Employers

Hiring International Students Made Easy

Our Innovative Program Enables You to Hire Best Qualified Candidates

Common Misperceptions  ♦  How to Get Started  ♦  Useful Forms
 

Employers often overlook otherwise exemplary foreign students under the misperception that navigating the visa application process is too difficult.

The Smith School Office of Career Management has retained McCandlish Holton, PC, a leading immigration law firm, to address the obstacles preventing employers from hiring the best and brightest students.

What This Means for You:

  1. Complimentary consultation regarding all aspects of the sponsorship process.
  2. We’ve done the work for you. Smith has researched the options and laid the groundwork for competent and proven immigration consultation services.
  3. You can feel confident in the legal advice. McCandlish Holton is a credible expert in immigration services, having successfully processed thousands of work visas and green cards for employers and employees nationwide.
  4. Access to a significantly increased candidate pool. You are now free to take advantage of all of the benefits associated with hiring international students (e.g., industry expertise, global work experience, language fluencies, global contacts network, and knowledge of international markets).

Any employer interested in recruiting a Smith student can take advantage of McCandlish Holton’s complimentary services, which include:

  • Consultation with employers regarding all aspects of the sponsorship process
  • Case-by case visa assessments
  • Pre-negotiated legal fees for H1-B visa processing
  • Advice and materials on immigration issues

COMMON MISPERCEPTIONS

Myth: Hiring international students is complicated and confusing. Reality: To eliminate the mystery of hiring international students, Smith provides employers with access to experienced immigration legal counsel to answer your questions, at no cost to you.
Myth: Hiring international students is expensive. Reality: Total cost to an employer is typically no more than $3,200.
Myth: Getting work visa approval from the immigration service is difficult, particularly since 9/11. Reality: For jobs requiring a degree (bachelors or MBA, etc), H1-B processing times are as little as two weeks.
Myth: Only permanent U.S. residents or citizens can work for a U.S. company. Reality: Foreign students need not be permanent U.S. residents (green card holders) or citizens to work in the U.S. Thousands of international graduates work in the U.S. in professional jobs for up to six years or longer with H1-B or other visas.
Myth: In order to hire an international student, employers must prove that the job has not been taken from a U.S. citizen. Reality: There is no requirement on your part to recruit U.S. workers, or to show that U.S. workers were unavailable, in order to hire someone in F-1, J-1 or H1-B status.
Myth: Students on an H1 visa can only work in the U.S. for one year. Reality: Students can work for up to six or more years on the H1 visa.

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HOW DO I GET STARTED?

We are happy to discuss with you further. For more information, please contact Sharon Strange Lewis, associate director of employer development, slewis@rhsmith.umd.edu or (301) 405-2213.