The Common Law

You have three options depending on where you are in your studies. Assuming you are here on an F-1 visa and you have not graduated, you may be eligible for Curricular Practical Training. This is work experience that is an "integral part of an established curriculum," meaning you need to do it in order to get your degree. It could also be work that you will be awarded credit for by your educational institution. This includes work/study, cooperative education, or a required internship or practicum. The amount that you can work is capped at 20 hours per week.

CPT is very limited in its scope, and once you graduate you can no longer work under that provision. A more flexible option if you are still an F-1 student is Optional Practical Training. This allows you to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to practical work experience off campus. Under the F-1 visa, you are allotted 12 months of practical training during or after completion of your studies. Keep in mind that this is 12 months total, so if you work for two three-month summers you will only have 6 months left when you graduate. The OPT can also be a good way to bridge the gap between the end of your studies and the start of an H-1B visa.

The H-1B visa is a work visa that is issued for up to three years and can be renewed once, for a total of six years of authorized work. The United States awards these visas to aliens who have "a residence in a foreign country which [they have] no intention of abandoning," making them nonimmigrant visas, which means it does not put you on track to become a citizen. A maximum of 65,000 H-1B visas are issued every year, and once those are given out, no more are available until the following year. These are reserved for specialty occupations, a category that covers a broad range of jobs. A sponsoring U.S. employer is needed in order to apply for an H-1B visa.

Keep in mind that immigration is a complex area of the law. It is in your best interest to consult an attorney with experience in immigration law to determine which option is best.