Yova Borovska’06 (center of screen) highlighted the process for international and exchange students thinking of working in the U.S. at a special event on Nov. 17. Photos by Robbyn Hopewell
Yova Borovska ’06 arrived at Eckerd College from Bulgaria one year after her older sister did—ready to soak up all that the beautiful Florida campus had to offer.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international business and political science, she was admitted to the Stetson University College of Law and got a postgrad job at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC—a national law firm of about 500 attorneys and legal professionals with offices throughout the East Coast, including Tampa.
Associate Director of Global Education Rosie Nelson met Borovska and worked with Anjum Perfetti-Reid, Eckerd’s director of alumni engagement, to bring her back to campus.
Borovska met with 11 international Eckerd and exchange students on Nov. 17 for a 90-minute intensive workshop called “Immigration Workshop: Exploring Post-Graduation Options for F-1 Students.”
In between bites of pizza, students asked questions about application deadlines for work authorization opportunities and possible work visas.
Yova Borovska ’06
“When I was at Eckerd, I had an on-campus job, and I could work only for up to 20 hours per week during the semester and up to 40 hours during school breaks,” Borovska recalled during the workshop.
“Outside of that, you have to ask for specific authorization, either through what we call OPT, optional practical training, or CPT, curricular practical training.”
Those options are open to eligible F-1 student visa holders to allow them to complete internships and fellowships related to their majors for practical experience.
Mário Kirkov, a junior business administration and economics student from Lubotice, Slovakia, who competes on the men’s tennis team, was very interested in Borovska’s journey and how the OPTs apply to different majors.
“After STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] majors complete one year of regular OPT, you can apply for an extension for an additional two years, which gives you a significant advantage—because it allows you more time to train in the U.S. and work for an employer off campus,” Borovska explained. “The catch is that for STEM OPT to work, you need to have an employer that is involved in E-Verify.”
The evening full of illuminating tips was co-sponsored by the College’s Office of Global Education and International Student Services. Having a board-certified immigration attorney provide free advice is a great asset for Eckerd’s international students. At the end of the presentation, Borovska shared her contact information and encouraged the students to reach out.
