Information for Internship Providers
The following is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Internship providers with questions regarding their obligations under US immigration and/or labor law should consult appropriate legal experts.
Thank you for considering a Tufts international student for an internship opportunity with your company or organization. The Tufts International Center supports international students at Tufts with information and services concerning US immigration requirements for working and interning in the US. The good news is that if you are an internship provider considering a Tufts international student for an internship opportunity, don't panic! The process for onboarding an international student intern is easy, because it is up to the students themselves to work directly with the International Center to secure any authorization, if needed. Internship providers have little or no direct responsibility to manage the process. Read more for further details:
- International Students, Defined. International students refer broadly to any non-US citizen or non-US permanent resident. This broad category can include individuals who are living and studying in the US on the basis of one of many different types of US visas and categories. However, for the purposes of this guide, international students refer to students who have come to the US using the F-1 student visa, which is the most common type of visa used to come to the US for study and research.
- Paid versus unpaid internships. Paid internships in all cases require US work authorization. International students can work with their schools to get the required authorization, which they need before starting or by the time they start their internships. The internship provider may be asked to provide a letter describing the internship (internship work site, internship dates, compensation, and a general description of internship duties), but do not need to do anything further regarding work authorization. Unpaid internships do not necessarily require US work authorization, but international students may still want to get work authorization anyway to provide legal protection. Some options for work authorization are described below.
- US Department of Labor requirements. Internship providers should be aware of US Department of Labor guidance that differentiates bona fide unpaid internship experiences, which can be unpaid, from employment, which must be paid and requires US work authorization. If the internship constitutes 'employment' under Department of Labor guidelines, then the student should work with Tufts to get work authorization.
- Internships outside of the US. Is the internship taking place outside of the US? International students don't need to follow any US immigration requirements if they will be outside of the US when doing the internship. However, there may be local country regulations and restrictions - consult with a local business specialist for more information.
- Social Security Numbers. If an internship is paid, the student should work with the International Center get to get work authorization as well as a Social Security Number (SSN) if they don't have a number already. Internship providers should be aware that a SSN by itself is not valid US work authorization. However, if a student is authorized to do a paid internship, they can qualify for and should apply for a SSN. Tufts will assist the student with this process.
Please feel free to contact the Tufts International Center if there are any questions about hiring or onboarding international students for internship experiences with your company or organization!
Types of US Work Authorization for F-1 International Students
Curricular Practical Training, or CPT, is the most common form of US work authorization for international students on F-1 student visas who are interested in pursuing internship experiences during their studies. In most cases, students must satisfy a one academic year waiting period before becoming eligible. The work authorization is designed to let students pursue internships, practicums, or similar practical training experiences as an integral part of their educational degree. As such, CPT is only available to currently-enrolled students who are still working toward fulfilling degree requirements. Once degree requirements have been fulfilled, students must utilize OPT (see next tab) or other work authorization options.
Authorization is required if the internship is paid. CPT may also be granted for unpaid experiences and is recommended to document that the unpaid internship was authorized under F-1 student visa regulations.
Authorization Period: Students are typically approved on a term-by-term (semester-by-semester) basis, based on the options provided by their program. In most cases, internship experiences are usually limited in duration (e.g., one or two semesters).
Internship Provider Role and Student Responsibility: The internship provider has no role in the CPT process, except to provide an internship offer letter with details regarding the internship dates, internship location, general duties, and expected hours per week. The individual student is responsible for working with their international office to secure authorization. The student's international office is responsible for processing CPT requests; no application to the US Department of Homeland Security is required. Once approved, the student will receive a new Form I-20 that reflects the CPT approval in the employment section.
Optional Practical Training, or OPT, is a type of work authorization given to F-1 students, allowing them to seek opportunities in their major field of study. OPT can be done on a pre-completion basis (prior to completion of degree requirements) or post-completion basis (after completion of degree requirements). Most students utilize OPT on a post-completion basis. Students obtain OPT by working with their school's international office to prepare and submit an application to US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Once approved, the student will receive an I-766 Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card that indicates the student's name and the OPT approval start and end dates. Employment is permitted only within the dates indicated. The EAD card can then be presented as a List A document for I-9 employment verification eligibility purposes.
Duration: OPT is granted for a maximum of 12 months. Some students who have completed US degrees in a STEM field designated by the US Department of Homeland Security may be eligible for two-year extensions of their post-completion OPT authorization. STEM extensions of OPT require a valid job offer from an employer enrolled in the US Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify program.
Employer Role and Student Responsibility: For standard OPT, the employer has no role in preparing, submitting, or obtaining approval of the OPT application. The student is responsible for managing the OPT process along with the international office of their school. For students eligible for the STEM extension of OPT, the employer will be required to assist the student in completing and signing an I-983 Training Plan form, which documents how the employment constitutes practical training in the STEM area.