Academic Training
J-1 students may obtain work authorization through Academic Training (AT) either before or after they complete their degree or exchange program, provided they have completed at least one semester at Brandeis.
Pre-completion AT
Pre-completion AT authorization allows J-1 students to work part-time while classes are in session and full-time during vacation periods (summer, winter break, etc.).
Post-completion AT
Post-completion AT requires J-1 students to obtain a written offer of appropriate full- or part-time employment related to your field of study no later than 30 days after you complete your program. Students must provide this letter and request for AT authorization to their ISSO advisor (or in the case of students sponsored by a 3rd party, your J-1 Responsible Officer) so that they may begin working no later than 30 days after the program end date.
You may not begin your AT until the ISSO has given you written authorization. Working improperly or without authorization is a serious violation of your J-1 status and would result in the loss of benefits normally granted to J-1 students.
Expand All
You are eligible for Academic Training (AT) provided that:
- Your primary purpose in the U.S. is to study and not to work.
- You have completed at least one semester of full-time study in J-1 status.
- You are in good academic standing and have maintained your full-time registration each semester. (Academic standing is determined upon completion of one semester of full-time study.)
- The proposed employment is directly related to your major field of study.
- Your J-1 Responsible Officer has approved the AT in advance and in writing for the duration and type of AT with a specific employer.
Bachelor's and Master's level students may be granted a maximum of 18 months of AT, but AT may never exceed the length of your studies in the U.S. (e.g. 9 months of study will only allow 9 months of AT).
Doctoral students may be eligible for 36 months of AT with the successful completion of the PhD.
Exchange students may be eligible for the amount of AT based on the number of months that they were enrolled as a full time student at Brandeis. For example, a fall-semester exchange is eligible for 3.5 months of AT.
In counting months of authorization, part-time AT counts the same as full-time.
If the AT starts within 30 days of the program end date, the student will be granted their AT authorization (i.e. 9 months) from the first day of the employment opportunity.
Any J-1 student interested in pursuing AT is encouraged to contact the ISSO and schedule an appointment with their ISSO advisor to discuss AT rules and application procedures.
Note: The ISSO and Brandeis University is only able to authorize AT for those under our J-1 sponsorship. If your J-1 Program Sponsor (institution/organization listed in Item #2 of the DS-2019) is not Brandeis University, you must contact your Program Sponsor to confirm if you will be eligible for AT and to coordinate the process for obtaining the authorization from them.
Any change of employer while on J-1 AT (sponsored by Brandeis University) must be approved in advance by the ISSO, including any change to the current employer, position, salary, location, job description, etc. All changes must first be approved by the ISSO prior to the change occurring. Learn more about reporting changes.
AT is date specific and employer specific. If you decide to extend your employment, you must receive new authorization for AT from the ISSO before the current authorization has expired. If you decide to change employers, you must also obtain a new authorization. If you fail to obtain proper authorization, you will violate your J-1 immigration status.
If you have plans to leave the U.S. after program completion and re-enter the country to participate in your J-1 AT, you must first obtain employment authorization before you depart. If you do not, you may have trouble re-entering the country.
After the end date of your AT and DS-2019, you will have 30 days to do one of the following:
- Depart the U.S.
- Transfer to another J-1 sponsor to begin a new program
- Begin a new program of study at Brandeis University
- Seek a change to another non-immigrant or immigrant status.
There are many factors that impact a J visa holder when they reach the completion of their exchange period; most notably if there is the two year home residency requirement and the J change of category regulations. We strongly recommend that you meet with an ISSO staff member to review your particular situation.
To complete the Academic Training Application, please click on the ISSO Portal button in the sidebar.