Academic Training is designed to provide J-1 students with employment experience to complement their programs of study in the United States. Therefore, the work done during Academic Training must be directly related to the student's field of study, and it must be commensurate with their level of education. Students may engage in Academic Training during their academic program and/or after the completion of the program as long as the total amount of training does not exceed the prescribed time limitations indicated below. Please note that Academic Training cannot be authorized for permanent employment.

Important note: the Department of State requires that all Academic Training positions must either be fully in person or hybrid; remote positions are not possible under new Department of State guidance. Hybrid work is defined by the Department of State as in person work with the potential for “one to two telework days per week”. You may find this guidance on the Department of State website under “Current Programs”.

For more information about Academic Training, please read the information below.

Eligibility

J-1 students are eligible for Academic Training if they:

• are in good academic standing or have successfully completed a program of study;
• are participating in Academic Training that is directly related to their major field of study;
• are authorized in advance to engage in Academic Training through written approval of the Responsible Officer (for Harvard students under Harvard's J-l Exchange Visitor program sponsorship, the Responsible Officer would be an advisor in the HIO).

Time Limitations

Academic Training can be authorized for the following time periods:

• Undergraduate programs: 18 months
• Two year Master's programs: 18 months
  Students enrolled in degree programs that are less than 18 months can be authorized Academic Training only for the time equal to or less than the length of their programs.
• Doctorate programs: up to 36 months of Academic Training, out of which only 18 months may be used before the completion of study. Please note that a maximum of 18 months of Academic Training can be authorized at a time.

If you are a graduating student using post-completion Academic Training, you must submit the necessary paperwork to the HIO before the program completion date indicated on item 3 of your Form DS-2019, if possible. In any case, you must submit the application no later than 30 days after the completion date, or you will be ineligible to apply for AT.

Please note, HIO requires up to 10 business days processing time from the day the application is submitted. You cannot start working until you have the HIO authorization.

STEM Academic Training Extension

Bachelor’s and Master’s students in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) may be eligible to extend for more than 18 months of Academic Training (AT) provided you meet the criteria below:

• You are enrolled in a degree program. Non-degree students are not eligible for this extension.
• You will graduate prior to December 31, 2024.
• Your academic program must be included in this government list of STEM extension eligible programs. Your "CIP" code is on your DS-2019 in section 4 under "Subject/Field Code".

If you meet the above criteria you can request an extension of your AT to match the length of your degree program, up to 36 months. For instance, if your master’s degree program was 21 months in duration, you would become eligible for up to 21 months of AT in total. Students in degree programs less than 18 months in duration will not be eligible for the STEM AT extension.

Learn more about this initiative here.

If you believe you may be eligible for an STEM AT extension, please contact your HIO Advisor for confirmation.

How to Apply

The following instructions are for the students whose Forms DS-2019 are issued by Harvard University. If your Form DS-2019 is issued by another organization such as Fulbright you must contact that organization for instructions.

If you are a graduating student wanting to use Post-Completion AT, you must submit the necessary paperwork to the HIO at least 30 days before the program completion date indicated on item 3 of your Form DS-2019, or you will be ineligible to apply for AT.

Step 1: Obtain an offer for a job or internship in the U.S. related to your field of study at Harvard. Please note, you do not need to include a copy of your offer letter to apply for AT. The completed J-1 Academic Training Request Form is the only required document for the HIO.

Step 2: Submit the J-1 Academic Training Request Form to the HIO. The request form requires information to be completed and signed by you, as well as the J-1 AT Employer Attestation Form completed by your employer, and the J-1 AT Academic Advisor Attestation Form completed by your academic advisor at Harvard. The forms will accept electronic signatures for all parties. The AT Request Form will also request you to upload a copy of your most recent I-94 record of admission. If your job is unpaid, you will also need to upload a recent bank statement showing funding to support living expenses for the time you will be on AT within the AT Request Form.

For Post-Completion AT applicants only, you must pay a one-time maintenance fee of $150 to the University. The HIO charges a one-time, non-refundable fee of $150 for processing post-completion AT applications and maintaining SEVIS records for the length of the AT experience, which can run from 9 months up to 36 months following graduation. You may pay the fee online with a credit card payment via Touchnet.

• HBS students must submit the Academic Advisor Attestation Form via registrar@hbs.edu to the MBA Registrar Services Office for the required signature.

It is not necessary to have an appointment with your HIO advisor to apply for AT.

The HIO’s standard processing time is up to 10 business days from the day a completed application is submitted. You cannot start working until you have the AT work authorization from the HIO. You will receive an emailed DS-2019 and J-1 AT Work Authorization Letter from the HIO once your AT has been processed.

Pre-Completion AT Rules and Reporting Requirements

Students may apply for pre-completion AT for a part-time, off-campus position while classes are in session, or full-time over official school breaks.

Your AT authorization is based off the job offer you presented to the HIO. If you leave that employer, start with a new employer, or extend your employment, you must notify the HIO. It is important that you do not begin any employment until you have received a new DS-2019 Form from the HIO, and the start date is current.

Students must accrue time in J-1 status in the U.S. before they may start using AT. AT is generally not available during your first few months in the U.S. in J-1 status.

WORK AUTHORIZATION WHILE ON AT

Each AT authorization you receive from the HIO is specific to one employer and one position only.

• If you work for multiple employers simultaneously, you must apply for AT authorization for each position.
• If you change employers, you must submit an evaluation for the employment that is ending, and apply for AT authorization for your new employer
• If you are extending an AT authorization, you must submit an updated AT application to the HIO before the end date of your current AT authorization

Please review the “Acceptable Types AT Employment” section of this site for additional information.

EVALUATIONS

Each time you end a position while on AT, you must submit an evaluation to the HIO.

Post-Completion AT Rules and Reporting Requirements

Your Academic Training authorization is based on the job offer you presented to the HIO. If you leave that employer, start with a new employer, or leave the U.S. and will no longer use AT, you must notify the HIO.

It is important that you do not begin any employment until you have received a new DS-2019 Form from the HIO, and the start date is current.

Failure to comply with the Academic Training rules and reporting requirements may constitute a status violation; such violations may have negative consequences for your current immigration status or result in delays and denials of future immigration benefits.

Reporting Residential Address Information

You must report to the HIO your current residential addresses, and any future changes of address within 10 days of the change by using the online Change of Address Form.

Work Authorization While on AT

Each AT authorization you receive from the HIO is specific to one employer and one position only.

• If you work for multiple employers simultaneously, you must apply for AT authorization for each position.
• If you change employers, you must submit an evaluation for the employment that is ending, and apply for AT authorization for your new employer
• If you are extending an AT authorization, you must submit an updated AT application to the HIO before the end date of your current AT authorization

Please review the “Acceptable Types AT Employment” section of this site for additional information. 

Evaluations

Each time you end a position while on AT, you must submit an evaluation to the HIO.

Heath Insurance Requirements

The Exchange Visitor regulations require all J-1 and J-2 visa holders to maintain health insurance throughout their stay in the U.S. The health insurance guidelines can be found here. Your student health insurance will end on July 31 after you graduate in May (or January 31 for those who graduate in November or March). If your employer does not offer you health insurance, you can find alternative coverage here.

Reporting Changes to your Visa Status or Plans in the U.S.

You must notify the HIO if you have changed to a different visa status (i.e. H-1B, TN, E-3, Green Card, etc.)  OR if you have permanently departed the U.S. and will no longer use AT or J-1 status.  Please email your HIO advisor directly about these changes.

Acceptable Types of AT Employment

All work done during Academic Training must be directly related to the student's field of study, and it must be commensurate with their level of education. The following list describes acceptable forms of employment under AT:

• Full or part time employment
• Paid employment
• Unpaid employment. You may work as a volunteer or unpaid intern, where this practice does not violate any labor laws.
• Multiple simultaneous employers. You may work for more than one employer, but ALL employment must be related to your major field of study and degree program, and you must receive authorization from the HIO for each employer.
• Multiple consecutive employers. As a reminder, you can change employers, but you cannot begin new employment until you submit an evaluation for the first employer and submit a new application for AT to the HIO.
• Self-Employment is not permitted on AT, as it requires a training plan and supervision.

• The Department of State requires that all Academic Training positions must either be fully in person or hybrid; remote positions are not possible under new Department of State guidance. Hybrid work is defined by the Department of State as in person work with the potential for “one to two telework days per week”. You may find this guidance on the Department of State website under “Current Programs”.

Travel on Post-Completion Academic Training

For information on traveling after graduation while on Post-Completion Academic Training, please click here.

Two-Year Home Residency Requirement (212e) and 12 Month Bar

Please take note that after the AT period has ended, options to continue working in the U.S. may be limited due to the 12-Month Repeat Participation Bar on the J-1 visa, and the potential Two-Year Home Residency Requirement (212e).

The 12-Month Bar

Individuals who have been in the United States for more than six months on a J-1 Student visa are not eligible to enter the United States as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor for a 12-month period following the end date of the J-1 Student DS-2019 form. The 12-month bar applies to both the J-1 principal and any J-2 dependents. The J-1 Research Scholar or Professor visa is a visa commonly used for individuals with academic appointments at the University. The 12-month bar does not prevent individuals from returning to the United States in any other visa status. For more information see here. 

Two-Year Home Residency Requirement (212e)