Skip to content

Employment

J-1 students in good academic standing may be allowed to work under some circumstances during their J-1 program. Per U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Department of State (DOS) regulations, “work” includes any work-like activities: paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time, on-campus or off-campus, etc. It includes co-ops, externships, internships, shadowing, and most forms of volunteering. 

All employment must be authorized by EVS in writing before any work begins, even for work required by an academic program. 

Fulbright students must contact their IIE Fulbright advisor for employment authorization. 

There are two main categories of employment that J-1 students may be eligible for. They are Student Employment and Academic Training. Please review each category below carefully, as each has its own eligibility requirements and regulations. 

Student Employment (On-Campus Employment) 

You may work on campus if you obtain proper authorization from EVS. The authorization must be obtained before any work begins, even if the work is required by your academic program. 

On-campus employment must: 

  • Be authorized in writing by EVS prior to the start of employment.  
  • Be part-time (20 hours or fewer per pay week) whenever classes are in session. 
    • You may work additional hours during official academic breaks during the semester (i.e. Spring Break). 
    • You may work additional hours between semesters if you will return to classes the following semester. 
    • Click here for a breakdown of allowed work hours. 
  • Cease once you complete your academic program. 
  • On-campus employment typically falls into one of three categories: 
    • Work on school premises, employed by the University of Florida (e.g., assistantships). 
    • Work on school premises, employed by on-campus commercial firms (e.g., eFollett/UF Bookstore and Chartwells/Florida Fresh; not W. W. Gay Construction). 
    • Work off campus that is treated as on-campus employment.  
      • This is typically limited to graduate student research. 
      • Activity must be an integral part of your academic program and either part of an established curriculum or contractually funded post-graduate research project. 

To request employment authorization, you must contact your EVS advisor. 

Academic Training (On-Campus or Off-Campus) 

Academic training is a type of employment directly related to your area of study. Academic Training is primarily used following graduation, though it may also be approved during your degree program on a limited basis.  

An academic training program must be: 

  • Authorized in writing by EVS advisor before any activity begins. 
  • Recommended by the student’s academic advisor. 
  • Designed to apply the knowledge and skills learned during the academic program. 
  • Cannot be primarily unskilled labor or clerical work. 
  • Involve at least 3 out of 5 days per week of in-person activities. Remote positions are not eligible for Academic Training. 
  • Limited to a period of 18 months, unless: 
    • If your academic program is shorter than 18 months, the academic training period cannot be longer than the program itself. 
    • If you are pursuing postdoctoral training, you may be eligible for up to 36 months of academic training. 
    • If you have already used part or all of the 18 months during an earlier degree in the same J program, you do not get that time back. 
      • For example, if you used 18 months of academic training during your Bachelor's degree and are now in a Master's program as part of the same J program, you do not have any more academic training left for your Master's program.  

Important Considerations 

  • Academic Training is considered full-time employment, even if you are working part time. 
  • Self-employment is not eligible for Academic Training. 
  • Academic Training may involve multiple consecutive and/or simultaneous activities. 
    • These activities may be paid or unpaid, with one or more employers, as long as you receive proper authorization and follow all regulations. 
  • Post-Completion Academic Training must begin within 30 days of your Form DS-2019 end date.  
  • Prior to graduation, the primary purpose of your program is to make regular progress towards completing your degree. As such, Pre-Completion Academic Training will only be approved in limited circumstances.  

Academic Training Application 

To apply, you must email the following documents to your EVS advisor: 

Initial Approval of an Academic Training Position 

Extension of an Academic Training Position 

 

  • Offer letter from potential employer, on letterhead, stating: 
      
    • A description of employment/training activities 
    • Start and end date 
    • Number of hours per week 
    • Name and physical address of your primary site of activity (cannot be your residence) 
    • Supervisor’s name, work phone number, and work email address 
    • Whether you will receive health insurance through the employer. 

 

  • Recommendation letter from your UF faculty advisor, stating: 

 

  • The goals and objectives of the training program. 
  • How the training relates to your field of study. 
  • Why it is an integral part of your academic program. 

 

  • Proof of sufficient health insurance for the first 60 days of Academic Training 
    • If you will receive benefits: 
      • Provide proof of 60 days of private health insurance, since employee benefits can take up to 60 days to process. For a list of pre-approved plans, click here.
      • Once employee benefits are active, you must then email proof of your employee health insurance to evs@ufic.ufl.edu. 
      • You may also need to purchase supplemental BETA Scholastic Insurance depending on your coverage. To enroll, click here. 
    • If you will not receive benefits: 
      • You must purchase your own private coverage for the remainder of the academic training period. 
  • Personal (non-UF) email address 

 

  • Proof of sufficient health insurance 
      
  • Offer letter from current employer, on letterhead, stating: 
      
    • A description of employment/training activities 
    • Start and end date 
    • Number of hours per week 
    • Name and physical address of your primary site of activity (cannot be your residence) 
    • Supervisor’s name, work phone number, and work email address 
    • Whether you will receive health insurance through the employer. 
    • The letter must also indicate whether your work performance has been satisfactory. 

NOTES 

  • Depending on the dates on the offer letter, up to 18 months of Academic Training may be authorized at one time. If the dates exceed 18 months, only 18 months will be authorized initially, and an extension request will be required. 
  • A new recommendation letter from your UF faculty supervisor is required for each new position.  
    • A new recommendation letter is not required for an extension of the same position; however, the current employer must evaluate your work performance in the offer letter or a separate letter. 
  • You must have a doctorate and be employed in your field of study to qualify for the second 18 months of Academic Training.  
  • Extensions can only be requested up to 90 days prior to the end date of the initial authorization. 

Exceptional Circumstances 

Unforeseen Economic Circumstances 

Students may be permitted to work off-campus if they face serious, urgent, and unforeseen economic circumstances. This option is reviewed strictly and requires extensive proof of economic hardship. 

Off-campus employment of this kind must: 

  • Be authorized in writing by EVS. 
  • Be part-time (fewer than 20 hours per pay week) and for a limited period. 
  • Be a result of new circumstances that arose after the student’s program began. 
    • Qualifying circumstances may include global events that affect a student’s home country causing significant and rapid currency devaluation, unforeseen severe medical problems (which causes an economic hardship on the visitor after arrival in the US), etc. 

To apply for employment based on unforeseen economic circumstances, you must email your EVS advisor a statement describing your situation, along with supporting documentation. This documentation must provide a detailed explanation why off-campus employment is necessary. Please note that this approval requires extensive proof of economic hardship due to extraordinary situations. 

Special Student Relief 

Please contact EVS for more details if you are from a country for which the Department of State (DOS) has published a notice in the Federal Register outlining Special Student Relief (SSR) arrangements.  

Volunteering 

Many international students are interested in volunteering their time during their stay in the United States. Volunteering may take a number of forms, such as helping out in a food bank, a nonprofit like Habitat for Humanity, or another charitable project. Some students may be interested in volunteering in a company in their field to gain some real-world experience. While the issue of volunteering may seem clear (“I’m not getting paid, therefore I am not working”), it is actually a complex area in which immigration regulations and labor law intersect. Some of these activities are legally acceptable, and some are not.  

If you are interested in volunteering, you must be aware of the relevant regulations so that you do not violate these regulations by accident, which could result in major consequences for unauthorized employment. Continue reading below for more information to help determine if an activity is truly volunteering or engaging in unpaid employment. 

Volunteering Guidelines 

When considering volunteering, ask these questions first: 

  1. 1 - Are the services performed for civic, charitable, or humanitarian purposes? 
  2. 2 - Are the services entirely voluntary, with no direct or indirect pressure by the employer, with no promise of advancement and no penalty for not volunteering? 
  3. 3 - Does the proposed service impair the employment opportunities of others by performing work that would otherwise be performed by paid employees? Are the services provided the same as services provided by someone who is paid? 
  4. 4 - Is there any expectation of compensation either now or in the future for these services? (Gift card, wages, cash, etc.) 
  5. 5 - Are fundraising activities involved, such as selling art or food? 
  6. 6 - Are the activities within your professional expertise? 

You should be able to answer “yes” to questions 1 and 2, and “no” to questions 3-6. If not, it is likely that the proposed volunteer activity is unpaid employment and could subject both you and the employer to heavy penalties. However, if such an activity meets the requirements for student employment or academic training, you can still apply for authorization through those routes.  

You must consult your EVS advisor before you begin any volunteering that may fall within your professional expertise, even for charitable purposes. If you could list an activity on your resume, or if you are unsure if something qualifies as volunteering, consult EVS. 

If an exchange visitor violates these regulations, even accidentally, they may lose J-1 visa status or face other serious immigration penalties. 

For more information, please contact EVS.