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|
 Overview |
Success Stories |
Course Descriptions |
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Internship Placement |
Internship Policies |
Student Resources |
| Internship Forms |
FAQ's |
Printable Version
All students are able to take advantage of LaGuardia Co-op program. The Co-op internship program provides meaningful work experience at a variety of organizations.
As an F-1 student in legal immigration status, you can take advantage of this program and even get paid for it. You can do the internship part-time or full-time. However, as an F-1 student you are responsible for obtaining permission to do a paid or unpaid internship from the Foreign Student Advisor (FSA). The FSA will authorize work on the back of your 1-20 form. You cannot work for one day or one hour without permission from the FSA.
You can begin your paid internship if you have delivered following information to the Foreign Student Office (FSO).
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Permission to register form (given to you by your Co-op advisor)
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Completed form I-538
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I-20 Form
In order to be eligible to do a paid internship you must:
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Have a valid passport.
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Be in legal F-1 Status for at least 9 months.
What happens if you fail to apply for permission to do a paid internship before you begin work?
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You will violate your F-1 Status and lose all F-1 benefits.
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You will be asked to stop working immediately.
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You are subjecting the employer to a fine by the Department of Labor (DOL) if they find out the company has hired someone who is not authorized to work.
If you register late for the actual Co-op internship, you can begin your paid internship as long as you have delivered the required documents to the FSA.
EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION ISSUED BY THE FSO IS EMPLOYER-SPECIFIC.
The employment authorization for paid internship issued by the Foreign Student Office on the last page of a foreign student’s I-20 Form mentions the internship company where the intern will do his/her internship. If you later switch the intern from one company to another you need to inform the Foreign Student Office of the change.
Foreign Student Office (FSO): M-144, Ext. 5145
Office hours: M & T 9 am – 5 pm, W & R 1 – 7 pm, F closed to students.
