Virginia International University is a small, private university located outside of Washington, DC in Fairfax, Virginia. VIU’s student body is positively unique in that over 90% of our student body is made up of international students. Our students come from over 50 countries to study in areas such as Business, Computer Science and Information Systems. VIU offers certificate programs, as well as Bachelors and Masters programs in these areas. While the majority of our students are here in the United States on an International Student Visa (in legal terms, an F-1 Visa), most are eligible to legally work during their studies here in the U.S. Companies should not be hesitant in any way to hire an international student!

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Are International Students able to legally work in the US ?  

Yes International Students are able to participate in two types of job related programs:

Curricular Practical Training  

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) allows F-1 students to participate in paid off-campus employment in their academic field. The training and experience that students will gain through this internship program must be related to their coursework they are currently registered for at VIU. Students become eligible to participate in CPT after they complete one full academic year of study. Students who participate in CPT are limited to working a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic year. Full time work is permitted during the summer vacation. The reason that students can only work part time during the academic year is because while they are working, they are also registered as a full time student in their program of study.

Optional Practical Training

Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows F-1 students to accept paid, off-campus employment that is directly related to their major field of study for up to 12 months upon completion of their degree program. Some academic programs even allow for students to stay up to a total of 29 months! OPT for many students is their first “real” job in their field. OPT allows for full time work as long as the work is related to their academic field.

It’s too much work for me to hire an international student!

Many companies are afraid to hire international students for the fear of an added amount of administrative work being added to their already full plates. This fear could not be any more false! Hiring an international student is easy for the employer! All paperwork is handled by the student and the school. The only documentation the student will ask you for is a hire letter which will show the employment dates (for CPT), the rate of pay, job information and date of hire. That’s it!

What steps do I need to take if I am interested in advertising an internship position with my company?

If you are interested in advertising an open internship position, contact our Career Services Manager, Emily Kraus at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You will need to submit a complete job description along with a brief description of your company. Emily will advertise the position for a specified amount of time. You will not need to do any of the advertising or collecting of applicant documents. She will do all of this for you!

Who can I contact if I have specific questions about hiring an international student?

The VIU Office of International Student Services is a great resource for employers who may have concerns or questions relating to hiring an international student. They can be reached by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at (703) 591-7042 x317.

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