International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

Academic Training (AT)

General Information

Academic Training (AT) is a J-1 work authorization that allows exchange students to participate in an employment experience. The employment experience must be related to the student’s field of study at SIUE. It is the only way for J-1 students to work off-campus. The length of AT a student is eligible for is 18 months or the total amount of time the student has studied at SIUE, whichever is shorter. PhD students are eligible for a total of 36 months of AT. Students may be approved for AT during enrollment at SIUE or after completing their program. Any job you are authorized to work while on AT must be directly related to your field and level of study and must be for at least 20 hours/week in a paid or unpaid position.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for AT, the following must be true:

• I have maintained my J-1 status.
• I have a job/internship offer.
• I am in good academic standing at SIUE.
• I am able to provide proof of finances for the period of employment.
• I am able to maintain health insurance coverage for the period of employment.
• I have not been approved for AT in the past for more than 18 months or the total amount of time I was enrolled at SIUE, whichever is shorter.
• The start date of my AT is no later than 30 days after my DS-2019 program end date.
• I will apply for AT before my DS-2019 program end date.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible for AT or have questions about the application process, you should contact your international advisor.

Application Procedure- Employment During Your Program/DS-2019

1. Send an email request to participate in an AT experience to iss@siue.edu that includes the semester you wish to be employed. Note that you do not have to have an offer at this time.
2. The international student advisor will send an eligibility letter electronically the Career Development Center (CDC).
3. Check the CDC website for co-op/internship deadlines.
4. Register with the CDC.
5. Update your Cougar Jobline profile with the CDC.
6. Meet with a CDC counselor for resume approval.
7. Complete co-op orientation online.
8. Schedule an appointment with CDC to process all your AT paperwork.
9. Complete the Academic Training Application with your Academic Advisor and submit it to the Office of International Affairs. Complete the Academic Training Form with details about your employment.

This process should be started as soon as possible to ensure completion by the start of employment term.

Application Procedure- Employment After Your Program/DS-2019

1. Highly Recommended: Make a job search appointment with the Career Development Center (CDC) for assistance.
2. Complete the Academic Training Application with your Academic Advisor and submit it to the Office of International Affairs. Complete the Academic Training Form with details about your employment.
3. Provide the Office of International Affairs with proof of funding (minimum amounts below) and health insurance that meets DOS requirements for you and any dependents for the duration of the training period.
   • $1,800 per month for J-1 visa holder
   • $417 per month for J-2 spouse
   • $333 per month for each J-2 child

This process should be started as soon as possible to ensure completion before your DS-2019 ends.

Additional AT Information

You are authorized to work for specific dates of employment on your DS-2019. You may not begin before the start date or continue working after the end date. If you expect that you will need to work beyond your end date, you must reapply for AT and be approved by the Office of International Affairs. If you work beyond the end date, you will be working illegally and could lose future immigration benefits.

Authorization Procedures

You must be authorized for AT in writing by an international advisor before beginning any employment. Working prior to obtaining authorization could result in a loss of your J-1 status. Even unpaid work must be authorized. An international advisor will authorize AT by issuing a new DS-2019. You may engage in AT employment only after you have received the DS-2019 with work authorization. This work authorization is valid only for the specific employer, location, and time period as approved and recorded by an international advisor as evidenced on your DS-2019 issued for AT.

Reporting Requirements

Though you may no longer be an SIUE student, you are still in J-1 student status while on AT and you continue to have requirements to report information to ISS. You must notify your international advisor within 10 days of any change(s) in your name, address, or employment information.

Please also notify ISS if any major change related to your visa status occurs, such as the following:

• You plan to depart the U.S. prior to your AT end date, with no plans to return and resume AT
• You plan to transfer to another US institution to begin a new program
• You have applied or been approved for a change of status

Travel on AT

When traveling outside of the U.S. with AT approval, the following documents are required:

• Valid Passport
• Valid F-1 Visa
• I-94 Printout marked D/S
• DS-2019 with a valid ARO travel signature (the signature is valid for 1 year)
• Employment letter (stating: start dates, hours, and duties)

You can request a travel signature by bringing your DS-2019 to the Office of International Affairs. If you are no longer living locally, you will need to email your advisor with a request for a travel signature. Do not email a copy of your current DS-2019. Sending copies of your DS-2019 through email to anyone other than the U.S. Department of State is illegal.