Exchange students in the USA can’t work except these occasions

In my previous blog post on Academic Training, I shared that international students– both F-1 and J-1 student visa holders- need to get authorized first before they start working off-campus per immigration regulations. For example, J-1 exchange students in the USA need to get authorized for the Academic Training program to engage in off-campus internships. In the same way, F-1 students should get authorized for the CPT program to work as an intern outside the campus.

In this blog post, the Student Employment program that allows J-1 exchange students to engage in paid part time work opportunities will be introduced. If you are interested in the following, you will learn what is the Student Employment program and how to apply for the program:

• I have a J-1 visa as a “College and University Student“
  • Student employment programs are not for J-1 visiting scholars not J-1 interns.
• I am interested in working for my scholarship, fellowship and/or assistantship.
• I am going through severe economic hardships and I would like to work in the position that is not necessarily related to my major.

All other information on the J-1 visa can be found on the J-1 visa page. If you have an F-1 student visa, go to the F-1 visa page for all visa information and news.

Contents

• On-campus scholarship, fellowship or assistantship
• Off-campus part time work opportunities
• Eligibility for exchange students in the USA to work part time
• Application process for the Student Employment program

On-campus scholarship, fellowship or assistantship

The first occasion that exchange students in the USA can engage in employment is when they are required to work in a condition of receiving a scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship. In these cases, students should work on campus or on the premises of the college or university to comply with the immigration regulation 22 CFR 62.23(g)(1)(ii).

(i) Is pursuant to the terms of a scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship;
(ii) Occurs on the premises of the post-secondary accredited academic institution the visitor is authorized to attend; or

22 CFR 62.23(g)(1)(i)~22 CFR 62.23(g)(1)(ii)

Off-campus part time work opportunities

The second occasion where J-1 exchange visitors can work during their stay in the U.S. is when they are in dire financial need. When exchange students are suffering from economic hardships due to unforeseen circumstances like natural disasters, war just to name a few, they can apply for Student Employment.

One good thing about the Student Employment program for J-1 exchange students is that qualifying exchange students in the USA can work off-campus through the program. What is more, unlike other work authorization programs for nonimmigrant students, the Student Employment program doesn’t require participants to work that is “directly related” to the students’ majors.

It is worth noting that whatever impacts your finance negatively should happen after you have acquired the exchange visitor status. Now each institution may have a different interpretation on “acquiring exchange visitor status.” It could mean after you obtain the J-1 visa or it could mean after you are accepted into the exchange program.

Therefore, if you think that you are eligible for the Student Employment program reach out to your advisor (ARO; Alternative Responsible Officer, or RO; Responsible Officer) to confirm your eligibility.

(iii) Occurs off-campus when necessary because of serious, urgent, and unforeseen economic circumstances which have arisen since acquiring exchange visitor status.

22 CFR 62.23(g)(1)(iii)

Eligibility for exchange students in USA to work part time

Now if you are receiving either scholarship/fellowship/assistantship or if you have encountered unforeseen circumstances, you should meet three eligibilities in order to apply for the Student Employment program:

1. A J-1 exchange student should have good GPA.
   • Reach out to your international student advisor (ARO or RO) for the exact GPA requirement as it can vary.
2. When the school is in session, the exchange student should be enrolled in a full course of study.
   • Undergraduate exchange students should register for at least 12 credits while graduate J-1 students should register for at least 9 credits.
3. The student should not work more than 20 hours per week when the school is in session.
   • Reach out to your international student adviosr (ARO or RO) for the maximum work hours per week during official school breaks.

(i) Student is in good academic standing at the post-secondary accredited academic institution;
(ii) Student continues to engage in a full course of study, except for official school breaks and the student’s annual vacation;
(iii) Employment totals no more than 20 hours per week, except during official school breaks and the student’s annual vacation;

22 CFR 62.23(g)(2)(i)~22 CFR 62.23(g)(2)(iii)

Application process for the Student Employment program

If you meet all the eligibilities, it’s time to apply for the Student Employment program! The immigration regulation doesn’t say a lot about the application process but based on the regulation, the process can be summarized as below:

• The student reach out to the responsible officer (ARO or RO, commonly Internatioanl Student Advisor) and shows the intention to get authorized for the Student Employment for J-1 students.
• RO or ARO confirms that the J-1 student meets all the eligibility.
• RO or ARO updates her or his SEVIS record with Student Employment information and issue him or her updated Form DS-2019. RO or ARO also need to provide the written letter.
• The approval is valid up to 12 months but when the J-1 student’s program ends or the student transfers the record, the authorization is automatically withdrawn.

Related blog post: How to transfer as an exchange student (J to F)

(iv) The responsible officer has approved the specific employment in advance and in writing. Such approval may be valid up to 12 months, but is automatically withdrawn if the student’s program is transferred or terminated.

22 CFR 62.23(g)(2)(iv)

To sum up, J-1 exchange students in the USA can work on-campus when they are receiving scholarships, fellowships, or assistantships and are required to engage in employment. Furthermore, students can work part-time off-campus when they suffer from economic hardships due to unforeseen circumstances.

To learn more about important J-1 visa regulations, go to the J-1 visa information page.