Internship with an International Organization

An F-1 student may apply to USCIS for authorization to participate in an offer of employment within an international organization that is recognized under the International Immunities Act. (See a list of qualifying organizations below). As long as the student is in valid F-1 status there is no waiting period prior to becoming eligible to apply for this type of employment. Employment may be full time and can be authorized in increments of up to one year.

The position does not have to be related to the student’s field of study, but the authorization cannot extend beyond the end of the student’s academic program. There must first be an official offer of employment from the sponsoring organization in order to apply for the authorization.

This type of employment authorization does not impact the student’s eligibility for participation in other types of employment related to F-1 status. However, during the period of employment the student must otherwise continue to maintain status, including continuing to pursue a full course of study. 

How to Apply

  1. Obtain a letter of certification from the international organization on their official letterhead that indicates the employment is within the scope of the organization’s sponsorship.
  2. Complete USCIS Form I-765. Follow USCIS instructions. Use the category code (c)(3)(ii) in section number 27 of the form. Type in your answers before printing the I-765.   Sign in black ink.
  3. OPTIONAL: ALSO COMPLETE USCIS FORM G-1145 while on the I-765 webpage. This form allows you to provide an email address to receive an email and/or a cell phone number to receive a text message when your application is received by the U.S. government.Type your answers before printing the form.  
  4. Schedule an appointment with an ISS advisor. Bring your letter from the international organization, your I-20, passport, I‑94, and completed I-765 (& optional G-1145) to your appointment.
  5. At your appointment the ISS advisor will review your documents. If everything appears to be in order the advisor will update your SEVIS record with the recommendation for the employment and will issue you a new I-20 showing the recommendation. Both you and the advisor will need to sign this new I-20.
  6. Assemble the following application materials to submit to USCIS. 
    • $410 application fee application fee in the form of a check or money order made payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security”.
    • 2 photographs, passport style (guidelines on next page) with your name gently printed on the back. Be careful not to damage photos when writing.
      • The USCIS Service Center recommends placing the photo in a clear plastic ‘ziploc’ sandwich bag.
      • do NOT put a staple through the photos or trim the size of the photos.
    • Completed G-1145 (optional) - typed & printed out
    • Completed I-765 – typed, printed out, & signed - receipt and work permit are mailed to the address used on this form
    • Photocopy of the new I-20 signed by the ISS advisor on p.1 & 2, AND by you on p.1
    • Letter from the international organization.
    • Photocopy of your I-94 and ID pages of your passport. If applying for renewal of your authorization also include a copy of the previous work permit.
  7. Mail your assembled packet to USCIS. It is recommended that you send it in a manner that verifies delivery (such as certified mail with proof of delivery requested). Mail your application to:   

For US Postal Service:

USCIS

PO Box 805373

Chicago, IL 60680

For non-Postal Service (FedEx, UPS, DHL etc.):

USCIS

Attn: I-765 C03

131 South Dearborn - 3rd Floor

Chicago, IL 60603-5517  

List of Qualifying International Organizations

African Development Bank

African Development Fund

Asian Development Bank

African Union

Border Environmental Cooperation Commission

Caribbean Organization

Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Commission for Labor Cooperation

Commission for the Study of Alternatives to the Panama Canal

Customs Cooperation Council

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

European Space Agency (formerly the European Space Research Organization).

Food and Agriculture Organization

Global Fund

Great Lakes Fishery Commission

GRECO (Council of Europe in Respect of the Group of States Against Corruption)

Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices

Inter-American Defense Board

Inter-American Development Bank

Inter-American Institute for Cooperation for Agriculture

Inter-American Investment Corporation

Inter-American Statistical Institute

Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission

International Atomic Energy Agency

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank)*

International Boundary and Water Commission - the United States and Mexico

International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes *

International Civil Aviation Organization

International Coffee Organization

International Committee of the Red Cross

International Cotton Advisory Committee

International Cotton Institute

International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) (Limited Privileges)

International Development Association*

International Development Law Institute

International Fertilizer Development Center

International Finance Corporation *

International Food Policy Research Institute (Limited Privileges)

International Fund for Agricultural Development

International Hydrographic Bureau

International Joint Commission - the United States and Canada

International Labor Organization

International Maritime Organization (formerly the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization)

International Maritime Satellite Organization

International Monetary Fund

International Organization for Migration (Formerly Provisional Intergovernmental Committee for the Movement of Migrants for Europe and Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration.)

International Pacific Halibut Commission

International Secretariat for Volunteer Service

International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT)

International Telecommunication Union

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (Limited Privileges)

International Wheat Advisory Committee (International Wheat Council)

Interparliamentary Union

Israel-United States Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation

ITER International Fusion Energy Organization

Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization

Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency *

Multinational Force and Observers

North American Development Bank

North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission

North Pacific Marine Science Organization

Organization for American States (including Pan American Union)

Organization for Eastern Caribbean States

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (formerly the Organization for European Economic Cooperation)

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

Pacific Salmon Commission

Pan American Health Organization (including Pan American Sanitary Bureau)

South Pacific Commission.

United International Bureau for the Protection of Intellectual Property (BIPRI)

United Nations

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

United Nations Industrial Development Organization

Universal Postal Union

World Health Organization

World Intellectual Property Organization

World Meteorological Organization

World Tourism Organization

World Trade Organization

*  One of the 5 agencies included within the "World Bank Group"

List Source: U.S. Dept. of State Foreign Affairs Manual Volume 9 – Visas, 9 FAM 41.24 Exhibit I (October 2009)