Information and Resources for Foreign National Students
Thayer school students have access to counseling and career-related resources through Thayer School Career Services, the Graduate Career Office and Dartmouth's Undergraduate Career Services office.
The following resources are available to foreign national students.
Overview
If you are an international student and hold an F-1 student status or visa in the U.S., you may, unfortunately, find that you are ineligible to apply for positions that require U.S. permanent residency and/or U.S. citizenship. This is particularly true of defense contractors and U.S. government agencies, which are often unable to consider any applicants who do not have U.S. citizenship.
Many companies use internships for two reasons: first, as a method of training, and secondly, as a "test drive" for future full-time hires. In applying for positions, you may come across employers who are unable to consider your candidacy because of their own limitations for hiring foreign nationals.
The Big Picture
Unfortunately, two factors complicate the hiring process for international students:
Limited H-1B visas available.
- Increased government regulations and restrictions on foreign national hiring = more of a "burden of paperwork" on behalf on the employer. (Note: It is also a costly process.)
- Limited H-1B visas available.
The U.S. Congress has established an annual H-1B cap of 65,000 visas per year. This congressional cap restricts the number of foreign workers allowed to work in the U.S. through the H-1B temporary worker visa program. The cap affects new applicants for H-1B visas trying to work in the U.S. The H-1B visa is an employer-sponsored, non-immigrant visa for a foreign worker coming temporarily to the U.S. to perform services in a specialty occupation. Note this cap applies only to for-profit, private companies, and does not apply to Colleges, Universities, and non-profit research institutions.
For FY2006, the cap was extended to include 20,000 additional visas for recent graduates of U.S. Master's and Ph.D. programs. Still, visa availability is limited and foreign nationals should pay attention to current news and information. (Note: Students on F-1 Visas who are graduating remain eligible for employment through the Optional Practical Training Program, and may still apply for practical training time of up to twelve months.)
We strongly urge internationals who are interested in staying in the U.S. to work following graduation to discuss their options with a good immigrtaion attorney. The International Office can help to refer you to such an attorney. In addition, the International Office invites immigration attorneys to campus each fall and spring term, to give a workshop on post-Dartmouth visa options for students and researchers. Please monitor the International Office blitz "Immigration" bulletin for more information on these workshops.
The International Office website provides an overview of visa and immigration information. The office also publicizes updated information on USCIS and government hiring in general through their Blitz Bulletins: "International - Immigration Updates" and "International - Programming." We encourage you to monitor both the website and the bulletins for current news.
You may also wish to see the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration office website for additional information.
The Silver Lining (Resources and Pre-Existing Programs That Can Help)
Each year, many of our international students find jobs with employers who are willing to sponsor visas for new employees. The process is not impossible, but it is strongly suggested that you meet with Career Services and the International Office to discuss your strategy, as not having citizenship can make the application process more challenging.
Career Services is committed to helping you find opportunities that are commensurate with your needs; the International Office can help you get through your paperwork as painlessly as possible if you provide them with the requisite information in a timely manner. Note: As Career Services neither professes nor possesses expertise on visa regulations and application information, please use Dartmouth's International Office as your "one-stop" shop for information in these areas.
If you are at Dartmouth on an F-1 visa, you may still apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) for a limited period of time following graduation.
Thayer School students enrolled in ENGG290 or ENG390 are also eligible to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) to meet coursework requirements.
Detailed information on OPT and CPT is available through the International Office. Note: In applying for CPT and OPT, you must pay close attention to application deadlines and requisite paperwork requirements.
Information regarding past H1-B applications may be helpful to you in your search. We recommend the following site:
Case Search Information from the U.S. Department of Labor
H1-B disclosure information from the U.S. government. This site allows you to view a list of employers who have submitted labor condition applications (in other words, paperwork to request an H1-B visa). Information available through the site includes position title, location and salary as well as number of applications submitted by the employer. As of September 2005, the most current information is available here.See Thayer Career Services for suggested strategies to incorporate this data into your job search.
Additional employment related resources.
Dartmouth International Office
Website: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~intl/
The International Office is open from 9am to 4:00pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 10:00am to 4:00pm on Wednesday. The office is closed for lunch from Noon to 1:00 p.m. Walk-in hours are posted on the International-Immigration Updates blitz bulletin. During walk-in hours, appointments are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Currently advising hours are as follows (no appointment needed):
Monday 11:00 a.m. to Noon
Tuesday and Thursday 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
A Note on the Importance of Language Skills
Surveys conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers frequently cite communication skills as a factor of primary importance in selecting new hires.
If English is not your first language, Career Services encourages you to regularly practice writing and speaking English during the course of your studies at Dartmouth. This is important as Thayer School employers will evaluate you not only on the basis of your technical skills, but also on your abilities in writing, oral comprehensive, and speaking.
Dartmouth has multiple resources for speakers of English as a second language. These resources include:
Continuing education and accelerated learning classes at the Rassias Foundation
The Student Center for Researching Writing and Information Technology (RWIT)
Through this free program you can meet with a tutor to discuss a paper, research project, or multi-media assignment. Tutors are trained to help you at any phase of your process—from drafting a paper and structuring your content to the final copy. Afternoon and evening hours are offered. RWIT is located on the first floor of Berry Library, behind the Computer Help Desk.Network through the International Office. Many individuals post messages to find language partners through the International Office-Programming blitz bulletin.
Additional ESL resources