J-1 Student Employment Options

J-1 students may engage in two general categories of employment:

Although each type of employment has its own unique criteria and regulatory limits, each type does have one thing in common: You MUST obtain written approval from the Responsible Officer or Alternate Responsible Officer in the Office of International Student, Faculty, & Staff Services prior to beginning any type of employment as a J-1 student.
  • Academic Training:
    • Academic Training is employment within a J-1 student's field of study and is permitted while the student is enrolled or after completion of the program of study.
    • Pre-completion Academic Training: A J-1 student may obtain permission to work off-campus or on-campus, within his/her field of study, part-time (20 hours per week or less) while classes are in session and/or full-time (more than 20 hours per week) during the summer or other officially recognized school breaks. Under certain circumstances, a J-1 student may even interrupt his/her course of study to engage in full-time Academic Training during the academic year (e.g., while working on a thesis/dissertation). Pre-completion Academic Training is limited to 18 months (36 months if the degree being sought is a doctoral degree) or the period of time an individual has been a full-time student, whichever is shorter, unless the employment is a degree requirement.
    • Post-completion Academic Training: Upon completion of his/her degree program, a J-1 student may apply for post-completion Academic Training. This type of employment is limited to 18 months or the period of time an individual has been a full-time student, whichever is shorter, minus any previous periods of Academic Training used prior to completion of the degree. J-1 students who complete doctoral degree are eligible for 36 months of "post-doctoral" Academic Training or the period of time an individual has been a full-time student, whichever is shorter, minus any previous periods of Academic Training used prior to completion of the degree.
    • For specific information regarding application procedures for pre-completion or post-completion Academic Training, please contact a staff member in the Office of International Student, Faculty, & Staff Services.
  • Other Employment Related to Academic Funding, On-Campus Work, or Economic Necessity
    • Employment opportunities for J-1 students are not limited to Academic Training. Rather, students may also be authorized to work within the context of one of the following three options:
    • Employment Required by a Scholarship, Fellowship, or Assistantship: This type of employment takes place on-campus with the university as the employer. For example, a J-1 student may be offered a tuition scholarship or other stipend which is contingent upon the individual working in a research laboratory for a professor. This type of work authorization is almost always directly related to the individual's major field of study. Work must be part-time (20 hours per week or less) while classes are in session but can be full-time (more than 20 hours per week) during the summer or other officially recognized school breaks.
    • On-Campus Employment Unrelated to Major Field of Study: J-1 students may be granted authorization to work on-campus in a job which is unrelated to his/her major field of study. For example, a student could work in the campus bookstore or dining services. Work must be part-time (20 hours per week or less) while classes are in session but can be full-time (more than 20 hours per week) during the summer or other officially recognized school breaks.
    • Employment Authorization Based on Economic Necessity: If other employment opportunities are not available or are otherwise insufficient, J-1 students may be eligible to apply for work authorization based upon unforeseen economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond the student's control (e.g., loss of scholarship or financial aid due to no fault of the student; substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rates, unexpected medical expenses; etc.). This type of employment can take place off-campus and does not have to be related to the student's major field of study, however, work must still be part-time (20 hours per week or less) while classes are in session but can be full-time (more than 20 hours per week) during the summer or other officially recognized school breaks.
    • For specific information regarding application procedures and materials, please contact a staff member in the Office of International Student, Faculty, & Staff Services at The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.