Analysis | A look into challenges international students face after graduation

Nearly 1 million international students study in the U.S., yet, according to The Nation, less than half of them are able to stay. Photo from The Panther Archives

The future after graduation can bring uncertainty for many college students. For international students, this uncertainty lies not only in their careers, but also in the place they call home. 

Sonya Gozhina, a senior psychology major from Moscow, said she will do anything to stay in the U.S. after she graduates this weekend.

Gozhina has not seen her family for more than three years, and home has become a scary place due to Russia’s war with Ukraine, its geopolitical conflicts and isolation from the rest of the world. 

“Russia will always be my home and a place I love the most,” Gozhina told The Panther. “However, I don’t see my future there.”

She came to study in the U.S. in a search for new opportunities.

“Moving here and being exposed to such a drastically different world and many different cultures, and people from different walks of life have really broadened my perspective and made me a much more well-rounded person,” Gozhina said.

Gozhina is one of the more than one million international students that are currently studying in the U.S. Graduation, a time that brings a sense of freedom to many, can also bring a sense of fear for those who may not call this place home.  

Alejandra Chow, a senior business administration major, came to study in the U.S. from Sinaloa, Mexico, searching for an opportunity to grow in a place outside of her comfort zone. Chow came to the U.S. on an F1 Visa, which expired after two weeks.

To get an F1 Visa, Chow had to get it approved by the U.S. government after landing an interview. 

Upon graduation, international students are given 60 days to remain in the U.S. After graduating, students then become eligible for an Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa, where they are then allowed to stay in the U.S. for up to one year.

Once that year is over, international students are given a 60-day grace period to start a new school program, change their visa status or leave the country. 

“For a lot of international students, it is really hard to find a job or sponsorship,” Chow told The Panther. “Often, recruiters and hiring managers will not even look at your resume.” 

Another challenge that international students face is a lack of access to financial aid and loans. Luckily, international students at Chapman are eligible for merit and need-based scholarships. 

“You do have to pay a lot of tuition because a lot of international students are not given scholarships,” Chow said. “But I was able to get grants which helped me a lot.” 

Once students put in the OPT application, the date can not be changed. Due to this, Chow made a decision to wait on applying for an OPT because she was unsure if she would land a job opportunity on the same day that she registered for the training.

Chow was happy to hear that she got an internship opportunity for the summer but immediately had to get to work on getting an OPT. A new system that was put in place in April that gives the opportunity to expedite an OPT. This new expedited process can cost up to $2,000, and it still does not guarantee that it will get there within 30 days. 

To apply for a work visa, the individual must have a bachelor's degree and a job offer from an employer who will confirm that no other U.S. citizens are interested in that specific position. 

Melina Poulsen, a senior business administration and economics double major, has felt stressed about finding a job during her time at Chapman, causing her to rely on her parents more than she would have liked to.  

Poulsen plans to stay in the U.S. after graduating in May, yet the future remains uncertain. 

“The process is somewhat complex since the application for work authorization has a very broad range of time that it takes to be approved,” Poulsen told The Panther. “This makes it difficult for me to know when I am able to travel, go home and visit my family and start work.”

Poulsen says that the key is to start the application process as soon as possible. 

According to the National Science Foundation, 77% of international students intend to stay in the U.S. after their OPT visa ends, yet only 46% are able to do this. 

Tianyu Liu, a graduate documentary filmmaking student graduating this year, will be returning to her hometown of Chengdu, China. 

“I'm planning to go home after graduation,” Tianyu told The Panther. ”I know it is hard to stay, and I just want to choose the easy way.”