Academic Training

Academic Training (AT) is a benefit of the J-1 Student Visa in the United States, allowing eligible degree seeking J-1 students as well as non-degree seeking J-1 students to gain practical work experience related to their major field of study.

Step 1: Understand Academic Training

Academic Training is work, training, or experience that is:

Directly related to the J-1 student's major field of study.
Designed to allow the student to apply knowledge and skills gained in the classroom to a practical, off-campus work environment.
It may include internships, practicums, co-op education, or other practical experience.
It can be paid or unpaid
It can occur either before (pre-completion) or after (post-completion) the student completes their academic program.
- Pre-Completion: this is work that can be done during your academic program at GW.
- Post-Completion: this is work that is done after your academic program at GW

Important Academic Training Rules

No more than 40% of the the time worked can be remote.
Proof of funding for post-completion AT ($2,000 for each additional month). $1,000 for spouse and $500 for each child.
For Post AT, if it is unpaid, you must show $2,000 for the total duration as well as if you have dependents you will need to show $1,000 for spouse and $500 for each child.
Academic Training is authorized on a semester by semester basis.
Academic training time limits counted cumulatively across programs of study. The academic training time limitations are “inclusive of any prior academic training in the United States.” And so, a student who engages in academic training for 18 months at the undergraduate or master’s level would have only 18 months left for academic training at the doctoral level’s 36-month maximum eligibility. Likewise, a student who uses 18 months of academic training at the bachelor’s degree level would not have any academic training time available after completing a masters degree in J-1 status. In this sense, academic training does not work in the same way as F-1 practical training, which affords students a new period of optional practical training eligibility.

Hour Limits for Academic Training

Academic Training is typically done on a part-time basis (up to 20 hrs/wk) during fall and spring semesters and on a full-time basis during summer semesters, as long as summer is not your first, final or a required semester. If your degree requires a full-time internship during academic periods, please speak with your ISO Advisor.

You may be eligible for both AT and on-campus employment simultaneously. However, during academic semesters (fall, spring, and summer if it is a required term for your program), you can work a maximum of 20 hours per week in total, combining both on-campus and off-campus employment or practical training.

Start and End Dates

Pre-Completion Academic Training

Always on semester by semester basis
The earliest start date you can request is the first day of classes of a given semester and the latest end date you can request is the last day of final exams in that same semester.
- Exception: For summer sessions, the last day is the last day of classes

Post-Completion Academic Training

Your start date must be within the 30 days after the program end date on your DS-2019.
- The earliest start date you can request is the day after the program end date on your DS-2019.
- The latest start date you can request is 30 days after the end date on your DS-2019.
Your end date will depend on how much time of AT you are allowed. Please see the table below to understand your time limit.

Time Limits for Academic Training

J1 Students can be authorized to participate in academic training for the length of time necessary to complete the goals and objectives of the training, provided that the amount of time for academic training:

Student Type	Maximum AT Duration	Notes
Degree-seeking Undergraduate/Master's	18 Months (see note)	The limit is 18 months OR the length of your full course of study, whichever is shorter. For example, if you're pursuing a 4-year degree, your limit is 18 months. The 18 months is inclusive of any prior academic training in the United States. Additional time for academic training is allowed to the extent necessary for you to satisfy the mandatory requirements of your degree program in the United States
Doctoral (Ph.D.)	Up to 36 months total	The first 18 months may be used pre- or post-completion. The additional 18 months is typically reserved for post-doctoral training positions after degree completion. The 36 months is inclusive of any prior academic training in the United States.
Non-degree/Exchange	Equal to the length of your program	For example, a one-semester exchange program allows for a maximum of 4.5 months of AT.

Step 2: Confirm Your Eligibility

Eligibility Criteria for Academic Training

To be eligible for Academic Training as a J-1 student, you must generally meet the following criteria:

Valid J-1 Status: You must have been enrolled as a full-time student in active J-1 student status for one semester before starting Academic Training.
Primary Purpose is Study: Your primary purpose for being in the U.S. must be to study, not to engage in employment.
Good Academic Standing: You must be in good academic standing
Directly Related to Study: The proposed training position must be directly related to your major field of study.
Formal Job Offer: You must have a formal, written offer of employment or training on the employer's letterhead before applying for AT authorization.
- Must be less than 40% remote
- Must be 20 hours or less per week during required terms (you may request more than 20 hours per week during academic breaks, however, you would need to submit a new request for any academic break durinch which you wish to work more than 20 hours per week.)
Academic Advisor Recommendation: You must meet with your academic advisor or dean before applying for Academic Training with the ISO. Your academic advisor or dean will need to confirm that the training relates to your academic program and state why it is an integral or critical part of your study after you complete your Academic Training Request on ISOGateway.
Health Insurance: You must maintain health insurance coverage for yourself and any J-2 dependents for the entire duration of the academic training. If you are requesting post-completion academic training, you are required to show proof of health insurance for the extension period.

Step 3: Obtain a Job Offer

You must have a formal, written offer of employment or training on the employer's letterhead before applying for AT authorization. The role must be less than 40% remote, and the offer must be 20 hours or less per week during required terms. You may request more than 20 hours per week during academic breaks, however, you would need to submit a new request for any academic break during which you wish to work more than 20 hours per week.

Step 4: Apply for Academic Training on ISOGateway

The academic training request must be fully approved and processed before the program end date on your DS-2019. Please remember that the ISO has a standard 10-business day processing time, so it is very important that you submit your request in a timely manner.

Step 4.1: Collect Documentation

Personal Cover Letter
- You describe the opportunity
- Explain how it is related to your major
- Explain how it is an integral part of your academic program
Valid Passport
U.S. Visa
Unexpired I-94
Most Recent DS-2019
Health Insurance
- If you are requesting post completion, health insurance must be valid through the end of your academic training period.
Offer Letter
- This letter must include details like the job title, a description of responsibilities, the start/end dates, where the training is taking place (no more than 40% of the time can be remote), the number of hours per week and information on type of employment for eg. is it paid or unpaid.
  - Letter from Employer (on letterhead)
  - Must include:
  - Job title
  - Number of hours per week
  - Address of place of employment
    - This should be the employer’s main address. If your worksite is different from the main address, you must also list your worksite address.
  - Salary, if applicable
  - Brief description of duties
  - Start and end dates of employment
  - Supervisor’s name, email address and phone number
Proof of Funding
- Only required for unpaid post completion academic training

Step 4.2: Request is Routed to your Academic Advisor

Once you have completed the request in ISOGateway, it is then routed to your Academic Advisor. At this stage, your Academic Advisor confirms details about your employment, eligibility, that the offer relates to your area of study, and that it is an integral part of your academic program. Next, the request is routed to the ISO for processing.

At this point, the ISO reviews your documents. Please note that the ISO has a 10-business day processing time. This processing time begins once the ISO has received your request from your Academic Advisor.

If your application is complete and correct, the ISO will provide an updated DS-2019 and notice to visit the ISO to pick up your Academic Training Authorization Letter.

If there are any missing or incorrect documents, the ISO will contact you. If you provided the wrong contact email for your Academic Department, ISO will deny the application and you will need to start the process again with the correct contact information.

Step 5: Begin Work

You may only begin work once your Academic Training Request is approved.