Academic training refers to employment, internships, or practicum in the student’s major field of study that will enhance or enrich the academic knowledge with practical experience. It is considered to be an integral and important part of the overall experience for international students, and you are encouraged to engage in some type of academic training.
The training may be taken during the course of study, after completion of your course of study, or a combination of these.
Academic training may be paid or unpaid. If you are interested, make an appointment to talk with your International Student Advisor to explore prospective training opportunities and whether they may meet the requirements of the J regulations.
To apply, make an appointment with the International Student Advisor who handles J-1 advising and take the following documents with you to your appointment:
If the advisor determines that you are eligible, you will receive a letter of employment authorization. This letter is the required written documentation that you are legally authorized to accept employment.
The authorization will terminate on the ending date of the DS-2019 form, or at the end of the year, whichever is sooner. It may be renewed if the documentation shows that the need still exists, but it is automatically terminated if you fail to maintain your J-1 status or complete your J-1 program.
In most cases a J-2 Visa holder may seek employment in the U.S.
To work, a J-2 Visa holder must file an I-765 form to obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more.
Money earned by a J-2 cannot be used to support the principal J-1 visa holder. Employed J-2 visa holders must verify that the employment earnings will only pay for the their personal expenses or the expenses of their children.
Find information about taxes for J-1 students.
You must have a Social Security number to work in the U.S. After you have been authorized for academic training, follow these instructions to get a Social Security Number.
One workshop is offered each semester where students learn how to extend their J-1 Visa for internships and how to search and apply for academic-based internships. Learn more.