International students are eligibleto apply to certain internships provided by the Smithsonian free-of-charge.Other entities that attract tons of international students are theinternational organizations located in this city such as the World Bank, theInternational Monetary Fund and the Interamerican Development Bank.International and national students are encouraged to research and apply withplenty of time before the deadline to any of these internships that usuallycarry a nice stipend or a monthly wage. It's important to understand that manyinternships are unpaid, however the professional expertise and personalconnections you will acquire more than make up for the lack of payment. Someinternships offer stipends that usually cover food and/or transportation. Otherinternships provide nice monthly wages that allow students to pay for housing,food, transportation and other personal expenses. There are also internshipprograms such as the Washington Internship Program, the Washington InternshipInstitute, or the Washington Center that provideinternships to international and domestic students. These programs usuallycharge fees that average $3500 for internship placement services, academiccourses, housing placement, and group activities. For those students alreadystudying in US universities and colleges, the university career center is agreat source for internship opportunities. Finally, newspaper and online jobads may also provide you with a good list of potential internships.

students (studentscurrently enrolled in US universities and colleges) are eligible to work asinterns 9 months after being admitted in the country as F-1 students. Theprocess varies from college to college, but the following steps arerecommended:

1. Talk to your international students counselor to see if you are eligible forcurricular practical training (CPT). Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is anemployment option available to F-1 students where the practical trainingemployment is considered to be an integral part of the curriculum or academicprogram and where you are awarded college credit.

2. Talk to your college counselor, internship director or career counselor tosee if you qualify for internships at this point in your college life.

3. Look for internships everywhere: newspapers, online job banks, internshipcenters, companies, organizations, etc. Submit your resume to your internshipsdirector or college professor in charge of co-op and internship programs.

4. Once you have been hired as anintern, go to the international students office and fill out the CPT form. Oncethis is approved, your I-20 will specify permission to engage in CPT. Youremployer and dates will also be recorded on your I-20.

Students or recent graduates fromother countries who wish to pursue an internship in the United States will usually need tobe sponsored for a J-1 visa. J-1 visas are provided to exchange students andtrainees. Your internship program will usually sponsor you for this type ofvisa. It's important that you understand that students who come on a J-1 visawill be required to leave the country within 30 days after the internship ends.Also, J-1 visa holders will not be able to return to the US for 2 yearsfollowing their internship experience. The reasoning for this is that studentsmust take back and apply in their native countries the skills and expertisethey acquired while working in the USA.For more information about J-1 visas, please visit this site:

Students who wish to work as temporary workers - usually in the hospitalityindustry as front desk agents, waiters, housekeepers, ski instructors and moreare eligible for H-2 visas. The H-2 visa is a visa for unskilled workers and isthe visa most often used for workers in hospitality and entertainment duringthe summer months. Work abroad programs usually sponsor you for this type ofvisa. For a directory of work abroad agencies click here. Note thatinternational organizations such as the World Bank, IMF and IDB may sponsortheir interns for a G-4 visa instead of other types of visas. The USCIS.govwebsite has comprehensive information about H-2 and G-4 visas.

The following steps are recommended:

Although this article has focusedon internship opportunities available in the Washington,DC area, internships are available in allcities throughout the United States. It is important to selectinternships that provide you with valuable skills and unique experiences. Avoidat all costs internships where making copies and serving coffee will be yourmajor responsibilities. Also, if you have decided to enroll in an internshipprogram, make sure that it is a reputable and certified organization capable ofsponsoring foreign students. An internship in the United States and in other parts ofthe world is a beautiful experience that combines new experiences, newcultures, new perspectives and your personal and professional growth.