International students who had lined up permanent employment on an H-1B visa may find themselves out of a job, according to a Career Services e-mail circulated among students today.
The e-mail notified students of an amendment to the stimulus package proposed by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Bernie Sanders (Independent-Vermont) that limits firms receiving funds from the Troubled Assets Relief Program from hiring international workers on H-1B visas.
Those visas allow employers to hire non-immigrant international workers in a specialized field. International students use the visas for permanent employment, not internships.
Under the amendment, employers must take extra steps to hire foreign workers such as ensuring that international hires do not displace U.S. workers and making a good-faith effort to find U.S. workers to fill positions at wages at least equal to those offered to a potential H-1B employee.
For Penn, which accepts approximately 10 percent of its undergraduate student body from foreign countries each year, these restrictions may pose a problem for international juniors and seniors seeking jobs and internships.
Some Penn students have already had their offers rescinded, said Career Services director Patricia Rose.
The e-mail notified students of an amendment to the stimulus package proposed by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Bernie Sanders (Independent-Vermont) that limits firms receiving funds from the Troubled Assets Relief Program from hiring international workers on H-1B visas.
Those visas allow employers to hire non-immigrant international workers in a specialized field. International students use the visas for permanent employment, not internships.
Under the amendment, employers must take extra steps to hire foreign workers such as ensuring that international hires do not displace U.S. workers and making a good-faith effort to find U.S. workers to fill positions at wages at least equal to those offered to a potential H-1B employee.
For Penn, which accepts approximately 10 percent of its undergraduate student body from foreign countries each year, these restrictions may pose a problem for international juniors and seniors seeking jobs and internships.
Some Penn students have already had their offers rescinded, said Career Services director Patricia Rose.
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