International Student Resources

International students often have questions about how to answer the questions they encounter on employment applications and verification forms regarding work authorization. This guide is meant to provide information to help you make an informed decision about how to answer. This is a guide and as the applicant, you are responsible for understanding your own unique circumstance and applying that knowledge to the appropriate response.

Work Authorization Questions in Handshake:

Part I: Are you legally authorized to work in the Unites States? = Yes (if you are eligible for CPT or OPT)
Part II: Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship? = Yes

Note: This pair of questions are commonly used on other systems and application. They are considered the standard. 

Other work authorization questions (with sample responses for F-1 students):

1. Are you legally authorized to work in the U.S. for any employer? = No (you are only eligible to work for specific employer)
2. Do you have unrestricted work authorization in the U.S.? = No (you are only eligible to work for a specific employer)
3. Do you have access to work authorization in the U.S.? = Yes* (if you are eligible for CPT or OPT)
4. Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status, for instance, H-1B visa status? = Yes (CPT and OPT are limited-duration authorizations)
5. Will you now, or in the future require [company name] to commence (sponsor) an immigration case in order to employ you (for example, H-1B or other employment-based immigration case)? = Yes* (CPT and OPT are limited-duration authorizations)

Note: It is important to be aware of the restrictions, processes, limitations of your work authorization. If you state that you have work authorization or access to work authorization, be prepared to provide supplemental information on what the authorization is, when you would be able to access it and any issues with timing such as processing time.

*Sample Responses for Supplemental Information:

• Continuing Student: I am currently in F-1 student status. I will be applying for CPT for this internship/co-op. CPT is an employment benefit that will enable me to work in the US for curricular practical training without employer sponsorship for these specific dates: X to X. After that time, I am then eligible for OPT and eventually I would need to be sponsored for another immigration status, such as H-1B status.
• Graduating Student: I am currently in F-1 student status. I will be applying for OPT (or I have applied for OPT) to begin on X date, which is an employment benefit that will enable me to work in the US for X months without employer sponsorship. I am/am not eligible for the STEM OPT Extension, which is currently XX months. After that time, I would need to be sponsored for another immigration status, such as H-1B status.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is employment authorization for F-1 students. CPT is an employment benefit that is only available while a student is pursuing their degree. CPT cannot be used for employment after graduation.

Engineering students that are eligible for CPT seek authorization for summer internship and co-op. ECS assists students with the CPT submission process in terra dotta that will be completed with ISS. Students seeking CPT must enroll in a CPT-approved academic course at UW-Madison concurrently with the off-campus work experience.

All CPT employment must be directly related to your major field of study. The purpose of CPT is to apply the knowledge and skills you are gaining in the classroom to practical work experience in the U.S.

CPT is a benefit that you can access having maintained your F-1 student visa status for a minimum of 2 consecutive mandatory academic terms.

ISS CPT Information: https://iss.wisc.edu/employment/f1-employment/f-1-curricular-practical-training-cpt/

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit for students on F-1 visas. It allows students to work off-campus in a job directly related to their major field of study. The purpose of OPT is for students to apply the knowledge and skills gained in the classroom to practical work experience in the U.S.

Engineering students typically access OPT for employment after graduation.

ISS assists students with OPT by recommending work authorization on their I-20s. The OPT application is processed by U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). ECS does not have role in the OPT process.

More information: https://iss.wisc.edu/employment/f1-employment/f-1-optional-practical-training-opt/

Looking for info. on F-1 OPT STEM Extension? – Visit ISS

Top OPT Employers (National data) – use your GoinGlobal login via Handshake to access information on employers who have accepted OPT

J-1 students may be eligible to work off-campus to gain work experience in their field of study through Academic Training (AT). AT may take place before or after the completion of your degree and requires authorization from your J-1 sponsor

ECS does not have a role in processing AT. Please work with ISS and your sponsor on this process.

More information: https://iss.wisc.edu/employment/j1-employment/

There are a few resources that allow you to see employer who have both successfully secured H-1B as well as those that have applied for H-1B but were not successful.

USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub

• Can be sorted by Employer State, Fiscal Year and Industry Code
• Limited download options. Learn more about how interpret the data here

GoinGlobal (login via Handshake)

• Identify positions, job locations and salary ranges
• Search by company name, occupation, industry, job title, and year