International Member Resources
Commitment to Diversity
Diversity in The BALSA Group is integral to our success. Our members come from many backgrounds and nationalities, positioning us to succeed as a community and organization.
Work Authorization
While BALSA is a nonprofit and the work completed by consultants is voluntary, the nature of the work—consulting for clients—is not considered ‘humanitarian by nature.’ Therefore, the federal government may classify this as ‘compensation,’ requiring appropriate work authorization such as CPT.
However, each university and program may have different policies regarding the types of work that require authorization, and these policies can frequently change. Some departments or programs may or may not require CPT or other work authorization based on their interpretations of the rules or because the work is considered part of or not part of the student’s academic experience. Because of this, and because we have members coming from a range of institutions, programs, and backgrounds, it’s essential that you understand how to maintain your visa status.
You are only considered ‘working’ in BALSA if you are staffed on a project as a consultant, project manager, or advisor, or serving as an officer. For instance, if you decide that for the upcoming semester, you will be too busy to participate in a BALSA project, but you still want to attend our happy hour events and professional development workshops, you can maintain your BALSA membership, but you do not need work authorization for that semester.
Depending on your circumstances and membership status, we can provide offer letters for your work authorization application on a project-by-project or semester-by-semester basis.
Next Steps
Verify with your university’s international student office whether CPT authorization or other employment records are required to maintain your visa status before participating in BALSA projects. Contact the WashU Office for International Students & Scholars or SLU International Student Services for guidance.
Historically, applications for CPT authorization or other work authorizations just needed to be initiated, but not fully completed and approved before starting your work on a project (However, please confirm with your international student advisor if this is still the case).
Once you are assigned to a project or ahead of a semester in which you intend to participate in a project, please contact hr@balsa.org to initiate the offer letter process.
Policies and requirements can change frequently, so it's essential to stay in touch with your international student advisor and verify current requirements.