Spring Break
A workshop for international students: how to promptly obtain a green card
Matthew Kimel
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: News
More than 100 F-1 SJSU international students attended a workshop held in the Engineering Building Wednesday to discuss occupational options and green card opportunities in America after graduation.
Martin J. Lawler, a lawyer at Lawler & Lawler law offices, gave a PowerPoint presentation to explain how complex it is to get a green card and help students understand the visa system.
SJSU international student adviser Louis Gecenok said Lawler is one of the best immigration lawyers in the United States. Lawler has held similar workshops the past two years, each during International Week.
Lawler, who has been a California immigration law specialist for 30 years, said international students have a better chance of obtaining a green card if they get a master's degree.
Each year 65,000 green cards are given out and an additional 20,000 are set aside for international students who go on to obtain a post-bachelors degree.
Of the 20,000 additional green cards that are given out, Lawler said a majority go to people in the technology field in Silicon Valley.
He said numerous companies sponsor international students in the technology field to help them get green cards.
It's much more difficult for people in the educational field to acquire green cards, he said.
Daichi Ito, an SJSU animation and illustration alumnus from Japan, has attended both previous workshops and recommended that every international student attend them.
"I think this is very helpful," Ito said. "It's very difficult to get a job. To get a visa and get (Optional Practical Training) is very critical. Many rules are changing. It's extremely important to attend these workshops and ask questions."
Ito said last year international students didn't have to have a job to get OPT and this year they are required to.
Ito obtained his training status on Aug. 1 and said he hopes to get a green card in the future, but is not sure how long the process will take.
"It's a long process," he said.
Maninderpal Singh, a senior software engineering major from India, said the workshop helps international students understand what opportunities are available for them after graduation.
Students asked Lawler questions for approximately 45 minutes after the workshop.
"I learned a lot all about immigration laws after I graduate," Singh said.
Martin J. Lawler, a lawyer at Lawler & Lawler law offices, gave a PowerPoint presentation to explain how complex it is to get a green card and help students understand the visa system.
SJSU international student adviser Louis Gecenok said Lawler is one of the best immigration lawyers in the United States. Lawler has held similar workshops the past two years, each during International Week.
Lawler, who has been a California immigration law specialist for 30 years, said international students have a better chance of obtaining a green card if they get a master's degree.
Each year 65,000 green cards are given out and an additional 20,000 are set aside for international students who go on to obtain a post-bachelors degree.
Of the 20,000 additional green cards that are given out, Lawler said a majority go to people in the technology field in Silicon Valley.
He said numerous companies sponsor international students in the technology field to help them get green cards.
It's much more difficult for people in the educational field to acquire green cards, he said.
Daichi Ito, an SJSU animation and illustration alumnus from Japan, has attended both previous workshops and recommended that every international student attend them.
"I think this is very helpful," Ito said. "It's very difficult to get a job. To get a visa and get (Optional Practical Training) is very critical. Many rules are changing. It's extremely important to attend these workshops and ask questions."
Ito said last year international students didn't have to have a job to get OPT and this year they are required to.
Ito obtained his training status on Aug. 1 and said he hopes to get a green card in the future, but is not sure how long the process will take.
"It's a long process," he said.
Maninderpal Singh, a senior software engineering major from India, said the workshop helps international students understand what opportunities are available for them after graduation.
Students asked Lawler questions for approximately 45 minutes after the workshop.
"I learned a lot all about immigration laws after I graduate," Singh said.
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