To help fix the labor shortage, international students should have a work permit. Utah needs workers to fill available job postings and there are many willing to work if only they could. The solution I’m proposing is to make a small change to our current legal immigration system that will go a long way.
The United States is home to some of the world’s finest institutions of higher learning. It’s not surprising to learn that every month, the U.S. processes thousands of F-1 and F-2 visa applications from over 100 countries. F-1 visas are granted to immigrants who have been accepted to study at a university. F-2 visas are granted to the dependents and spouses of the international students. All of these applicants are granted legal status in the country while they complete their studies.
Under current immigration law, immigrants with an F-1 visa are limited to a 20-hour workweek at an on-campus job. They are allowed to work full time during holiday breaks and during the summer months. But they cannot work anywhere else even if jobs are available and the immigrant is qualified and willing to work. The problem is that some schools don’t have enough on-campus jobs or even offer on-campus jobs for these students. As a result, many are tempted to find employment that will pay under the table to help pay the bills.
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