Oregon State University
If you are an international student studying in the US, you have probably found that your job options are limited. This is because the US student visa comes with various regulations that require you to focus on your studies rather than working.
However, one international student in Oregon found a way around the working limitations by opening his own business.
A Restaurant Owned By an International Student
According to The Daily Barometer, Yi Zhao is an international student who came to Oregon from China. He studies chemical engineering at Oregon State University, but his desire for a meal that reminded him of home prompted him to open a restaurant called Number One Hot Pot.
The restaurant is located on campus in Corvallis, Oregon, and it serves hot pot, which is a popular East Asian stew.
A “hot pot” of stock is placed in the middle of a serving table, and then rest of the stew ingredients are added to the stock and cooked at the table. The restaurant focuses on letting locals try flavors that they might find not only in China, but also Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan and Korea.
Currently, the international student’s restaurant is located on the ground floor of “The Gem,” which is upperclassman student housing. But Yi is looking to expand to at least one location, possibly even creating a chain in the future.
The Restrictions of the International Student Visa
The most common type of student visa in the US is the F-1 visa. This comes with a variety of rules when it comes to getting a job as a student.
Namely, international students can only work 20 hours per week, and must maintain status as a full-time student. Also, during freshman year, international students can only work on campus (after freshman year, off-campus jobs must be approved by USCIS). (Are you wondering how Yi Zhao manages to run a restaurant in only 20 hours a week? His wife takes care of it while he is in class or studying, and he’s also hired a chef with 30 years of experience with Chinese cuisine.)
So it’s no surprise that the job options for international students tend to be limited to on-campus jobs at the library, cafeteria, bookstore, coffee kiosk, or administrative offices at the school. You may have more options, including off-campus positions, after your first year, but generally you will have to work within your field of study.
However, as the international student who opened his own restaurant has shown, the US student visa does not have any clear rules about becoming an entrepreneur. This means it may be a possibility for enterprising students who have come to study in the US.
Of course, if you are considering going down this path, you should contact USCIS first to make sure you are not breaking any rules. Be aware that the rules associated with the student visa could change at any time. You can also reach out to your college to take advantage of the international student resources offered by most schools.
Are you working during college? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!