Here is another version “Dear Sophie,” an advice column that answers immigration-related questions about working at tech companies.
“Your questions are critical to spreading the knowledge that allows people around the world to rise above borders and pursue their dreams,” said Silicon Valley immigration attorney Sophie Alcorn. Whether you’re in People Ops, a founder, or looking for a job in Silicon Valley, I’d love to answer your questions in the next column.
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Dear Sophie,
Our startup is recruiting engineers. Most of our team works remotely, but some of our recruits prefer to work in the office. They are international students graduating in December and some individuals who have worked with us as contractors. What expedited visa options should we consider? Can their supervisor work remotely? Is there anything else we should remember?
– Strict recruitment
dear strict,
It’s great to hear that your future recruits want to work in an office. As you can imagine, students and recent students want to meet people and make connections with team members at work in the office. This also seems to be true of the international talent you want to recruit.
Let’s start with your second question. Inspectors are not universally required to work in person with visa holders. However, supervisors help guide and support new hires, and convey your company’s culture, which is critical to employee engagement, happiness, and retention. The exact amount of contact and control depends on the specific immigration category you are considering.
Now let’s look at visa options for international students.
Hiring F-1 students is a fast option!
After completion of at least one full year of academic coursework, international students on F-1 visas are eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT). This allows them to obtain a work permit that allows them to work for a full year.
Image Credits: Joanna Buniak / Sophie Alcorn (Opens in a new window)
Under OPT, students have two options:
- After completing a full year of coursework, you can work part-time (20 hours per week or less) while continuing your coursework, called pre-completion OPT. Students who work for one year under pre-completion OPT can work full-time for an additional six months.
- After graduation, students can opt for post-graduation OPT where they work full-time (40 hours per week) for one year. Most F-1 students choose this option.
If you extend post-completion OPT to someone who has completed a certain amount of pre-completion OPT, check with them and the Designated School Officer (DSO) at their school to see how many full 12 months they have left.
