Skip to main content

Am I Eligible for AT?

  • I have maintained my J-1 status
  • I am in good academic standing at ISU
  • I have a job/internship offer that is directly related to my degree program and contains all of the following points:
    • Job title
    • Name and address of supervisor
    • Specific dates of the training
    • Specific number of hours per week
    • Address of employment work site
    • Description of work to be performed
  • I am able to provide proof of finances for the period of employment
  • I am able to maintain health insurance coverage for the period of employment
  • I have not been approved for AT in the past for more than 18 months or the total amount of time I was enrolled at ISU, whichever is shorter
  • The start date of my AT is no later than 30 days after my DS-2019 program end date
  • I will apply for AT before my DS-2019 program end date

Employment While on AT

Any job you are authorized to work while on AT must be directly related to your field and level of study in a paid or unpaid position. If the job has remote components or requirements, J-1 students on Academic Training can participate remotely no more than 40% of the time (e.g., two days out of five) when their host organizations have instituted partial remote policies and their sponsor has approved their hybrid program participation.

AT can be part- or full-time. However, even if AT is part-time, each day deducts a full day from the total amount of time you are eligible for AT.

You cannot begin working on AT until you have the Academic Training Application form signed by your International Advisor and the approved date has been reached. You must stop working at the authorized end date unless an extension is approved.

A student authorized for AT may only work for the specific employer at the specific location and for the specific dates approved by their International Advisor. If there are any changes to this information, the student must contact their International Advisor prior to the change and receive approval from their Academic Advisor. The student will be required to submit updated documentation.

Reporting Requirements

Though you may no longer be an ISU student, you are still in J-1 student status while on AT and you continue to have requirements to report information to ISSS. You must notify ISSS within 10 days of any change(s) in your name, address, or employment information. If any change in this information occurs, please email it to InternationalStudents@IllinoisState.edu.

Please also notify ISSS if any major change related to your visa status occurs, such as the following:

  • You plan to depart the U.S. prior to your AT end date, with no plans to return and resume AT
  • You plan to transfer to another US institution to begin a new program of study
  • You have applied or been approved for a change of status

Travel on AT

When traveling outside of the U.S. with AT approval, the following documents are required:

  • Valid Passport
  • Valid J-1 Visa
  • I-94 Printout marked D/S
  • DS-2019 with a valid ARO travel signature on page 1 (the signature is valid for 12 months from the date it was signed)
  • Employment letter (stating: start dates, hours, and duties)

Request a travel signature