Start with the two exact employer requisitions
This article concerns Visa Inc., the payments company. Its Foster City REF088591W and Bellevue REF088594W 2027 Sophomore Internship Program Software Engineer postings were checked September 22, 2026. Both describe a twelve-week project internship and publish the same no-current-or-future-work-visa-sponsorship condition. This September 26 editorial article does not certify that either requisition remains open today.
| Question | Foster City REF088591W | Bellevue REF088594W | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Position-specific sponsorship | Visa says no current or future work-visa sponsorship | Visa says no current or future work-visa sponsorship | |
| Graduation window | December 2028–August 2029 | December 2028–August 2029 | |
| Work model | Hybrid; at least three office days | Hybrid; at least three office days | |
| Hourly pay range | $46–$55 | $41–$48 | |
| Universal close on reviewed page | NOT_STATED | NOT_STATED |
Keep the two locations distinct. The reviewed Foster City range is $46–$55 per hour; Bellevue lists $41–$48 per hour. Both describe hybrid work with at least three office days and 5–10% travel. Those location/pay facts cannot be copied onto a different Visa posting.
Treat the sponsorship sentence as an exact-position screen
The reviewed wording applies to these two sophomore SWE requisitions. It does not say every Visa role uses the same rule, and it does not decide whether any particular student has permission to work. Citizenship, present employment authorization and future sponsorship need different evidence; this guide does not replace the employer’s application questions or individualized advice from a qualified source.
If the wording may affect you, read the current requisition and application form before investing in preparation. If you cannot answer an employer question accurately from your own documents, use Visa’s recruiting channel or a qualified campus or professional adviser. Do not select an inaccurate answer to get past a form.
Check academic and worksite rules separately
The reviewed postings require pursuit of a bachelor’s or master’s degree with expected graduation between December 2028 and August 2029. They name Computer Science, Computer Engineering, CIS/MIS, Cybersecurity, Business or a related field in basic qualifications. The at-least-three-days-in-office expectation and location-specific pay are separate from the sponsorship condition.
Write each gate on its own line before applying: exact requisition ID and location; graduation month and year; degree/field; onsite schedule; and the employer’s work-authorization wording. Passing one screen does not establish that the others fit. A different Visa role needs its own read.
Prepare evidence only after the hard screens are clear
Visa’s reviewed project examples include distributed systems, payment prototypes, testing, monitoring and web or mobile work. Its preferred qualifications list several languages and testing technologies; they are examples of relevant skills, not a demand that one sophomore knows every stack. The postings do not state a prior-internship requirement, but they do describe technical and collaboration expectations.
Choose one project you actually built. Explain the problem, your code or design decision, a bug or tradeoff and how you checked the result. Keep coursework and independent work under their real names. If a required eligibility answer remains unresolved, preparing a polished project does not resolve it.
Do not invent a closing date or open status
Neither reviewed employer posting exposes one universal application deadline in its visible text. NOT_STATED is not rolling recruiting and is not permission to wait. A listing that was accessible on September 22 may change or close; use the exact employer requisition as the source at application time.
Record the role ID, date you checked the page and any answer the current form supplies. A university repost or another Visa location can help you discover a role but cannot replace the controlling requisition for timing or authorization.
Choose the next action without changing the rule
If the exact current posting and your documented situation clearly fit, prepare an accurate application. If the sponsorship condition is unclear for you, seek an authoritative answer before asserting eligibility. If it clearly blocks this position, redirect effort to a different exact role whose published terms you can meet; do not assume a silent page is sponsorship-friendly.
Keep this position-specific Visa guide beside the wider early-career comparison. The wider data explains why education programs, research appointments and employment can have different published authorization rules; it does not override this employer’s requisition.