Hiring International Students
Summary
This page provides Harvard administrators with information related to hiring international students.
International students studying in the U.S. usually hold either an F-1 or a J-1 student visa. Under certain circumstances, the U.S. government allows an international student in either F-1 or J-1 status to request work permission beyond the graduation date in order to gain practical work experience related to their field of study in the U.S.
- For F-1 students the work permission is called Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT.
- For J-1 students the work permission is called Academic Training (AT). It is not always possible to obtain a change of visa status for J-1 students in order to allow them to continue their appointments beyond the expiration date of the AT because of the two-year home country residence requirement and 12-month bar.
- Individuals who come to Harvard to work in administrative or staff positions will not be eligible for Harvard-sponsored visas at the end of their OPT, STEM OPT or AT. They will be limited to working only until the end of their OPT, STEM OPT or AT.
Administrators should complete ISD records for students from other universities who are given academic appointments at Harvard. For questions about an appointment for someone completing an academic degree at a U.S. institution, please be sure to consult your HIO advisor.
Hiring departments do not need to inform the HIO when hiring an enrolled Harvard University student, but should make sure the student has applied for a U.S. Social Security Number, if they do not already have one.
- F-1 students may work on campus for up to 20 hours a week when school is in session and full-time during official school breaks without permission from the HIO.
- J-1 students whose visas are sponsored by Harvard may request authorization from the HIO to work on campus up to 20 hours a week when school is in session and full-time during official school breaks. J-1 students are required to receive written authorization from the HIO prior to the start of any on-campus position. Students must fill out the HIO’s on-campus work authorization request form. J-1 students who are sponsored by another organization such as Fulbright must first obtain permission from their sponsor before accepting on-campus employment.
Important note: The F-1 and J-1 on-campus employment benefits end the day students graduate or complete their academic programs at Harvard, which means their work authorization will not continue. If you wish to continue hiring the same students, you must be sure that they have applied and been approved for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) or J-1 Academic Training. Contact your HIO advisor with any questions. Please note that any employment offered during post-completion OPT or AT must be directly related to the student’s academic program.
- Enrolled F-1 students from other U.S. institutions may only work at Harvard University if they have authorization from their school for either Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or have obtained Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT from USCIS. For CPT, the work authorization should be on page 2 of their I-20 with Harvard University as the employer. For OPT or STEM OPT, they should present you with the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card.
- If the OPT EAD has expired and someone has a pending STEM OPT extension, they may have to present different/additional documentation for I-9 purposes. Contact your local HR office for details.
- Enrolled J-1 students from other U.S. institutions may only work at Harvard University only if they have authorization from their J-1 program sponsor in the form Academic Training (AT). For AT, you should see Harvard as the employer on their Form DS-2019 along with a letter authorizing the students to work.
- Students may have other forms of employment authorization which usually are in the form of an EAD. You may hire these students to work for you within the validity dates listed on their EAD.
- Administrators should complete ISD records for students from other universities who are given academic appointments at Harvard.
Students on F-1 visas who have earned eligible U.S. degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) may apply for an additional 24-month extension of their Post-Completion OPT.
- There are several requirements that must be followed by employers, students and Designated School Officials (DSO). There is a required training plan form (I-983 Training Plan for STEM OPT Students) that must be completed by employers.
- STEM OPT employment must be paid; and self-employment is not allowed.
- Students will qualify for up to two STEM OPT extensions if they earn multiple STEM degrees in the U.S. and may be eligible for a STEM extension based on a previously earned STEM degree.
For more and the most up-to-date information on STEM OPT, please refer to the Study in the States website.
Responsibilities and Obligations
There are numerous employer requirements to which you must adhere. Some of those requirements are enumerated here, but you should pay particular attention to the attestation on page 2 of the I-983 and the employer information. General employer requirements include being registered with the E-Verfiy program and ensuring that hiring an international student with STEM employment will not displace a U.S. worker.
Employers
- Rules apply for all STEM OPT students working at Harvard regardless of appointment title
- Must be E-Verify employer; Harvard is an E-Verify employer.
- Develop a training plan for the student
- Complete Form I-983
- Provide two evaluations for the student
- Responsible for proving compliance during government site visits
F-1 Students
- Have a job offer related to your U.S. STEM degree
- Work for an E-Verify employer
- Have a paid position in STEM field for at least 20 hours per week
- Work with your international student advisor to complete a STEM OPT application and submit the application to USCIS
- Complete student part of Form I-983
- Submit the completed Form I-983 to the school that issued the Form I-20 (for Harvard students, submit the completed Form I-983 to the HIO)
- Responsible for completing validation reports every six months via their school; Harvard students via the HIO
- Completing parts of evaluation
HIO
- Review STEM OPT application for Harvard graduates
- Issue STEM OPT Form I-20 for Harvard graduates
- Maintain the completed Form I-983 in student’s file for Harvard graduates
About Form I-983
Current 24-month STEM OPT regulations seek to ensure the educational benefits that F-1 students receive from their practical training experiences by requiring the submission of a formal training plan, using Form I-983.
The formal training plan, Form I-983, must clearly articulate the STEM OPT student’s learning objectives and affirm the employer’s commitment to helping the student achieve those objectives. To fulfill this requirement, a student and their employer must complete and sign Form I-983 and submit it to the student’s international student advisor. By signing the Form I-983, students and their employers agree that they understand their obligations during the STEM employment.
STEM OPT students and their employers are subject to the terms and conditions of the 24-month STEM OPT extension regulations, effective as of the employment start date requested for the associated STEM OPT period, as indicated on Form I-983.
STEM OPT students may participate in entrepreneurial ventures where the student is an employee. However, they may not act as their own employer or as the signatory for the employer for the purposes of the form.
Instructions for Completing Form I-983
The Harvard International Office (HIO) has prepared this information related to sponsorship of visas for international scholars, and their family members. The information is intended for administrators responsible for processing visa document requests to the HIO. It provides information about visa options for international scholars, the programs and services provided by the HIO, and the University policies and procedures for bringing international scholars to Harvard. It is designed to provide University administrators at Harvard and its affiliated hospitals with information about the U.S. government regulations affecting the appointments of international scholars and faculty members. Please note that this information is not intended to be legal advice.