At the Career & Internship Center, we understand that international students navigate many transitions when coming to the UW, including how to understand work culture in the U.S. We are here to help international students understand and navigate available job and internship opportunities.
Here are the ways we can help:
- Provide one-on-one career coaching to help international students find and apply for jobs and internships (on and off campus, in the U.S., and abroad)
- Create and edit resumes and cover letters
- Conduct mock interviews
- Prepare for career fairs
- Help navigate and practice talking to employers about their status
- Strategize ways to gain and practice the skills necessary for their field of interest
To understand the role that you as an international student play, as well as understanding how other offices across campus can support you throughout your job and internship search process, read below.
- Your Role (as a student)
- International Student Services (ISS) Office
- Student Legal Services (SLS)
- Major Adviser*
- Employer
- Additional Resources
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• Learn about visa restrictions and the various processes/timelines of qualifying and applying for CPT & OPT
• Enroll in concurrent academic course alongside your internship experience (if applicable)
• Obtain and fill out the proper paperwork for applications
• Understand how employment authorization works
• Be able to communicate your work eligibility & visa status to employers -
International Student Services staff advise international students with F-1 or J-1 visas who are enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs on the UW-Seattle campus. They provide guidance around:
•Maintaining F-1 or J-1 immigration status while attending the UW
• Processing F-1 and J-1 immigration benefits
• Navigating university policy and understanding F-1 and J-1 visa restrictions
• Ensuring university and student compliance with immigration policies
• They also offer educational tools, including information sessions and tutorials -
Student Legal Services (SLS) is an on-campus law office that provides a safe and confidential space for all UW Seattle and Bothell students who have legal questions or concerns. They offer free 40-minute consultations on a broad range of topics, including:
• How to navigate the application process for CPT/ OPT
• Factors that may affect immigration status while studying at the University of Washington
•Identify the most common post-graduation work visa options
• Discussing various nonimmigrant visa categories that allow for international students to study in the United States and helping decide which visa type is best for them -
Your departmental advisers are responsible for signing off on your CPT paperwork and demonstrating that the CPT opportunity aligns with your academic major.
*If you are a pre-major student you can enroll in GEN ST 350 as your CPT credit
- Employers are responsible for knowing (though not all are aware) if they accept CPT/OPT and H-1B Visas.
- • Center for International Relations and Cultural Leadership Exchange (CIRCLE)
• Center for Experiential Learning & Diversity (EXPD)
• Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS)
• Unite UW
