International Students Finding it Hard to Get Work in the US

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(Newswire.net — June 21, 2016) —Research conducted by consulting firm Accenture, shows that 88 percent of those who are set to complete their studies in the United States in 2016 believe there is no problem in finding a job in their profession, which is an increase in optimism by 23 percent compared to the graduates surveyed in 2015, reports the Voice of America.

Analyst David Smith said that students have given their future a lot of thought, they studied the job market and thought about their future career prior to going to college or university, although having a diploma, job and super successful career is not a door that is open to everyone.

Hua-Yu Sebastian Cherng, Assistant Professor of International Education at the New York University, explained that the first question that will be raised is whether you have a valid permit to work in the United States.

Just last year, international students spent more than $30 billion on education in the United States, but legal and social barriers can still  be an obstacle when entering the labor market.

The professor explains that because of US regulations, many companies do not want to engage in the complicated process of issuing work permits that last longer than the 12 months that most standard visa holders are eligible to work upon graduation.

It would cost a company between $10,000 to $20,000 to sponsor an H1B visa, and depending on the profession, the company has to petition the US government. However, the percentage of rejected applications is very high.

Chinese native Zhu Bingbing, an MA graduate, remembers the constant pressure upon graduation. She told VOA that she understood that no one wants to sponsor her. After all, why would they if they can hire someone without sponsorship. Even after 2013, when she received a green card, she believes her options are limited because English is her second language, which is a common problem for many students.

She acknowledges that although the obstacles are large, they are not too great to be overcome as she says gaining self-confidence is as important for the American dream.