J-1 Academic Training (AT)

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-1 Exchange Visitor program sponsorship, the Responsible Officer would be an advisor in the HIO). 

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 training 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 June 30, 2026.
• 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. 

The STEM extension is required to be reviewed by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, Office of Private Sector Exchange Designation prior to extension of the DS-2019 and authorization of Academic Training. As a result, processing time for post-completion Academic Training applications with STEM extensions can take up to 2-3 weeks. The HIO is not able to escalate the process for STEM extension approval. 

More information about this initiative is available on the State Department website. 

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

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 IIE/Fulbright, you must contact that organization for instructions.  

If you are a graduating student wanting to use Post-Completion AT, we strongly encourage you to 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, so that HIO can best ensure that you can timely begin your AT activity. Please note that Post-Completion AT must begin no later than 30 days after completion of your academic program. 

Step 1: Prepare the following documents:  

• Obtain a completed J-1 AT Training Organization Attestation Form.  The forms will accept electronic signatures for all parties. It is also recommended that you obtain an offer letter for training 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.   
• Obtain a completed Academic Unit Letter of Recommendation completed by your academic advisor at Harvard. The forms will accept electronic signatures for all parties.
• HBS students must submit the Academic Advisor Attestation Form via registrar@hbs.edu to the MBA Registrar's Office for the required signature.
• Complete Certification of Academic Training Regulatory Time Limits if you have previously completed Academic Training. 
• Most Recent I-94 record of admission
• If your training 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.
• PhD, DrPH, and DDes Students applying for Post-Completion AT must upload a completed Doctoral Degree Confirmation Date form.
• All Post-Completion AT applicants 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. 

Step 2: Submit the J-1 Academic Training Application Form to the HIO.   

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 your training until you have the AT work authorization from the HIO. You will receive an emailed DS-2019 and J-1 AT Authorization Letter from the HIO once your AT has been processed. 

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 on the offer you presented to the HIO. If you leave that training organization, start with a new one, or extend your training, you must notify the HIO. It is important that you do not begin any training 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. 

Authorization While on AT 

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

• If you participate in multiple training opportunities simultaneously, you must apply for AT authorization for each position.
• If you change training organizations, you must submit an evaluation for the position that is ending and apply for AT authorization for your new training organization.
• 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. 
• You must have AT authorization before presenting at a conference or participating on a panel. 

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. 

Your Academic Training authorization is based on the offer you presented to the HIO. If you leave that training organization, start with a new one, or leave the U.S. and will no longer use AT, you must notify the HIO using the electronic reporting form. 

It is important that you do not begin any Academic Training 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. 

Authorization While on AT 

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

• If you work for multiple training organizations simultaneously, you must apply for AT authorization for each position.
• If you change training organizations, you must submit an evaluation for the position that is ending and apply for AT authorization for your new training organization.
• 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. 
• You must have AT authorization before presenting at a conference or participating on a panel. 

Please review the “Acceptable Types Academic Training” 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. 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 training organization does not offer you health insurance, you can find alternative coverage. 

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. 

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”.   

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. 

Two-Year Home Residency Requirement (212e) 

In some cases, the J-1 visa carries with it a two-year home residence requirement which obliges visa holders and their J-2 dependents to return to their home countries for two years before being eligible to apply for an immigrant visa or a non-immigrant H or L visa. The requirement also makes J-1 visa holders and their J-2 dependents ineligible to change to any other visa status within the United States if they are subject to it. 

Not all J-1 visa holders are subject to this requirement.