The Price You Pay For Being An International Student in the U.S.

by Talya Akpinar

1,075,496…The approximate number of international students actively studying in the U.S. in 2019-2020, according to a study published by Statista (Duffin, 2021). It is not easy being an international student in the United States; even for the most qualified students, it is tough to secure a job. Many employers are hesitant to hire international students, as they can often only reside in the country for a limited time, according to U.S. immigration laws. Therefore, international students often cannot remain in the U.S. after their OPT period has ended. Most importantly, an international student's evident obstacles can lead to low self-esteem, unhealthy coping, and an accumulation of stress.

Adjusting to life in a new country can be challenging and alone. Everything in the realm, from culture to people to microeconomic trends, is generally unfamiliar, compounded by the isolation and loneliness brought about by being so far from family and friends. However, despite these obstacles, over a million international students choose to study in the United States, eschewing the comfort of home for American opportunities and education. With hard work, determination, and luck, many international students have succeeded in seeking employment in the United States. However, this is not to say that it is not exceptionally discouraging at times, especially when one feels so foreign in their surroundings.

The U.S. education system is one of the finest due to its exceptional infrastructure, low teacher-to-student ratio; high resource availability; and a wide variety of degree programs. As a result, the U.S. education system attracts expats from around the world whose hometown education systems can not compare. Regardless, the application process for international students applying for college in the United States is tedious, troublesome, and expensive. High schools worldwide, especially in developing countries, do not always provide the same caliber of resources as in America, nor follow the American curriculum. This lends itself to international students having to work with resources outside of their primary school institution to find methods of satisfying the application requirements. In addition, students must find time to satisfy requirements ranging from A.P. credits, I.B. courses, SAT exams, and curating outstanding applications in their own time. With that in mind, the international student is still at a disadvantage while applying; "it is between 2–3x more difficult for international students to gain admission to top U.S. colleges when compared with domestic students." (Wolf, 2018). Nevertheless, international students still persevere in the hope of pursuing a superior education in the United States.

Following acceptance into a U.S. university, international students prepare themself to move into an entirely new country, leaving behind their comfort, social life, proximity to parents, language, and cultural background. The psychological adjustment of an international student in the U.S. was studied by Michelle Jackson, Sukanya Ray, and Danica Bybell by interviewing 70 international students (Jackson, Michelle, etc., 2013). This study revealed the depressive symptoms and sociocultural experiences an international student undergoes. In addition, the interviews revealed a consistent sign of low self-esteem which is directly related to and predictive of clinical levels of depression in international students ( Rahman, 2003; Wei, Ku, Russell, Mallinckrodt, & Liao, 2008).

Moving to a new country for university is not only an adjustment but an entirely new way of life. Eager international students go to the U.S. with open arms and face even more problems. It is challenging to overcome the financial stressors, mental health strains, and discrimination that foreigners face within these new testing environments. The individuals in question are at a very early and vulnerable stage of their lives. It is often notably tricky for new students to fit into their grades, regardless of their background. One can only imagine how challenging the process of an international student, who is accustomed to an entirely contrasting environment, is within the U.S.

After the approximately 4-year undergraduate experience has ended, the international student has hopefully adjusted to the United States and is looking to find a job. As discussed, most international students sacrifice much to gain from the U.S. education system and work opportunities. This sacrifice could be for various reasons; their currency could have depreciated against the U.S. dollar, employment opportunities might be invaluable, or the lifestyle quality, in general, might not favor them. This is when employment in the U.S. is desired, and the endless hours of CV editing, cover letter personalizing, recruitment practice and portfolio preparation begins.

The term international is conceptualized through the concept of citizenship. The debate around globalization argues that the scope of belonging only becomes a reality when an individual feels entirely accepted within a space, enabling geographical locations to become global (Szelényi and Rhoads 25). Universities hold an immense responsibility to their students, promising to support and guide them as they move from young adults to independent intellectuals. Consequently, some universities take in individuals from every background and ethnicity to collect a pool of experience and knowledge unlike any other. This environment will ultimately curate an exchange of ideas, beliefs, and opinions amongst students, enabling them to grow in the most enriching environment possible. However, in the United States, the equality of opportunity promised by a university to all its students is a misconception. Two students accepted into the university on equal merit, entering the same university do not necessarily leave with the same chances. If all effort, determination, and ambition were equal, the international segment of the student population would still be great inequality when compared to the standard American student. This inequality stems from employment restrictions upon international students that prohibit them from applying for the same job opportunities that American citizens have.

International students must obtain an OPT post-undergraduate degree before beginning their employment journey, without this, they are prohibited from legally working and residing within the U.S. (Monahan, 2018). An OPT, or Optional Practical Training, is a period during which international students studying in the United States can take on temporary jobs to gain experience in their field of study. This type of training is typically undertaken after completing a student's studies and can last up to 12 months (USCIS). OPT can be a valuable way for international students to gain experience working in the United States. It can also help them make professional connections that may be useful after they graduate.

OPT was originally a one year training program; however, students with a STEM degree are now eligible for a three-year training program. To further explain, if a student studied a major concerning science, technology, engineering, and math, they receive two additional years of work opportunities in the U.S. on their OPT visa. Any other major studied by an international student constitutes only a single year of OPT (Monahan, 2018). The OPT limits an international student's career path and decisions as U.S. immigration policies require the chosen profession to correlate strongly with the major studied. In turn, having built up multiple years of work experience in the United States, more companies are willing to sponsor more permanent H1B visas for immigrants (USCIS).

Adjusting to life in a new country is a challenge for anyone, but one may argue that this is especially the case for those who come to America in search of superior education. For many, landing a job is the key to success, but the process can be daunting, especially when competing against a pool of talented and experienced American workers. This process becomes even more daunting with the realization that your visa status is tied to one's ability to find employment. (Abiodun, 2022). The pressure to succeed can quickly turn into feelings of failure and isolation, making it hard to enjoy the creative freedom that initially drew one to the United States. However, with hard work and perseverance, it is possible to build a rewarding career in the United States. Despite the challenges, the United States remains a land of opportunity for creative minds worldwide (Duong, 2020).

The keyword which keeps international students on the edge of their seats is uncertainty. A policy could change at any moment, an offer could get rescinded, and a program could get restricted. The article Quotas and Quality stated that "2004 represented a marked exogenous change in U.S. job market prospects for college-educated foreign citizens" (Kato and Sparber, 2013). The recruitment system of workplaces in the United States is undoubtedly flawed from an international student's point of view. The OPT is an excellent opportunity for international students to gain job experience in their field of study. However, OPT is not a guarantee of a job opportunity, so many international students are left unemployed after graduation. With that being said, increasing employer participation within the OPT program would greatly benefit international students (Monahan, 2018). Finally, the OPT program is subject to change anytime, creating more significant uncertainty for international students. The recruitment system in the United States creates tension and puts international students at a disadvantage in the employment process before even beginning to seek employment.

As an international student in the United States, one of the most challenging things to adjust to is the acceptance that finding a job in the country you have called home for the past four years will be exceptionally challenging, near impossible. Not only are very few jobs available to people with visa restrictions, but the available positions tend to be low-paying and offer little in the way of career advancement. For many students, the only way to gain income is through on-campus jobs, which often pay close to or less than minimum wage. Even with on-campus employment, international students are limited to 20 hours per week during the school year (Shorelight, 2022). Once graduation rolls around, students are given a brief window of opportunity to find a job in their field through the OPT program. However, even with a degree from a top university, the competition for jobs is fierce, and many students leave the country without securing employment. According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the only way an international student on an F-1 visa would be able to work off-campus is if they can prove they are experiencing an extreme circumstance beyond their control. Some examples include unexpected changes in tuition, financial support, decrease in the relative value of currency the student depends on, or loss of financial aid (Anh Do, 2019).

For many international students, studying in the United States is a lifetime opportunity, but many face an uncertain future post-graduation. Most international students are only legally allowed to work in the United States for twelve months after graduation, and finding a job that provides sponsorship can be difficult. Consequently, many international students are forced to return to a country they have not called home for at least four years, even if they prefer to stay in the United States. Moreover, To enter an excellent job, you must build on past internships to demonstrate experience. For internationals, every educational institution has a different policy regarding the number of times a student can apply for an OPT, meaning they must work for free to gain experience. Not every intern can afford to work in an unpaid environment, yet often international interns must involuntarily commit to doing so in order to build their resume.

"I would like to access a list of employers that sponsor international students with H-1B work visas."

"They say you get 10% of what you apply for. [As international students,] we get 0% because [even those 10%] don’t sponsor. It is a waste of energy and time,"

- Kenza Mandri, a former international student at Fordham University." (Benslimane, 2017)

The 0% within Mandri's statement is an exaggeration but accurately expresses the hopelessness an international student within the U.S. feels.

Most companies less aligned with STEM in the United States do not sponsor international students. There are several reasons for this, but the most commonly cited reason is that supporting an international student is expensive and time-consuming (Benslimane, 2017). The process often requires the company to invest in expensive visa applications and immigration paperwork, which can take months or even years to complete. In addition, many companies are concerned about the potential liability of sponsoring an international student. The company could be held responsible if the student were to get into legal trouble or be accused of a crime. For these reasons, most companies in the U.S. choose not to sponsor international students. However, there are a few companies that do support international students, and they often find these investments to be exceedingly worthwhile. These companies report that international students bring new perspectives and skills to their teams, becoming loyal and dedicated employees. You may find that your hard work pays off as a life-changing opportunity (Lambert, 1993). Finally, many creative companies are located in urban areas, where the cost of living is already high. As a result, they may not be able to offer competitive salaries to international students unfamiliar with U.S. living costs. Consequently, these factors all contribute to why creative companies in the U.S. have a lower likelihood of sponsoring international students.

If you are in the creative industry, you are probably out of luck. The more technical and financial sectors, such as banking, finance, and technology, offer an organized recruitment system and are very clear about whether they sponsor or not. Anyone interested in these sectors will either face an initial "we do not sponsor internationals" reply and have no chance but to eliminate that company, or in the likelihood that the company does sponsor, they will have a chance. However, the creative industry does not function in this way. The creative sector is chaotic and unclear. Most art, design, music, entertainment, etc. related companies either do not have the funds to sponsor or are interested in doing so. Many creative firms will interview prospective employees until the very last stage and then reveal that they do not know the inner workings of legally hiring an international student. International students must take the defeat and prepare to struggle or settle for an entirely different sector. International student also often discovers that they are not eligible for any profession, as their OPT only supports jobs within the area of their studies. An international student does not have the liberty to explore different job opportunities or pivot their interests after committing to a major. This is absurd in every sense of the word as every human should have the chance to realize they were on the wrong path or that their interests shifted, even if they spent four years studying that major. Being compelled to commit to the area of interest of one's major is disheartening, to say the least, for that individual.

The exigency of addressing the interwoven issues arising from the limitations of employing international students is beyond comprehension. From an individual perspective, an international student would probably feel shut out and discouraged throughout their employment search. It is one thing to not qualify for a position within a company. However, it is an entirely different feeling to not qualify simply because the company does not accept individuals from your birth country. In a sense, immigration laws need to be liberalized for international students specifically. The undergraduate experience an international student receives creates valuable networking opportunities and gains immeasurable individual experience. However, it is all meritless if the individual is cast out from the system post-graduation.

As a result, contrary to the misconstrued impression of U.S. immigration rule-makers, many international students want to go back to their home countries after gaining some valuable work experience in the United States. Therefore a student is given the education to contribute to the economic system, yet not prohibited to become a part of the process. The concern behind an international student's experience lies under the umbrella of a bigger idea; how can an international student take full advantage of the educational system the U.S. offers?

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