Academic Training

Eligibility criteria

J-1 students are immediately eligible to apply for AT.

People are eligible for AT if they are

undergraduate or graduate students

who are in the U.S. primarily for study in a full-time academic program rather than to be employed

who are in good academic standing at their educational institution

who are participating in academic training that is directly related to their major field of study.

Additionally:

Students become eligible for AT after they have been in lawful, full-time student status for one full academic year.

Students must maintain health insurance and medical evacuation/repatriation coverage for themselves and any J-2 visa dependents through the Academic Training period.

Students must apply before the completion of their academic program.

Employment/training must take place with the specific employer or employers who are noted on the academic training authorization letter.

Students must receive an authorization letter, in advance, for the duration and type of academic training, from a responsible officer or alternate responsible officer at the International Center of their university. This authorization must be processed before the end date on the Form DS-2019 or before the official date of the degree program completion, whichever comes first.

Students need to have a valid Form DS-2019 that enables them to remain in the U.S. in J-1 student status. Students must apply for extensions as needed and in a timely manner.

Special MBA Exchange Program J-1 students may be not eligible for AT at some universities.

Start and end date

Students who complete a degree program are permitted an overall academic training period of 18 months. This includes all academic training, whether before or after completion of studies.

The total employment/training period may not exceed the amount of time spent in full course of study. For example, if someone is a Masters student who completed a program in 12 months, they are only eligible for 12 months of academic training.

Completing more than one degree program at the same time does not increase student's academic training period.

Any pre-completion academic training period is deducted from student's total allowable academic training period when calculating post-completion academic training.

Time to apply for AT

During summer vacation, if student intends to register the following Fall semester

While school is in session provided that a student maintains a full-time enrollment in classes.

After completion of course work, but prior to deposit of thesis or dissertation

After completion of course of study (application should be submitted prior to the end of last registered semester)

Contacting J-1 responsible officer

To qualify for Academic Training, students must first obtain approval in writing from their J-1 Responsible Officer. The J-1 Responsible Officer is an individual who represents their J-1 sponsor and who issues the Form DS-2019, which is a first thing that a J-1 student should obtain in order to participate in AT. An official who is authorized to issue Form DS-2019 is known as a Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO). Student's RO or ARO will explain to a student what documents are needed in order to be issued a new DS-2019 for AT. The J-1 Responsible Officer must evaluate the proposed employment in terms of a student's program of study and individual circumstances, and then decide whether the employment is appropriate or not. For University-sponsored J-1 students, they may contact their Responsible Officer by contacting their (American) University's Visa Services. For students sponsored by other agencies (i.e. Fulbright Program, LASPAU, etc.), they must contact the agencies directly, for only their representatives can approve "Academic Training".

Requirements

Students have only 30 days after completion of their program of studies to apply for and receive authorization for Academic Training. Since a student must first meet with an International Student Advisor and then wait to receive authorization, it is recommended that they make an appointment well in advance of the 30 days.

A student must apply for AT prior to the expiration of the DS-2019 or prior to the completion of the academic program, whichever is earlier.

Students need to have a formal employment offer, written on official stationery (letterhead) from their potential academic training employer. The job offer letter from their employer must include:

Their job title

A brief description of the goals and objectives of student's training or employment

Dates and location of training or employment

Number of hours per week, salary and benefits

Name and title of training supervisor

A student needs to obtain a letter of recommendation from an academic advisor or dean recommending this academic training. Students are ought to provide a copy of their employment offer letter. The recommendation letter from academic advisor or dean must include:

The goals and objectives of the specific training program

A description of the training program, including all the information listed above

How the training relates to student's major field of study

Why this employment is an integral or critical part of student's academic program

The length of time necessary to complete the goals and objectives of the academic training

It is the responsibility of the student to maintain a valid DS-2019 for the duration of the AT period.

Specifics of application process for PhD students

Doctoral students are eligible for two 18-month periods of AT. However; the second period is only awarded once the PhD has been completed. PhD students who have completed their programs, and who are currently working in the first 18-month period of AT should apply for the second period of 18-months at least 30-days prior to the end-date of the first 18-month period.

After completing a Ph.D. program, student is eligible for an additional 18 months of post-doctoral training, for a total of 36 months of academic training.

Documents that can be needed for an AT application

Completed Academic Training Request Form for J-1 Students

Employment offer letter

Letter of recommendation from student's academic advisor or dean

Copies of student's current and all previous Forms DS-2019

A copy of student's passport biographical data page and visa page

A copy of paper or print-out of electronic Form I-94

Proof of funding to show how a student will support themself during their academic training (if their academic training is unpaid)

If the University approves student's application, they will issue a new Form DS-2019 authorizing the academic training for the duration that student requested. Student's employer will be listed on the academic training authorization letter accompanying the new Form DS-2019. The end date on this form is now the end date of student's J-1 program. Students can apply for an extension of their academic training.

AT allows for more than one job at a time, as long as all are related to the student's field of study and separate AT request forms are submitted. If changing employers while on AT, there cannot be a gap in employment dates.

Wages and waivers

Students may participate in academic training programs during their studies without wages or other remuneration. For that an approval of the academic dean or advisor and the Exchange Visitor Program Responsible Officer is required. Students may be authorized to participate in academic training for wages or other remuneration during their studies or commencing not later than 30 days after completion of their studies.

Waivers for home-country physical presence requirement

Program participants who are subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement, as established by Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, must apply for a waiver of that requirement if they seek to remain in the United States beyond the end date of their programs or if they seek to submit an application to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for a change in visa status. A waiver may be requested for five statutory bases:

a claim of Exceptional Hardship to a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident spouse or child of an exchange visitor if the exchange visitor is required to return to the country of residence;

a claim that the participant will be persecuted due to race, religion, or political opinions if he/she returns to the country of residence;

a request from an interested U.S. Government Agency on the participant's behalf;

a No Objection Statement from student's government; and

a request by a designated State Health Department or its equivalent.

Participants must file an application to receive a recommendation for a waiver with the Department of State. Please refer to the regulations for details.] Information about waivers may also be obtained from the Department of State's Visa Office. The public inquiry line for waivers is (202) 663-1225. Also, see the Exchange Visitor Skills List to determine if a student is subject to the two-year foreign residence (home-country physical presence) requirement, which requires for a student to return to their home country for two years at the end of their exchange visitor program.

Extension

If an extension is granted, a new Form DS-2019 will be issued to a student. A nonrefundable fee of $367 is payable to the U.S. Department of State. Participants are referred to their responsible officers for additional information.

Exceptions to the 18-Month Period Limit

Student's degree program requires a training period longer than 18 months.

After completing a Ph.D. program, student is eligible for an additional 18 months of post-doctoral training, for a total of 36 months of academic training.

If students are enrolled in non-degree programs, their stay in the U.S., including academic training, is limited to a total of 24 months. The term of their academic training would then be the time period remaining after they complete a non-degree program.

A period spent in part-time employment under academic training will count as full-time academic training and will be deducted from the 18 or 36 months of post completion academic training.

Doctoral students are eligible for two 18-month periods of AT. However; the second period is only awarded once the PhD has been completed. PhD students who have completed their programs, and who are currently working in the first 18-month period of AT should apply for the second period of 18-months at least 30-days prior to the end-date of the first 18-month period.

Travel grace period

Following the completion of their program, the period defined on the Form DS-2019, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allows participants a 30-day travel period commonly referred to as the "Grace Period". During this 30-day grace period, participants are no longer in J-visa status, and are under the jurisdiction of the USCIS. The USCIS grants this period to allow participants to settle their affairs and to prepare to return to their home countries. Program participants may no longer continue and/or complete exchange activities, nor may they work. Although participants may travel in the United States, it is recommended that they do not travel beyond the borders of the United States as they may not be permitted reentry.

Travel inside the US

Travel inside the US before the completion of the academic program at University requires a valid passport (six-months into the future), valid J-1 visa stamp, and valid DS-2019.

Travel outside of the US

Travel outside the U.S. after completion of the academic program requires a completed AT application and approval prior to departure.

Restrictions on AT

In general, J-1 students must be registered for a "full course of study." This is defined as at least:

12 credits each quarter for undergraduate students

10 credits each quarter for graduate students

Do not register for fewer than the required number of credits or withdraw from a course without first receiving permission from ISS. Part-time studies could jeopardize student's stay in the U.S. and make them ineligible for J-1 benefits.

Other restrictions:

Any period of pre-completion Academic Training is subtracted from the total of 18 months (or fewer, depending on the length of the program).

Students may work no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session and full-time during official breaks and vacations.

Students may work full or part-time after completion of the full course of study.

Students must receive authorization on the DS-2019 for paid and unpaid training.

The AT bank is always deducted at a full-time rate. Example: If a student works from January 5 to May 5 part-time, the entire 4 months of AT are deducted from the bank. All authorizations count as full-time against the total time allowed for AT.

Post-completion AT must be authorized prior to the expiration date on the DS-2019.

Each new period of post-completion AT must be authorized prior to the expiration date on the most current DS-2019.

Students are responsible for maintaining their own legal status. This means that they must ensure that they are registered full-time every semester, and that the validity of their immigration documents does not expire. Students must be certain to report any changes in their academic level, funding, and/or completion of studies date within a timely manner to the international office of their university. If a student allows the date on their DS-2019 to expire, they will fall out of legal status and may suffer serious consequences.

Restrictions specific to medical students

Clinical house staff employment is allowed on this visa only if the student has used this visa to obtain a medical degree from a U.S. medical school. Foreign medical graduates whose J-1 visas are for Ph.D. programs may not use their practical training for clinical house staff employment. The students must have prior written approval for academic training from their exchange visitor program's Responsible or Alternate Responsible Officer.

Minor or Technical Infractions

These include, but are not limited to: failure to

extend a participant's program before the end date on the Form DS-2019;

process a program transfer prior to the end date on the Form DS-2019;

or receive approval and an amended Form DS-2019 prior to accepting an honorarium or other type of payment for an allowable activity.

The responsible officer may correct the participant's record within 120 days of the stated end date of the participant's program by issuing a new Form DS-2019 that

shows continued authorized stay without interruption;

indicates the appropriate purpose code and the additional notation "correct the record";

is dated as of the date the adjusted Form DS-2019 is executed.

Substantive Infractions

These are:

failure to maintain valid program status for more than 120 calendar days after the program end date indicated on the Form DS-2019; and, if the participant is a student,

failure to maintain a full course of study without prior consultation with (and approval of) the responsible officer or the alternate responsible officer of the sponsor and with the student's academic advisor.

The responsible officer must apply to the Department of State for reinstatement on behalf of the participant. The petition should include:

all copies of the participant's Forms DS-2019 issued to date;

a new, completed Form DS-2019, showing in Block 3 the new program end date; a copy of the receipt showing that the Public Law 104-208 fee has been paid; a written statement with supporting documentation justifying the request.

The statement should

declare that the exchange visitor is pursuing at all times the activity for which he or she entered the United States; and show that

the participant's failure to maintain valid program status was due to circumstances beyond his or her control or to administrative delay or oversight; and

it would be an unusual hardship to the participant if the Department of State does not grant the reinstatement to valid program status.

A nonrefundable fee of $367 is payable to the US Department of State. Program regulations provide additional information on the application process for reinstatement petitions due to substantive infractions.

Non-Reinstatable Infractions

The following infractions preclude reinstatement. Applications for reinstatement submitted to the Department of State showing any of these infractions will be denied:

willful and knowing failure to comply with program insurance requirements;

unauthorised employment;

involuntary suspension or termination from the most recent exchange visitor program;

failure to maintain valid program status for more than 270 calendar days;

receipt of a favorable recommendation from the Department of State on an application for waiver of section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 8 USC 1182(e);

failure to pay the Public Law 104-208 fee.

The information provided here summarizes the reinstatement regulations. Refer to the regulations for additional details and application procedure.

Immigration information

It is students's responsibility to understand and comply with the terms of their immigration status during their stay in the United States. A violation of the immigration regulations (for example, unauthorized employment or failure to maintain a full-time credit load) could jeopardize student's J-1 status and legal stay in the US.

Documents

Federal law requires student to carry "registration" documents at all times, including DS-2019 and passport with I-94 card attached or J-1 admission stamp (depending on what a student received upon their last entry to the U.S.) I-94 card. For day-to-day purposes, universities suggest that these documents should be kept in a secure location such as a bank safe deposit box, and students should carry photocopies. However, if student is traveling outside their university's area they should carry the original documents with them. If student is traveling by air, train, bus or ship, they may be required to produce these documents before boarding. It is suggested that they should keep photocopies of all their documents in a separate location in the event if their documents are lost or stolen.

Passport

It is suggested by universities that students should keep their passport and other important documents in a safe place, such as a bank safe-deposit box. It is also suggested that they should report a lost or stolen passport to the police because their government may require a police report before issuing a new passport. To renew or replace their passport, they should contact their country's consulate in the US.

Visa

The visa is the stamp that the U.S. consular officer placed on a page in student's passport. The visa permitted student to apply for admission into the U.S. as a J-1 student, and need not remain valid while they are in the U.S. (Canadian citizens are not required to have a visa.) If student's visa expires while they are in the U.S., the next time they travel abroad they must obtain a new J-1 visa before returning to the U.S. Exceptions to this rule exist for short trips to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean islands. Visas can only be obtained outside of the U.S. at a U.S. consulate.

DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility

This certificate is issued by a university where a student pursues AT, this document allows them to apply for a J-1 visa if they are outside the U.S, apply for J-1 status within the U.S., enter and reenter the U.S. in J-1 status, and prove their eligibility for various J-1 benefits. The DS-2019 indicates the institution in which they are permitted to study, their program of study, and the dates of eligibility. The Ds-2019 must remain valid at all times. It's suggested that a student should request a DS-2019 extension prior to its expiration date. Allowing the DS-2019 to expire before a student complete their academic program is a violation of J-1 status.

The DS-2019 is a printout from student's SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System) record. SEVIS is an internet-based database that allows schools and federal immigration agencies to exchange data on the status of international students. Information is transmitted electronically throughout a J-1 student's academic career in the U.S. Each student has a unique SEVIS ID number, which is printed on student's DS-2019 in the top right corner.

I-94 Departure Record

When students enter the U.S. they are issued either an admission stamp in their passport or Form I-94, a small white card usually stapled to the passport opposite the visa stamp. In summer of 2013, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) transitioned to electronic arrival/departure records for air and sea ports of entry. For most travelers arriving by air or sea, a paper I-94 card will not be issued. Instead, the CBP official will issue an admission stamp in the passport. Travelers at land borders will continue to receive paper I-94 cards.

Students might receive either a paper I-94 card or an J-1 admission stamp in their passport (no card), depending on where a student arrives. The admission stamp or I-94 card records the date and place in which a student entered the U.S., their immigration status (for example, J-1 or J-2), and authorized period of stay (indicated by "D/S", meaning "duration of status"). Students should be sure to check the stamp to make sure it is correct. If they receive a paper I-94 card, it's suggested that they should keep it stapled in their passport.

A $330 fee is required to replace a lost, stolen or damaged paper I-94 card. It's recommended to contact student's ISS adviser if they lose their I-94 card.

Students might need a printout of their I-94 information to apply for various benefits such as their university's State ID card or a Social Security Number. Student can obtain a printout of their I-94 record at CPB.gov/I94.

Events that require students to update their DS-2019

Many kinds of updates must be reported to the Department of Homeland Security through SEVIS and must be changed on student's DS-2019. Students should notify ISS of the following changes and request an updated DS-2019. It is suggested that students should keep every DS-2019 for their permanent record, even after they graduate. Do not discard the old ones, even from previous schools. ISS files are archived and destroyed after several years, so it is a student's responsibility to keep their DS-2019s in case they need them to apply for future immigration benefits.

Program extension

If a student is unable to complete their course of study before the completion date noted on their DS-2019, they must request an extended DS-2019 before their current DS-2019 expires.

Students should apply to extend their I-20 or DS-2019 up to three months before it expires.

They must contact International Student Services (ISS) or visa services or any analogous formation of their program sponsor before their DS-2019 expires and request a program extension.

Student is eligible for a program extension if:

Their I-20 or DS-2019 has not yet expired. The expiration date is indicated in item 5 of the I-20 and item 3 of the DS-2019.

They have been continually maintaining lawful J-1 status.

The delay in completion of their program of study was caused by compelling academic or medical reasons.

Students in J-1 status are required by law to comply with the regulations pertaining to their immigration status, including the program extension requirements discussed above. Failure to apply in a timely manner for a program extension is considered a violation of status and will disqualify a student from benefits such as employment eligibility.

ISS must issue a new I-20 or DS-2019 and notify Immigration if the student changes their level of study, change their major field of study, or if there is a change in the source of their financial support. These are separate procedures; one needs to request a new I-20 or DS-2019 based on these changes.

A student may request multiple program extensions as long as they are for compelling academic or medical reasons and recommended by their academic adviser.

Other similar options

Also see Optional Practical Training (OPT).

OPT options for F-1 students

For the purposes of OPT, "part-time" work refers to work that is at most 20 hours/week. The term "full-time" could be used either in the sense of "more than part-time" (i.e., more than 20 hours/week) or in the sense of 40 hours/week or more. There are two types of OPT:

Pre-completion OPT: This is a type of OPT where people currently pursuing degree programs acquire work authorization to do work related to their field of study. The work may be part-time during academic quarters and full-time during vacations.

Post-completion OPT: This is a type of OPT for people who have completed their degree requirements, and requires working at least 20 hours/week to count as OPT employment (more later). Ph.D. candidates can apply for post-completion OPT if they are ABD (all but dissertation) and are not simultaneously enrolled as students.

Post-completion OPT for M students

Students on the M-1 visa can, after the completion of their coursework, apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training. However, there are a few ways that this differs from the OPT available to F-1 students:

There is no pre-completion option; M-1 students can only request post-completion OPT.

Unlike OPT for F students, that can be at most 12 months, an M student's maximum OPT duration depends on the time the student spent as a student. For every four months spent as a student, one month of post-completion OPT can be requested. Since M student status is granted for programs of up to two years, this means that the OPT can be requested effectively for at most six months.

In addition to filing Form I-765 with the USCIS, Form I-539 (to extend or change nonimmigrant status) must also be filed, and the associated fee for it ($290) must be paid over and above the $380 filing fee for Form I-765. This is because, whereas F students are admitted with "D/S" (Duration of Status) on their Form I-94, M students are admitted only for a limited duration, and therefore need to explicitly extend status.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training is somewhat similar to pre-completion OPT in that it can be engaged in by students while enrolled in their degree programs, and is part-time during the term and could be full-time during vacations.

Differences between CPT and pre-completion OPT are:

Experience is required as part of the degree requirement.

Pre-completion OPT needs to be related to the field of study, but is not necessarily required.

Degree-based CPT is tied to the degree but not to a specific course. Course-based CPT is tied to a specific course, and can be taken only by students enrolled in that course.

Specifying the employer: For pre-completion OPT, it is not necessary to specify the employer during the application. However, for CPT, the employer is specified at the time of application and the employment offer letter is part of the application.

Time limit: Pre-completion OPT has a time limit of 12 months whereas there is no limit on the number of months for CPT.

Effect on (post-completion) OPT time: Pre-completion OPT counts toward the 12 month OPT limit (thus cutting into the length of possible time that can be spent on post-completion OPT). CPT does not count toward the 12 month OPT limit. However, student who does 12 or more months of CPT, becomes ineligible for OPT.