nonprofit. There is currently no cap on nonprofit H1Bs and they are issued throughout the year. Are there any options besides the H1B? For nationals of treaty nations, the E1 treaty trader or E2 treaty investor visa may be an option. (Here’s a list of countries that fall under the category of â€Å"treaty nations.†) For an E1 or E2 visa, you must apply from your home country, and an employer must file form I-129 on your behalf. E2 visa applicants must also demonstrate they will be making a substantial investment in a U.S.-based company that is â€Å"irrevocable†. If you’re a citizen of Canada or Mexico, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) means you may be eligible for a specialty visa that grants temporary work status to certain consultants and other experts, like accountants, engineers, lawyers, pharmacists, scientists, and teachers. Or, if you’re employed and already have a track record of professional experience, you could seek a transfer to the U.S. from your current company. This can often mean keeping the same job. To do this, your employer must be willing to seek and secure an L1 transfer visa for you. What about working in Canada? With its metropolitan cities like Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, and Montreal, Canada offers exciting career opportunities for overseas business grads too. To work in Canada, you’ll need a work permit, which you’ll usually have to apply for from your home country. In most cases, to obtain a work permit you’ll need a job offer from a Canadian employer who has applied for a Labour Market Impact Assessment from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). ESDC will determine whether or not a foreign worker can be hired to fill the role. Depending on your nationality, under certain Canadian trade agreements like NAFTA, you may not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment in order to get a work permit. What support does Hult offer students hoping to work abroad? What makes the Hult approach different? Were proud of our high international employment rates, and a big part of what makes Hult graduates successful in an international job market is our methodology for career preparation. Because our Global One-Year MBA is so accelerated, we need to achieve in one year what many programs have two years to do in terms of career development. Based on our experience and success with thousands of international students, we developed a highly accelerated and condensed program called the Hult Career Development ROADmap. Students can complete their job search skilling in up to five very intense career advising sessions. The program requires commitment and work, but students who stick with it get great jobs in international markets. Because of our incredibly diverse student body, Hult students have the added advantage of gaining truly global experience, wherever they are from and whichever campuses they choose to study at. All businesses today, even the smallest B2Bs, must be global. In this business environment, our students can truly leverage their international skills, making themselves uniquely qualified for roles demanding global experience. Our international alumni network also provides an invaluable networking opportunity, particularly for graduates hoping to make connections overseas and work abroad. Speak your Careers Advisor to find out more about how you can boost your employability, wherever you hope to work after graduation. Curious to learn about the employment outcomes for recent Hult grads?  Download our Global Careers Report.   Make the most of what your career has to offer with a Masters in International Business from Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog Graduation reflection: A QA with graduating undergrad Emily Nguyen, or give your employability a huge boost with an MBA in international business. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to explore everything about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .