It's odd that a permanent resident would get that, since they don't have any restrictions on being hired. Foreign students, however, are normally not permitted

It's odd that a permanent resident would get that, since they don't have any restrictions on being hired. Foreign students, however, are normally not permitted to work in the US except for 12 months (29 months if you're doing sci / tech / engineering / math). This is called Curricular Practical Training if you're still in uni doing a co-op or summer internship and Optional Practical Training if you're doing it after. I'm a foreign student in the US, and what most of my fellow foreign students can do to work long-term in the US after graduation is to get an H-1B visa. This is basically a way for companies in the US to be able to hire foreign workers in specialized job areas. The article says it "requires only a bachelor's degree". While this is true, the process is much more painful that you can imagine. Companies shy away from selecting foreign students, but not because they're bigoted or prejudiced: It's the amount of red tape involved. I've seen lots of companies explicitly say that they are not considering foreign students (I don't blame them). When getting an H-1B, you can't just apply for one and then find a job. You need to find a company that wants to go through the H-1B process with you. And then your Visa is only valid while you work for that same company. If you quit, you'll need to go through the whole process again. I can see why the US doesn't want to let in tons of people but then again, a good amount of these people are at the very least moderately skilled. Since the barrier for entry is already high, it would be cool if at least the H-1B wasn't so restrictive about what happens after you get it so H-1B workers wouldn't be stuck at jobs where they're unhappy or they could easily be entrepreneurs.