J-1 Student Academic Training

Academic Training (AT)

Immigration regulations allow for ISSS to authorize “Academic Training” (AT) for paid or unpaid training, work, or internships directly related to a J-1 student’s major field of study as indicated on the Form DS-2019. Students must obtain authorization from ISSS before starting any training opportunity.

AT is available at any stage of your academic program, either while you are enrolled in school or after completing your academic program.

Self-employment is not permitted on AT.

If you plan to participate in AT after program completion, the training must begin within 30 days of your program end date listed on your Form DS-2019. You must submit your request to ISSS at least 2 weeks before your DS-2019 program end date.

  • If the University of Colorado Boulder is not the sponsor of the student’s J-1 visa, then the student must contact their J-1 visa program sponsor (e.g. Fulbright, LASPAU, etc.) directly for academic training authorization procedures

Hours on AT

There is no distinction between full-time and part-time Academic Training (AT). Each day of authorized AT is counted the same, regardless of whether you work full-time or part-time.

A student may engage in multiple academic training experiences provided ISSS evaluates and approves each training experience separately. Students must follow the request and approval procedures for each employer.

Employment authorized under AT does not count toward the cumulative 20-hour-per-week limit for on-campus or severe economic hardship employment. Likewise, time spent in authorized on-campus or economic hardship employment does not reduce the total amount of AT available.

AT Maximum Participation Limits

The Academic Training (AT) time limits outlined below include any prior AT completed in the United States.

Example: If you previously used 12 months of AT during your bachelor’s degree level and then begin a master’s program in J-1 status, you would have only 6 months of AT remaining.

Non-Degree, Undergraduate or Master’s Level

AT is available for a maximum of 18 months or the length of your program of study in the U.S. as indicated on the Form DS-2019, whichever is shorter.

Examples:

  • If your master’s degree program is 2 years long, you are eligible for a maximum of18 months of AT authorization.
  • If your master’s degree program is 9 months long, you are eligible for a maximum of 9 month of AT authorization.

Doctoral Level

Doctoral students may request up to 18 months of AT during their PhD studies, and upon completion of their PhD degree program, may request an additional 18 months. This allows for a maximum of 36 months of AT in total, or a period equal to the length of the study program, whichever is shorter. Any prior AT in the U.S. would be deducted.

  • Pre-doctoral training (prior to degree completion): limited to 18 months.
  • Post-doctoral training: Doctoral students may apply for the full 36 (or the maximum allowed) amount for post-completion AT if they have not used any AT during their PhD studies or any prior AT in the U.S.

Please speak with an ISSS advisor to discuss your individual situation and confirm the length of AT you are eligible for.

Unemployment:

Students with post-completion AT authorization must be engaged in the training program for which they received AT authorization. If a paid or unpaid training program ends for any reason prior to the end date of the AT authorization, speak with ISSS immediately.  ISSS is required to shorten your AT authorization if you are no longer participating in the training.

In general, students in J-1 status are allowed a 30-day grace period to depart the U.S. from the last date of employment (or participating in the unpaid training program) or the end of the AT authorization period, whichever comes first.

When to Apply

For AT during your degree program: You must submit the Academic Training Request e-form at least 2 weeks prior to your requested AT start date.

For AT after you have finished your degree program: you must submit the Academic Training Request e-form at least 2 weeks prior to the program end date indicated on your Form DS-2019 or your requested start date, whichever is earlier. (ISSS requires at least 2 weeks to process the request.)

  • The training must begin within the 30 days following the program end date listed on your Form DS-2019.

AT Request Process

  1. Obtain an offer letter on company letterhead from your prospective employer or unpaid training program that includes the following:
    1. Job title
    2. Start date and end date of work/training
    3. Number of hours of work/training per week
    4. Salary (if applicable)
    5. Location of the training/employment
    6. A brief description of the “goals and objectives” of the “academic training program”
      1. Three goals are required.
    7. At the end of the Academic Training, the student and training supervisor are required to evaluate the training program based on the goals indicated in the offer letter.
    8. Name, address, title, and contact information for the “training supervisor”
    9. Signature of the supervisor or an official with signatory authority and date signed
  2. Ask your CU academic advisor to complete the Academic Advisor Academic Training Recommendation Form
  3. Submit the Academic Training Request e-form to ISSS
    1. You must upload your offer letter and Academic Advisor Academic Training Recommendation Form
  4. If any part of your academic training will occur after your degree completion:
    1. You must also provide:
      1. A new Insurance Compliance Form available in the MyISSS portal and
      2. Financial support documentation indicating adequate funding to support yourself and any dependents in J-2 status until the end of the academic training experience
        1. If you will participate in paid academic training, you can upload your offer letter with salary information

ISSS will review your request to evaluate whether the proposed Academic Training program is directly related to your degree program within 2–5 business days after receiving the completed request. If approved, ISSS will issue an Academic Training authorization letter, update your record in SEVIS, and provide you with a new Form DS-2019 reflecting the AT authorization.

  • Please keep both the ISSS Academic Training authorization letter and the new Form DS-2019 for your records and to present to your employer for I-9 employment verification purposes.

Maintaining J-1 Status While Authorized for Academic Training

Academic Training (AT) authorization is limited to the particular training program/employer and dates authorized. Students participating in AT must actively pursue the approved program goals and objectives with the designated employer/training program for the entire authorization period. To extend AT, students must submit a new Academic Training Request e-form at least two weeks before the requested extension start date.

If you are participating in Academic Training (AT) during your degree program, you must continue to meet full-time enrollment requirements during the spring and fall semesters.

Students in J-1 status and, if applicable, accompanying dependents in J-2 status, must continue to maintain comprehensive medical insurance and evacuation and repatriation coverage that meet U.S. government minimum requirements during AT authorization periods.

Required AT Evaluation

Regulations require the J-1 program sponsor (CU Boulder) to evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of the AT program in achieving the stated goals and objectives. Accordingly, students in J-1 status who participate in AT, along with their training supervisors, must complete the Academic Training Evaluation e-form.

  • The student and training supervisor will evaluate the training program based on the training goals and objectives stated in the AT request.
  • Students should initiate the evaluation three weeks prior to completing their AT.
  • Academic Training Evaluation Form Example