J-1 Academic Training

Academic Training (AT) is work authorization afforded to J-1 students allowing them to gain off-campus training in their field of study. This training can either be authorized during a program of study, after completing a program of study, or a combination of the two.

J-1 students interested in participating in J-1 Academic Training must complete the ISSO J-1 Academic Training E-Form, requesting a new DS-2019 with authorization before engaging in Academic Training.

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must hold valid J-1 student status
• Student is in good academic standing or has successfully completed degree program
  
• Employment must be in student's field of study, commensurate with their level of education and approved by academic advisor, graduate coordinator or academic department 
• J-1 students MUST obtain a new Form DS-2019 from the ISSO prior to participating in ANY off-campus work, including AT
• J-1 short-term exchange students are not permitted to participate in AT, unless participation in internship or experiential learning is part of the exchange agreement
  
• All approved AT positions must either be fully in person or hybrid. According to guidance from the US Department of State, students may work remotely no more than 40% of the time or “one to two telework days per week”. Please review the Guidance Directive 2023-01 from the U.S. Department of State on this item. 
  

Types of Approvable Academic Training (AT) Employment 

• Paid Employment
• Unpaid employment, if not in violation of any applicable labor laws
• Employment may be full or part time
• Multiple concurrent employers provided all of them are related to the major of your degree program of study. NOTE: you MUST receive authorization from the ISSO for EACH employer following approval from your academic advisor
• Multiple consecutive employers may be authorized by the ISSO following approval from your academic advisor. IMPORTANT: you may NOT begin training with a new employer until you receive authorization from the ISSO and have submitted an evaluation from the previous employer

Maximum Academic Training Time Limitations

• Bachelor's and Master's students cannot exceed 18 months of AT, Including pre- and post AT.
• STEM Academic Training Extension: Through June 30, 2026, Bachelor’s and Master’s students in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) may be eligible to extend for more than 18 months of AT under the following conditions:
  • You must be enrolled in a degree program. Non-degree students are not eligible for STEM extensions.
  • Your "CIP" code in your DS-2019, section 4 under "Subject/Field Code" must match academic programs listed in the DHS STEM Designated Program List (updated on July 22, 2024)
  • You continue to maintain valid J-1 status

• Doctoral students can participate in up to 36 months of AT.
• A J-1 doctoral student can apply for an initial 18-month period of post-completion academic training, and can then apply for an additional period of 18 months.
• Total AT time cannot exceed the length of a student's course of study at all degree levels.

Please Note: Part-time and full-time AT authorizations are deducted from the student's total available AT time at a full-time rate.

Pre-Completion Academic Training

• Note: Students must first accrue time in J-1 status in the U.S. before they may start using pre-completion AT.
• Pre-Completion AT cannot exceed 20 hours per week during the academic semesters, but can be full-time during summer or winter break.
• You may NOT begin any employment until you have received a new DS-2019 Form from the ISSO, and the start date is current.
• You must notify and receive authorization from the ISSO if you leave your current employer, start with a new employer, or extend your employment

Post-Completion Academic Training

• Post-Completion AT application must be processed by the ISSO no later than 30 days after the student’s completion date; failure to apply for this benefit within this time frame forfeits a student's AT eligibility.
• The completion date is determined as the date that all degree requirements are met by the student. Please note that this date is not necessarily the same as the commencement date, degree conferral date, or the date that the Declaration of Intent to Graduate (DIG) form is submitted.

Please contact the ISSO within three months of completing your program to be sure you understand the process and to ensure you do not jeopardize your ability to apply for this benefit.

Upon Approval of Academic Training

• ISSO will issue a new DS-2019 extending the stay of the student to reflect the estimated, agreed-upon or permitted end date of the AT.
• The new DS-2019 will reflect the AT authorization, employer name and validity dates of the AT.
• ISSO will issue an official support letter authorizing the approved AT.

Academic Training Compliance

• All academic training is counted as full time, even if employment is on a part-time basis.
• Self-employment is not an allowed type of AT since it does not provide supervision and/or the preparation of a training plan and objective evaluation.
• Unemployment is not allowed on AT, and students on AT cannot have gaps in employment.
• The AT employer must submit a written evaluation to the ISSO upon completion of the AT. This evaluation must attest to the effectiveness of the academic training in achieving the stated goals and objectives.
• J-1 students must continue to comply with the J-1 health insurance requirements throughout their AT period. J-1 visa holders are required to carry health insurance for themselves and accompanying family members (J-2 visa holders). By government regulation the J-1 & J-2 visa holders must carry minimum coverage in the amount of:
  1. $100,000 per accident or illness;
  2. A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
  3. At least $50,000 for Medical Evacuation to the home country
  4. At least $25,000 for repatriation of remains
• IMPORTANT: any type of “serious incidents, problems or controversy involving J-1 Exchange Visitors” MUST be reported to the ISSO immediately. Please see the Incident Reporting webpage for Incident Reporting Requirement types and modality of reporting.

Two-Year Home Residency Requirement (212e) and 12-Month Bar

Two-Year Residency Requirement (212e)

For more information on the two-year home-country residency requirement please review this U.S. Department of State webpage.

Some J-1 students may be subject to a two-year home residence requirement which requires J-1 visa holders and their J-2 dependents to return to their home countries for two years before being eligible to apply for an immigrant visa or a non-immigrant H or L visa. This restriction also makes J-1 and J-2 visa holders, subject to it, ineligible to change status in the US. For more information on this item please check the Two-Year Home Residency Requirement (212e) webpage.

For information on submission of a waiver of on the two-year home-country residency requirement please check the 212(e) Waiver webpage.

12-Month Bar