Work Authorization

Support your job or internship search by learning about immigration regulations and work visas.  The Office of International Education (OIE) website provides information, forms and procedures you will need to be successful and in compliance during your time here at Marquette.

International students should understand CPT, OPT, and H1-B visa guidelines and processes well enough to explain them to a company representative.  For example, a student could share with an employer:  
“As an international student, I qualify for curricular practical training, which is also called CPT.  I could work in your internship by obtaining academic credit through the Business Career Center.  I would simply need to ask you to sign paperwork indicating that you were aware of my receiving credit.”

If you are interested in pursuing credit for an internship, especially for visa or CPT compliance, please review the options below. All CPT approvals need to be finalized before you may begin working for an off-campus employer.

Undergraduate Students
Learn about the College of Business Administration Internship for Academic Credit program.

Graduate Students

  • MSA Students: Learn about the Early Recruitment Program and contact Mr. Michael Browne to learn about requirements for earning ACCO credit for “self-found” internships.
  • MBA, MSAE and MSHR Students: If you are interested in pursuing credit for an internship, especially for visa or CPT compliance, please contact faculty in your academic department to pursue an independent study course.

Applying for opportunities through Handshake

On August 13, 2018, Handshake adjusted the questions about work authorization for off-campus employment. The next time you apply for a position through Handshake, you will be prompted to answer the questions below. 

1.       Are you legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer?

2.       Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship? 

Through collaboration with staff from the Office of International Education, we suggest the following responses to these questions. 

F1 Students
Question: Are you legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer?
Response Suggestion: If you are applying for off-campus positions related to your major/field of study at Marquette University, you may be eligible for permission to work based on authorized Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT). Remember that there are eligibility requirements for CPT and OPT authorization.   More details are available from advisors at the Office of International Education and at  https://www.marquette.edu/oie/current-students/f1-student-employment.php.   If you and the position are eligible for CPT or OPT, we suggest answering “YES’ to this question. 

Question: Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship?
Response Suggestion: As a F1 student, after your OPT time is fully utilized, you may need a different visa status to legally work in the U.S. Because this question inquires about your future ability to work in the U.S., we suggest answering YES if you would want the employer to provide sponsorship for a new visa status. 

If you have questions about work authorization for off-campus opportunities, please contact the Office of International Education. If you have questions about your internship/job search or the Handshake website, please contact the Business Career Center or visit our drop-in hours: Monday-Friday, 12:30-3:30pm in DS 277.