Work & jobs glossary

Short, plain definitions of the words you meet when you look for work or hire in the U.S. — each with an official source. You can also ask about any term in Ask JOBnaru™.

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Work, visa & pay terms 34

# 1099 (independent contractor): Form 1099-NEC reports payments to independent contractors. A 1099 worker gets no tax withholding, pays self-employment tax and is generally not covered by minimum-wage, overtime or unemployment rules. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# 401(k): A workplace retirement savings plan funded from your paycheck before or after tax (Roth), often with an employer match. Employer money may vest over several years; early withdrawals usually face tax and a penalty. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# At-will employment: In every state except Montana, most jobs are at-will: the employer or the worker can end the job at any time without a reason — but not for an illegal reason such as discrimination or retaliation. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# Background check: A pre-hire review of identity, work and education history and sometimes criminal, driving or credit records. When a screening company is used, federal law requires your written permission and a chance to dispute errors. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# CPT (Curricular Practical Training): CPT lets F-1 students work during their program when the job is an integral part of the curriculum, such as a required internship or co-op. The school's DSO authorizes it on the I-20 for a specific employer and dates. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# DSO (Designated School Official): The DSO is the school official who manages F-1 records in SEVIS. They recommend OPT, authorize CPT and receive your employer reports. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# E-2 treaty investor visa: E-2 is for nationals of treaty countries such as Korea who invest substantially in a U.S. business, and for that business's employees of the same nationality in executive, supervisory or essential-skill roles. There is no lottery. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# E-Verify: E-Verify is a free DHS online system that checks a new hire's Form I-9 information against government records. It is required for STEM OPT employers, federal contractors and many employers in some states. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# EAD (Employment Authorization Document): The EAD (Form I-766) is a USCIS card proving you may work in the U.S. for a set period — for example on OPT, while a green card application is pending, or with asylum. It is a List A document for Form I-9. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# EEOC: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces federal laws against job discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age 40+, disability and genetic information. Workers can file a charge, usually within 180 or 300 days. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# Exempt vs. non-exempt: Non-exempt employees must get overtime pay; exempt employees don't. To be exempt, a job generally must pay a minimum salary on a salary basis and meet a duties test (executive, administrative, professional and others) — a salary alone isn't enough. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# F-1 student status: F-1 is the U.S. status for full-time academic students. Work is limited: on campus up to 20 hours a week during classes, and off campus only with CPT, OPT or special USCIS permission. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# Form I-9: Every U.S. employer must complete Form I-9 for each new hire to verify identity and work authorization. You fill in Section 1 by your first day and show acceptable original documents within 3 business days; you choose which ones. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# Form W-4: Form W-4 is what you give your employer when you start, telling it how much federal income tax to withhold from each paycheck. Update it when your situation changes. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# Green card (lawful permanent residence): A green card lets you live and work in the U.S. permanently for any employer. Through work it usually takes PERM labor certification, an I-140 petition and then adjustment of status or an immigrant visa. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# H-1B cap and lottery: Each year 65,000 new H-1B numbers plus 20,000 for U.S. master's degree holders are given out through electronic registration, usually in March, for jobs starting October 1. Universities and certain nonprofit or government research employers are cap-exempt. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# H-1B visa: H-1B is a temporary work visa for specialty occupations that normally need at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field. The employer files the petition, pays at least the prevailing wage, and the status lasts up to 6 years in total. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# ITIN: An ITIN is an IRS tax-processing number for people who must file U.S. taxes but can't get an SSN. It does not give permission to work. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# J-1 Intern / Trainee: J-1 exchange visitor programs for training at a U.S. company in your field: Interns (foreign students or recent graduates, up to 12 months) and Trainees (degree plus experience, up to 18 months). A State Department–designated sponsor issues the DS-2019 and approves the training plan (DS-7002). 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# L-1 intracompany transferee visa: L-1 lets a company transfer an employee who worked for its related company abroad for at least one continuous year in the last three: L-1A for managers and executives (up to 7 years), L-1B for specialized knowledge (up to 5 years). 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# LCA (Labor Condition Application): Before filing an H-1B petition, the employer files an LCA with the Department of Labor, promising to pay at least the prevailing wage and to give the worker the same conditions as similar employees. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# Minimum wage: The lowest hourly pay the law allows. The federal minimum is $7.25, but many states and cities set higher rates, and the employer must pay the highest one that applies. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# Offer letter: A written job offer listing the title, pay, start date, schedule and benefits, and sometimes conditions like a background check. Get one before you resign from another job. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# OPT (Optional Practical Training): OPT is work permission for F-1 students in a job directly related to their major — usually up to 12 months per degree level, mostly after graduation. You need a DSO recommendation and an EAD card from USCIS before you start. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# Overtime pay: Under federal law, non-exempt employees get at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Some states, such as California, also count daily overtime. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# Pay transparency laws: State and city laws that require many employers to include a good-faith pay range in job postings — currently in California, Colorado, Washington, New York, Hawaii, Maryland, Washington DC, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont and Massachusetts, each with its own size threshold. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# PERM labor certification: PERM is the Department of Labor process an employer completes before most employment-based green cards: it recruits in the U.S. and certifies that no qualified U.S. worker is available at the prevailing wage. The employer pays its costs. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# Prevailing wage: The average wage paid to similar workers in the same job and area, set by the Department of Labor. H-1B and PERM employers must pay at least this amount. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# Probation period: The first weeks or months of a new job (often 60–90 days) when the employer reviews your work closely; some benefits may start after it. In at-will jobs it doesn't change your basic rights. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# PTO (paid time off): Paid days off for vacation, illness or personal reasons. Federal law doesn't require paid vacation, but many states and cities require paid sick leave. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# Social Security number (SSN): The SSN is a 9-digit number from the Social Security Administration used for work, payroll taxes and benefits. People with work authorization can get one; share it only with a confirmed employer. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# STEM OPT extension: A 24-month extension of OPT for graduates in DHS-designated science, technology, engineering and math fields. The employer must use E-Verify and sign a training plan (Form I-983). 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# W-2 (employee): Form W-2 is the yearly wage and tax statement an employer gives each employee. Being a W-2 employee means taxes are withheld from pay and labor protections such as minimum wage and overtime apply. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›
# Workers' compensation: State-run insurance that pays medical care and part of lost wages for job-related injuries and illnesses, usually regardless of fault. Report an injury to your employer in writing quickly. 🔗 Official source More on JOBnaru™ ›

Definitions are short summaries for families, not legal or immigration advice. Always confirm with the school, the program organization or the official source. · API