Career Resources for Undocumented and Immigrant Students
While Undocumented Students are eligible for privately funded opportunities in CUNY, many times they still require students to fill out the w-9 (form to report any income paid to you to IRS). People who are ineligible for a Social Security number can apply for an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN), regardless of immigration status. With an ITIN, you can report your earnings to the Internal Revenue Service, open interest-bearing bank accounts with certain banks, and conduct business in the United States. Find out how to apply, renew, and use an ITIN utilizing the tools below:
Resources
- Privately funded opportunities like scholarships and fellowships are available to students regardless of immigration status in accordance with the CUNY 2018 Memo by the Office of General CounselPDF.
- Immigrants Rising List of Scholarships and Fellowships
- Higher Ed Education Fellowships and Non-Employment Opportunities
- Dream Summer Fellowship
- The Experiential Learning Fellowship (E.L.F)
An internship will help you gain valuable work experience and build your professional resume. For undocumented students, internships are a great way to gain valuable work experience without being an employee. Internships also can have a range of time commitment depending on the position and organization.
This experience will give you a better understanding of where your interests lie and help you clarify your post-graduation career goals. Internships can be both paid and unpaid and can possibly satisfy college credit. Some may require work-authorization. However, it is important to learn the method in which payment for the internship will be provided for.
Resources
Parker Dewey has a database of paid micro internships for independent contractors. Allowing students to gain work experience one short paid project at a time.
Created as a website for Immigrant and Undocumented Professions by their own community. The site posts internships, scholarships and work opportunities for students who are undocumented.
Service is an ideal place to start exploring opportunities and gaining experiences if you aren't sure what the best opportunity is for you. You'll become civically engaged through individual volunteerism, organizational involvement, events and gain valuable experience. While most types of service opportunities are unpaid, you can sometimes find a few that are paid. Service opportunities can also have a range of time commitment depending on the role, program, and/or organization. Some service opportunities may require background checks.
When applying students should know that there is no need to explain their legal or citizenship status.
Checking the boxes:
Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?
- DACA or TPS with work authorization will answer “yes”
Will you now or in the future require sponsorship to work in the United States?
- No. (This question is for students on a student Visa)
Students with DACA or TPS do not have to disclose their immigration status to employers when applying for a job or internship, only needing to disclose that they have work authorization. Students are open to sharing their status whenever they feel comfortable but should know they do not need to. It’s important that students keep in mind their rights.
Source: George Mason University
It’s important to know that regardless of documentation and immigration status each individual has rights and protections. If experiencing discrimination, wage theft, or signs of a hostile work environment there are legal avenues and protections to help.
In the state of New York, Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), undocumented workers are entitled to wages they earn, just like documented workers and U.S. citizens. The FLSA also requires employers to pay minimum wages and overtime compensation regardless of immigration status.
Source: Rosenbaum Legal Firm
Resources:
Undocumented Students interviewing for jobs, if brought up, will need to answer questions relating to work authorization. However, employers should not ask questions relating to one's immigration or citizenship status. In the event of being asked, one can decline to answer and redirect the interview.
For interview practice and tips the John Jay Center for Career and Professional Development hosts informative sessions, open to all John Jay students.
Email: careers@jjay.cuny.edu
Resources
Starting one's business or working as an independent contractor are great ways to gain experience without being tied to an employer. Entrepreneurship and independent contracting teaches students self discipline and the ins and outs of managing a business. Students who would like to pursue this path need to apply for an Individual Taxpayer's Identification Number (ITIN). For those who don’t have work authorization ITIN’s are the first step towards self employment.
Resources
Independent contracting, also referred as freelancing, is when a self employed individual works under others a a non-employee. Freelancing allows individuals to have control and flexibility over their work. Depending on the work, contracts can be continuous or span a short period. An undocumented individual will need an ITIN to provide services and pay taxes as an independent contractor or freelancer.
Source: DreamUS
Resources
- NYSYLC – The Non-Citizen’s Guide to Entrepreneurship
- Freelancers Union – Training and support for freelancers
- Immigrants Rising- Immigrants-Rising Working or Yourself Guide
- Upwork – Use freelance platforms to explore independent contracting options and to sell your talents and services
A worker cooperative (or worker co-op) is a business that is both owned and managed by its members. A worker co-op is a worker-owned business. Members of worker cooperatives join by investing time and/or money in the cooperative and make decisions about how the cooperative will be managed. When cooperatives make important decisions, each member gets a vote.
Source: DreamUS
Resources
- NYC Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative
- Immigrants Rising Worker Cooperatives & LLC’S
- U.S. Federation of Worker Co-Operatives – National grassroots membership organization for worker cooperatives.
- Green Worker Co-Operative (based in NYC) – Incubates environmentally sustainable worker co-ops and offers an intensive 5-month Co-Op Academy
Anyone regardless of immigration status can start their own business. Starting your own business is a great to generate income to support oneself, family, and other endeavors. An undocumented individual will need an ITIN or EIN to work and pay taxes as a business owner. (To apply for an EIN, an individual needs a SSN or ITIN.) There are many organizations that help in starting businesses and support funds for small business owners.
Source: DreamUS
Resources
- State Requirements for Business and Tax Registration Requirements for Immigrants
- Immigrants Rising – Starting a Business Resource Library
- Small Business Majority – Free training and support for diverse small business owners.
- UC Santa Barbara Undocu Entrepreneurship Guide
Immigrant Student Success Center
The Immigrant Student Success Center was created to provide legal, academic, financial, and socioemotional support to immigrant, undocumented, DACA, TPS, refugee students, and students in mixed-status families. The staff works toward providing a welcoming safe space that helps our students develop a sense of community, emotional well-being, and empowerment.
JJDREAMers
Get involved in JJDREAMers, an on campus immigrant and undocumented led student organization focused on advocating for the rights of immigrant and undocumented students.
Email: jjdreamers@jjay.cuny.edu
UndocuBlack Network- A support group for undocumented Black immigrants.
Nakasec- A support group for undocumented Asian immigrants.
Entrepreneur@Immigrants Rising- A Facebook group of undocumented entrepreneur.
LinkedIn- A media platform focused on business, networking, and employment searching. The platform connects individuals of similar background and network, making job searching more accessible.
For those without a social security number and able to obtain one, ITINs are issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to individuals who require to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number but who do not have one.
Having an ITIN does not authorize work in the United States but does allow individuals to practice as independent contractors and own their own businesses.
Once obtaining an ITIN, individuals can then apply for an EIN. EINs allow the identification of a business entity and hire employees.
Resources