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International Student and Scholar Services

Academic Training for Employers

What is Academic Training?

Academic Training (AT) is a type of work authorization that allows J-1 students to participate in a training experience that is directly related to their field of study.

The primary purpose of AT is educational.

AT can occur during (Pre-Completion) or after (Post-Completion) the student has completed their program.

Students are eligible for 18 months of AT or for the total amount of time the student has studied at ISU, whichever is shorter. PhD students are eligible for 36 months of AT.

AT allows students to work 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 is authorized by ISSS only for the specific employer, location, and dates listed on the student’s AT work authorization approval letter and page 1 of the student’s DS-2019.

Student’s Role

  • It is the student’s responsibility to determine if they are eligible for AT.
  • It is the student’s responsibility to apply for AT through ISSS.
  • As part of the application process, the student must upload a job offer letter that contains ALL the following data points:
    • Job Title
    • Name and Address of Supervisor
    • Specific Start Date
    • Specific End Date
    • Specific Number of Hours Per Week
    • Address of Employment Worksite
    • Description of the Work to be Performed

Employer’s Role

  • There is no cost to you as an employer to hire a J-1 student.
  • Your role is to provide a job offer letter (see above for what must be included).
    • NOTE: If your offer letter template is missing required information, you can provide the missing information in an email to the student from a company representative.
  • The employer is expected to provide supervision and mentorship to enhance the student’s overall academic experience.

Timing Considerations

  • ISSS will need 10 business days to authorize AT.
  • For Post-Completion AT:
    • The student must apply for AT before their DS-2019 program end date.
    • The student must begin work through AT no later than 30 days after their DS-2019 program end date.
  • Students cannot begin work until they have their AT work authorization approval letter and AT DS-2019.
  • Any work outside the approved AT dates is unauthorized and could affect the student’s legal status.

Hiring Paperwork

  • Employers should request a copy of the student’s AT work authorization approval letter and AT DS-2019 for I-9 purposes.
  • Employers can refer to the J-1 Exchange Visitors section of the I-9 Handbook for Employers for instructions on how to complete the Form I-9 for a J-1 student on AT.
  • The AT employment end date listed on the student’s AT work authorization approval letter and on page 1 of the student’s DS-2019 is the date their AT employment authorization expires.
  • Some J-1 students will have a Social Security Card from prior on-campus employment. However, if the student does not yet have a Social Security Card, they will need to apply for one. The student can begin working while they wait for their SSN card to arrive.
  • J-1 students who have been in the U.S. for less than five years are generally exempt from FICA (Social Security and Medicare) tax withholdings on their wages.

Additional Resources