Immigration Alert!

United States law requires you to obtain written authorization before starting any type of compensated employment. Beginning work without appropriate authorization from your J-1 program sponsor (the organization which issued your DS-2019) is a serious violation of your J-1 status.

Quick link: APPLICATION PROCESS

ACADEMIC TRAINING OVERVIEW:

As a student in J-1 status, you may be eligible for Academic Training, an employment authorization granted to J-1 students. Academic Training offers a variety of employment options to supplement your academic program in the United States. It is available during your academic program, as well as after you complete your studies. For further information, consult with the Responsible Officer in your Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor organization (the organization which issued your DS-2019). If your DS-2019 was issued by American University, please consult one of the Responsible or Alternate Responsible Officers in International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS).

Who authorizes you for Academic Training work authorization:
To participate in Academic Training, you must obtain written employment authorization from your Responsible Officer (the individual representing your program sponsor which issued your DS-2019). The Responsible Officer will review the proposed employment and determine if the employment is appropriate to your program of study.

Who is eligible for Academic Training work authorization:
To be eligible for Academic Training, J-1 students must demonstrate all of the following:
1. Your primary purpose in the United States must be study, not employment.
2. You must be in good academic standing at American University.
3. Proposed employment must be directly related to your field of study.
4. Throughout your studies and Academic Training you must maintain valid J-1 status, and apply for
extensions as necessary.
5. You must maintain health insurance coverage for yourself and all J-2 dependents throughout your program and Academic Training.

What document will show your work authorization:
* Your work authorization will be in the form of a new DS-2019 and a letter authorizing your Academic Training (including specific dates and the employer) from you J-1 program Responsible Officer. Do no start work before you receive these documents.

Length of Academic Training:
* Total Academic Training may not exceed the length of the course of study (for example, if your course of study is 10 months, your Academic Training may not exceed 10 months total)
* There is a maximum of 18 months of total Academic Training, even if the academic program is longer than 18 months.

Number of hours per week:
* Academic Training can be either part-time or full-time at any stage of student’s enrollment or after completion of the program of study.
* Part-time Academic Training is subtracted from the total eligible amount of Academic Training at the same rate as full-time Academic Training (for example, a student who uses 4 months of part-time Academic Training will have 4 months deducted from the total number of months of Academic Training available).

At what point in your studies will you be eligible for Academic Training:
* Academic Training can be authorized either during your program of study or after graduation. Your J-1 program Responsible Officer will determine when you become eligible to begin Academic Training.

Academic Training after completion of studies:
* You must be authorized for post-completion Academic Training before your DS-2019 expiration date. After completion of your program it is too late to apply.
* Post completion academic training must be a paid one. You must show a minimum of $1600 per month to be eligible, of which a substantial amount must come from your academic training employer.

Social Security Number requirement:
* J-1 students will require a Social Security number to work in the United States. If you do not already have a one, you will need to apply at the Social Security Administration. In order to apply for a Social Security number, J-1 students must show a letter of work authorization from their Exchange Visitor Program sponsor. For more information, please see our Social Security page.

Tax Information:
* Unless you qualify under a tax treaty between the United States and your home government, your earnings as a J-1 student will be subject to applicable Federal, State, and Local taxes. Employers are required by law to withhold these taxes from your paycheck. Income tax returns are filed every year by April 15th.
* In general, as a J-1 student you are exempt from Social Security (FICA) taxes for your first five years in the United States, as long as you declare non-resident status for tax purposes. For more information, consult Internal Revenue Service Publication 519: U.S Tax Guide for Aliens.

Travel:
* If you are completing your academic program and are planning a temporary trip outside the United States, you should apply for and receive authorization for Academic Training before you leave. If you do not obtain authorization before departing the United States, you may not be able to return on your J-1 visa.
* If you travel outside the US during your Academic Training, you should have a valid DS-2019, J-1 visa, passport, Academic Training authorization letter, and employer letter in order to re-enter the US. Please contact your J-1 program Responsible Officer to ask if you are recommended to bring other documents as well based on your situation.

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR STUDENT WITH DS-2019 ISSUED BY AMERICAN UNIVERSITY:
(note that any student with a DS-2019 issued by another organization should contact that organization for their Academic Training process and timeline.)

ISSS will process your request for Academic Training withing 2 weeks. Do not begin work before receiving written authorization from ISSS.

In addition to the eligibility requirements listed above, J-1 students applying for Academic Training must provide the following:


Step 1: Letter from Employer

Request a letter from your employer that includes all of the following:

[ ] Job title
[ ] Job responsibilities
[ ] Salary or Wage (if the Academic Training will occur after completion of your program of study, the position must be compensated)
[ ] Beginning and ending dates of employment (if the Academic Training will occur after completion of your program of study, thework begin date must be within 30 days after the completion of your program)
[ ] Number of hours per week
[ ] Description of the academic objectives of the training program


Step 2: Letter from Academic Advisor, Faculty Advisor, or Dean

Provide a copy of your employer's letter to your academic advisor, faculty advisor, or Dean. Once they have read the letter and discussed the employment with you, they will need to prepare a letter for your Responsible Officer. The letter must include all the following information:

[ ] goals of the specific training program,
[ ] description of the training program, including location, name and address of the training supervisor, number of hours per week, and beginning and ending dates,
[ ] How the training relates to and builds on what you have learned in your major field of study,
[ ] How the employment is an important aspect of your academic program,
[ ] How your training will be evaluated

Step 3: Submit letters to Responsible Officer in ISSS:
Submit both the employer letter and the academic letter to your J-1 Responsible Officer in ISSS, he/she will evaluate your training program and determine if it meets the established requirements.

Step 4: Pick up Academic Training authorization letter and new DS-2019 from ISSS:
Once your training program is approved, your Responsible Officer will issue a new DS2019, update the SEVIS system, and write a letter authorizing Academic Training.