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An Employer's Guide to Hiring
International Students

Introduction

At the Terry College of Business, we take great pride in our international students who bring a global worldview to the MBA learning experience. Over the years, many have gone on to work for leading U.S companies and continue to significantly improve the worldwide competitiveness of these organizations. This guide is designed to help the discerning employer to navigate the relatively straightforward hiring process to take advantage of this talent pool.

Profile of an International Student

About 25% of Terry MBAs come from outside the United States and possess a unique blend of management skills and business experiences that most employers consider critical to the success of businesses in the global marketplace. Many have previous work experience with several leading U.S companies such as General Electric, KPMG and Procter & Gamble. They are typically classified as F-1 students, which means that they are allowed to work within the United States with INS authorization.

What You Should Know About Hiring an MBA Intern

The INS permits employers to hire international students as interns for 'practical training' on a fulltime or part-time basis. Because this is authorized by the institution and not by the INS, very little paperwork is required to hire a Terry MBA as a summer intern. In fact, the only document required from the employer is a letter of employment describing the position being offered. There is no cost to the employer.

What You Should Know About Hiring an MBA Graduate

Employers have at least two options when hiring MBAs after graduation:

1. H-1B Non-immigrant work visa: This is a relatively simple process and is recommended where the employer desires a long-term employment relationship. This visa allows a foreign national to work for up to six years with an employer. The employer is required to file an application with the INS and demonstrate that the prevailing wage rate will be paid for the position being offered.
2. Optional Practical Training: The INS allows employers to automatically hire international students for up to 12 months after graduation. This process only requires the employer to provide a job description and all other paperwork is handled by the student usually before graduating. Students typically start work immediately after graduation by using their OPT permits before eventually converting to an H-1B visa. This information is summarized below:

Visa Regulations Pertaining to Hiring Foreign Nationals

Employment Type	Visa Type	Maximum Length of Employment	Student Eligibility	Employer Requirements
Internship	F1 -- Curricular Practical Training	Up to 12 months	Work must be related to academic program.	Provide job description and, in some cases, internship evaluations.
Post Graduation Employment	F1 -- Optional Practical Training	Up to 12 months	Graduating students (coursework completed)	Provide job description.
	H-1B	Up to 6 years	Bachelor's degree minimum	Apply to DOL & INS. May require attorney. No requirement to recruit or prefer Americans. Application Fees - $1,130

How to Recruit an International MBA

The Terry MBA Career Management Center remains your partner in your quest to find the brightest and best employees for your organization. We therefore recommend that you:

• Contact the Career Management Center regarding your specific organizational needs
• Consider international students in your recruiting efforts
• Work with students for appropriate work authorizations
• Enjoy the benefits of a more diverse workplace including multiple language skills, adaptability and global business expertise

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Isn't it illegal to hire international students because they do not have a green card?
   No. Federal regulations permit the employment of international students on F-1 visas within certain limits. This visa allows students to work in jobs related to their major field of study. For F-1 students, this work is referred to as "practical training."
2. Even if it's legal to hire international students, won't it cost a lot of money and involve a lot of paperwork?
   No. For international students working on practical training permits, the only cost to the employer is the time and effort to select the best candidate for the job. The UGA Office of International Education handles the paperwork involved in securing the work authorization for F-1 students. In fact, a company may save money by hiring international students because the majority of them are exempt from Social Security (FICA) and Medicare tax requirements. For longer term hiring, the H-1B permit is not a complicated procedure and requires only an additional $1,130 in application fees, which can be partially borne by the employee.
3. How long can international students work in the United States with their student visa?
   F-1 students are eligible for curricular practical training before completing their studies, as well as an additional 12 months of optional practical training, either before or following graduation, or a combination of the two.
4. Don't international students need work authorization before I can hire them?
   No. International students must have the work authorization before they begin actual employment, but not before they are offered employment. Many F-1 students will be in the process of obtaining work authorization while they are interviewing for employment. Students can give employers a reasonable estimate of when they expect to receive work authorization.
5. What if I want to continue to employ international students after their work authorization expires?
   With a bit of planning, an employer can hire international students to continue to work for them in the H-1B visa category for a total of six years (authorization is granted in two three-year periods). The H-1B is a temporary working visa for workers in a "specialty occupation." The process of applying to the INS is straightforward. The job must meet two basic requirements:
   • The salary must meet the prevailing wage as defined by the Department of Labor.
   • A bachelor's degree is a minimum normal requirement for the position.
6. Doesn't an employer have to prove that international students are not taking jobs from a qualified American?
   No. American employers are not required to document that a citizen of another country did not take a job from a qualified American if that person is working under an F-1 or H-1B visas.

**Printed by permission of SCICC

Rankings

The Terry MBA program has long been recognized as one of the top U.S. and global MBA programs by BusinessWeek, U.S. News & World Report, The [London] Financial Times, Forbes and other publications. Additionally, Money and Kiplinger's continue to rank the University of Georgia as one of the top public institutions in the U.S.