Being an international student studying in the United States, it is reasonable that I be curious about the foreign student policies of the country, and how they have changed over the years if at all. Since the Immigration Act of 1924, and with persuasions from the Institute of International Education (IIE), the U.S. government created a new category of nonimmigrant student visas, bypassing post-war quotas set by the Immigration Act of 1921. This new student visa category expressly permitted foreign students, with proof of admission, to study in U.S. institutions. In the times since then, made worse by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks by foreign nationals — including several terrorists on student visas — the security concerns over foreign
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To remain in ‘status’ while in school, you must be enrolled in a full course load, a minimum of 12 units for undergraduate degrees and 9 units for graduate degrees, for the duration of your program. You are also required to constantly check in with designated school official (DSO) per your educational progress, report any international travel plans and obtain authorization to travel. All these seem fair enough as you are in truth an alien in a foreign country, but what most international students are usually disappointed by are the severe restrictions imposed on international student employment in the United States. Considering that foreign students pay full tuition and are ineligible for direct aid from the U.S. government, most of them arrive with the hopes of being able to gain some form of employment to keep up with their high educational expenses, but this is not to be so. Although technically, there are a few avenues available where you may be eligible to work as an international student, the restrictions are so stringent that it is almost impossible to meet the required criteria so many foreign students become frustrated and focus on completing their degrees, anticipating employment avenues that would present themselves upon graduation. Unfortunately, even though most are still eager to stay in United States
To remain in ‘status’ while in school, you must be enrolled in a full course load, a minimum of 12 units for undergraduate degrees and 9 units for graduate degrees, for the duration of your program. You are also required to constantly check in with designated school official (DSO) per your educational progress, report any international travel plans and obtain authorization to travel. All these seem fair enough as you are in truth an alien in a foreign country, but what most international students are usually disappointed by are the severe restrictions imposed on international student employment in the United States. Considering that foreign students pay full tuition and are ineligible for direct aid from the U.S. government, most of them arrive with the hopes of being able to gain some form of employment to keep up with their high educational expenses, but this is not to be so. Although technically, there are a few avenues available where you may be eligible to work as an international student, the restrictions are so stringent that it is almost impossible to meet the required criteria so many foreign students become frustrated and focus on completing their degrees, anticipating employment avenues that would present themselves upon graduation. Unfortunately, even though most are still eager to stay in United States