International students and graduates with college or advanced degrees can access resources on various employment-based visas (e.g., H-1B, J-1, O-1, and employment-based green cards).
The International Student Resource Center (ISRC), a project of Talent Mobility Fund, provides immigration information and support for international students in the United States. Through comprehensive resources, timely information and updates, and access to immigration experts, the ISRC supports international students through their academic program, and beyond.
From Campus to Career: A Practical Guide to Employment-Based Visas for Noncitizen Students in Higher Education. This guide developed by the Presidents’ Alliance, Path2Papers & FWD.us shares what noncitizen students in the United States—whether undocumented, DACA recipient, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders, a humanitarian parolees, or on student visas—need to know about qualifying for nonimmigrant and immigrant visa options upon graduation.
From Campus to Career: Preparing for Employment-Based Visas as a Student. This webinar, hosted by the Presidents’ Alliance Path2Papers & FWD.us, introduced new resources and provided an overview of employment-based visa pathways, such as H-1B, O-1, and employment-based green cards. Panelists discussed concrete steps students can take now to prepare, strategies for securing sponsorship, and where to find additional support and free legal consultation opportunities.
Navigating Employment-Based Visa Sponsorship at Higher Education Institutions. This guide from the Presidents’ Alliance offers practical tips for finding, understanding, and initiating conversations with higher education institutions about their work visa sponsorship practices.
H-1B vs. Green Card Through PERM: A Quick Comparison. This resource from Path2Papers provides a general comparison between the H-1B and the Green Card process involving labor certification (PERM).
FrogHire.ai (formerly F1 Hire) is a browser‑extension-based, AI‑powered career platform designed for international students and visa-holders, helping them filter and match jobs that support OPT/CPT, H‑1B or PERM sponsorship, highlight resume‑job alignment, access employer visa‑history data, and manage applications across major job boards.
The H-1B is a temporary (nonimmigrant) visa category that allows employers to petition for foreign professionals to work in “specialty occupations” that require at least a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent.
The H-1B Visa, Explained. This explainer from Boundless covers eligibility criteria, the process employers must follow to petition, and common questions regarding the H-1B visa.
Understanding H-1B Specialty Occupation. This one-pager by Path2Papers and the Presidents’ Alliance provides a detailed overview of H-1B “specialty occupations,” and outlines eligibility criteria, including degree relevance, potential equivalencies, and the importance of consulting an immigration attorney for guidance.
A Brief Overview of H-1B “Cap-Exempt” Employers. This one-pager from the Presidents’ Alliance and Path2Papers explains which employers are considered “cap-exempt” and therefore not subject to the H-1B lottery.
Cap-Exempt H-1B Visa: A Comprehensive Guide. This resource presents the Build Fellowship, a cap-exempt H-1B visa fellowship for foreign nationals who work part-time at partner universities and non-profit research organizations, helping to support their missions. The resource provides information on cap-exempt employment options, explains how the Build Fellowship works, and answers frequently asked questions.
H-1B Filing Fees: A Complete Guide for 2025. This resource from the Build Fellowship provides a thorough breakdown of the costs and considerations for H-1B visa filings in 2025.
H-1B vs. Green Card Through PERM: A Quick Comparison. This resource from Path2Papers provides a general comparison between the H-1B and the Green Card process involving labor certification (PERM).
Understanding Concurrent H-1Bs. This explainer created by the Presidents’ Alliance provides an overview of concurrent H-1Bs, demonstrating how individuals working for a cap-subject and cap-exempt employer at the same time can bypass the H-1B lottery.
Provisions and Possible Impacts of the DHS Final Rule Establishing a New Weighted H-1B Lottery System. This Immigration Insights report from the International Student Resource Center (ISRC) analyzes DHS’s final rule establishing a new weighted H-1B lottery system and potential impacts on industries and international students.
Build Fellowship. This resource presents the Build Fellowship, a cap-exempt H-1B visa fellowship for foreign nationals who work part-time at partner universities and non-profit research organizations, helping to support their missions. The resource provides guidelines, fellowship requirements, and information for prospective fellows and employers.
F-1 Student to H-1B Worker: Process and Planning in Turbulent Times. This recorded webinar presented by the International Student Resource Center (ISRC) and Interstride on February 12th, 2026 details considerations for the transition from F-1 student on OPT to H-1B temporary worker status. The panel reviewed the standard process and requirements, as well as recent regulatory and policy changes.
Understanding the H-1B Visa Lottery, and Options if Not Selected. This Immigration Insights report from the International Student Resource Center (ISRC) explains how the H-1B visa lottery system operates under the annual cap, including the newly implemented wage-based selection process, and provides a comprehensive overview of alternative strategies for individuals if not selected.
H-1B Lottery Non-Selection – Options and Alternatives. This informational video from the International Student Resource Center (ISRC) details what options and alternatives international students and scholars might have if they were not successful in being selected for the H-1B Lottery.
The O-1 visa is for individuals who have extraordinary ability in fields like science, education, arts, or business, and who seek to work in their area of expertise. It’s often used by researchers, artists, and other accomplished professionals.
Beyond Ordinary: Understanding the O-1 Visa. This guide from Path2Papers provides an overview of the O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, business, education, athletics, or the arts. It explains the eligibility criteria for both O-1A and O-1B categories, including evidentiary standards and examples of qualifying accomplishments.
O-1A Pathways Tool. This free online tool can help professionals quickly determine whether they might qualify for an O-1A “extraordinary ability” visa. The O-1A visa has high standards, but it is within reach for many talented individuals and is an especially good fit for researchers, founders, and experienced professionals. This tool is not a substitute for legal advice.
Everything STEM Researchers in the National Security Innovation Base Need to Know about O-1A. This guide, developed by the Institute for Progress, is intended to explain when researchers across the national security innovation base can qualify for the O-1A extraordinary ability visa category.
The J-1 Research Scholar visa is for individuals conducting research, teaching, or lecturing at U.S. institutions as part of an approved exchange visitor program. It is commonly used by international professors and researchers collaborating with U.S. universities or research centers on temporary academic assignments.
J-1 ResearcherUSA website – STEM Experts. The STEM Research Initiative provides talented researchers from around the world with the unique opportunity to accelerate innovation in collaboration with U.S. experts, companies, and institutions.
J-1 Research Scholar Visa Status: Flexibility for STEM Experts Including Future-Shaping Research Founders. This guide from the Institute for Progress explains how the J‑1 Research Scholar visa enables international STEM researchers and founders to work in U.S. academic or private-sector R&D settings for up to five years. It outlines key eligibility requirements, sponsorship options, and the visa’s flexibility in research roles and funding sources.
STEM Talent Connect. This dedicated platform enables STEM researchers to connect with U.S. employers seeking your skills and apply directly.
An Introduction to the J-1 Early Career STEM Research Pathway. This webinar hosted by the Presidents’ Alliance, International Student Resource Center, and Cultural Vistas provides an overview of the J-1 Early Career STEM initiative announced under the Biden-Harris Administration. Speakers also highlight how prospective hosting organizations can use a State Department-designated sponsor to participate in the program as well as additional resources for alternative employment-based pathways via the LPTW resource hub.
Employment-based (EB) green cards offer a path to permanent residency for foreign nationals whose skills, qualifications, or job offers align with specific preference categories under U.S. immigration law. These include individuals with extraordinary ability, advanced degrees, skilled work experience, or substantial investment in the U.S. economy.
Explainer: PERM Labor Certification Process. This resource from the National Immigration Forum details the key requirements and stages of the PERM process—including prevailing wage determination, recruitment/labor market testing, ETA‑9089 filing, and timelines.
Getting a PERM; An Employment-Based Visa. This explainer by Immigrants Rising discusses the labor certification (or “PERM”) process for certain employment-based immigrant visas.
A Step-By-Step Timeline of the Employment-Based Green Card Application via the PERM/Labor Certification Process. This resource from Path2Papers outlines the step-by-step process for obtaining an employment-based green card through the labor certification (PERM) process.
How to Apply for an EB-2 NIW Visa. This Boundless guide on the EB‑2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) explains how professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability can bypass the usual employer-sponsored labor certification by self-petitioning, demonstrating that their work serves the national interest.
Understanding the National Interest Waiver: A Path to the Green Card. This guide from Path2Papers explains how individuals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability can self-petition for a green card under the EB-2 category without needing a job offer or labor certification. It breaks down the three NIW eligibility criteria—showing that the applicant’s work has substantial merit and national importance, that they are well-positioned to advance their endeavor, and that waiving the job offer requirement benefits the U.S.
Bolstering STEM Talent with the National Interest Waiver. This article from the Institute for Progress explores how recent changes to immigration policy are making it easier for advanced STEM degree holders to get green cards—without employer sponsorship—through the National Interest Waiver (NIW).
Stories highlight the challenges, triumphs, and resilience of international students and graduates as they pursue opportunities to live, work, and contribute to communities across the United States. These narratives offer valuable insights and inspiration to those navigating similar paths.
O-1 visa
- How I got an O-1 visa as a software engineer/founder. This blog post summarizes the O-1 visa application process experience of Awais, a software engineer turned founder / CTO.
Additional Audiences and Resources:
- For higher education resources, visit this page.
- For employer and legal counsel resources, visit this page.
- To get legal help, visit this page.
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