Eligibility depends on the specific program, so international admits should check the current requirements rather than assume one rule applies across firms.

Some pre-MBA programs are broadly open to incoming students, while others target particular geographies, backgrounds or recruiting offices. Work authorization may matter more for the eventual internship than for attending the program itself.

Use the official application criteria as the source of truth. If the wording is unclear, ask the recruiting contact whether international students at your school are eligible.

Even if one program is unavailable, that does not mean you are excluded from normal MBA recruiting. Continue building your target-office list and understanding sponsorship separately from the early-admit program.

I was international and eligible for one program but not another, so the firm-specific rules definitely matter.