J-1 On and Off Campus Employment

On-Campus Employment 

Department of State regulation 22 C.F.R. § 62.23(g)(2) states that a J-1 students may engage in on campus employment as provided in paragraph (g)(1) of this section if the:
  • Student is in good academic standing at the post-secondary accredited academic institution
  • Student continues to engage in a full course of study, except for official school breaks and the student's annual vacation
  • Employment totals no more than 20 hours per week, except during official school breaks and the student's annual vacation
  • 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 Such approval may be valid up to 12 months, but is automatically withdrawn if the student's program is transferred or terminated.

Top 6 Reminders for On Campus Employment:
  • New students must complete the check in with ISS. The student’s record must be active in the SEVIS system in order to be eligible for on campus employment.
  • Do not work on campus without written authorization from ISS Students will need to receive written authorization from ISS BEFORE beginning employment. If your employment changes in anyway (i.e. position title, department, etc.) you will notify to ISS immediately. It is your responsibility to request renewal of your employment authorization every 12 months or on the date your authorization from ISS expires, whichever comes first.
  • You may work 20 hours a week while school is in session and full time during the vacation periods (winter, spring, and summer break)
  • You are not eligible to work on campus after completion of your academic program.After the completion of your academic program includes graduation, if you receive a Letter of Completion from the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies (OGAPS), or after the expiration date on your DS-2019. Whichever one comes first. If you have questions on when you are required to stop working on campus please contact ISS. If you receive an updated DS-2019 from ISS you are required to notify payroll of any change in your eligibility to work on campus.
  • You are not eligible to work on campus if you violate your status in any way. Students who have fallen out of legal immigration status as well as students with a reinstatement application pending with DHS (in attempt to re-gain legal immigration status) are not permitted to work on-campus.
  • You are not eligible for on campus employment at Texas A&M University if you transfer to another institution. If you plan to transfer out from Texas A&M University, you are no longer eligible to work once ISS transfers your SEVIS record to a new institution.
If you work on campus without proper authorization you will be in violation of the exchange visitor program. As a result your J-1 SEVIS record will be subject to termination and you may be required to exit the U.S. to try to regain your immigration status.
  1. New students must complete the check in with ISS.
  2. Students with a DS-2019 issued from Texas A&M University must receive written authorization from ISS BEFORE the student will be eligible to work. Please submit a “J-1 On-campus Employment” request via Terra Dotta. Students should be prepared to upload an employment offer letter within their request. The letter must include the following information:
    • Student name (as it is listed on the student’s passport), including middle name, if applicable.
    • Department
    • Position/Title
    • Start Date
    • End Date
    • Number of Hours per week
    • Rate of pay
    • Contact information for employer and supervisor
  3. Once ISS has received your request, an ISS advisor will update your on-campus employment authorization in your J-1 SEVIS record.
  4. If you do not have a Social Security Number, you can request one when you submit the “J-1 On-campus Employment” request via Terra Dotta.
  5. You will receive an email from ISS about your J-1 on-campus employment authorization request is completed.
    • The SSN letter is ready for pick up in the ISS office, if applicable.
  6. You should update your HR representative once you receive the email from ISS about your J-1 on-campus employment authorization request is completed.
  7. Pay attention to the end date of your J-1 on-campus employment authorization. You must renew it before it expires.
  8. If you are currently a sponsored student, you are strongly advised to contact your sponsor to ensure that your work does not violate the conditions of your sponsorship. Failure to obtain the consent of your sponsor about your employment may impact your funding. Texas A&M University will notify your sponsor that you have requested and received authorization to work.
  9. Before employing students who are Iranian citizens, departments must file the Supplemental Work Authorization Form for Iranian Students with ISS
How many hours may I work on-campus?
You are limited to 20 hour work weeks while school is in session, but may work full-time during vacation periods. Vacation time is defined as summer semester, spring break, and winter break.

When may I begin on-campus employment?
Upon initial entry to begin a new course of study, you may not begin on-campus employment more than 30 days prior to the actual start of classes and must complete the check in with ISS. Students transferring into Texas A&M University may begin on-campus employment after their SEVIS release date and after completing the check in with ISS. As a J-1 student you must also request and receive the written authorization from ISS BEFORE beginning on campus employment.

When must I stop working on campus?
  • If you change employers on campus, you must stop working and request ISS to update your on campus employment information in the SEVIS system. You must not begin working in your new employer until you have received written authorization from ISS with the new employer information, start, and end date per Department of State regulations.
  • Students are no longer eligible for on-campus employment after the day of their graduation or the expiration date on the DS-2019; whichever comes first.
  • Students are no longer eligible for on-campus employment after receiving the Letter of Completion.
  • Students who have fallen out of legal immigration status as well as students with a reinstatement application pending with DHS (in attempt to re-gain legal immigration status) are not permitted to work on-campus.

Students must inform their on-campus employer of any changes to their form DS-2019. It is the student’s responsibility to know when they must stop working on campus. Failure to inform their department of a change in their form DS-2019 may result in the student to engage in unauthorized on-campus employment per Department of State regulations.

Where may I work on-campus?
  • On-campus employment must be performed on the school’s premises.
  • Students must be on Texas A&M payroll unless they are employed in an on-campus position that provides services to students, such as a position with the MSC Bookstore.
  • Students may not work on the school’s premises for a commercial firm that is not providing direct on-campus services for students, for example, a construction site for a new building.


How do I obtain authorization to work on-campus?

To obtain proper approval, and written authorization before you begin working, please submit a scanned copy of your job offer letter to ISS. The letter should state the position title, department and exact start/end dates of your employment. If you are a currently sponsored student, you are strongly advised to contact Sponsored Student Programs and your sponsor to ensure that your work does not violate the conditions of your sponsorship. Failure to obtain the consent of your sponsor about your employment may impact your funding. Texas A&M University will notify your sponsor that you have requested and received authorization to work. Once ISS has received your letter and verified you are eligible you will receive written authorization for the academic year. Please allow 5-10 business days to receive your written authorization. Remember, the Responsible Officer or Alternate Responsible Officer in ISS, for Texas A&M University, must approve J-1 student employment BEFORE it begins. Additional reporting requirements state that you must do the following to maintain your J-1 status:

  1. Written Authorization must be authorized annually (every 12 months)
  2. If your employment changes (ie. Department, or position title) you must obtain new written authorization. You must follow the same procedures for written authorization when these changes or annual renewal occur. You will no longer be eligible for employment if you graduate, engage in pre-completion Academic Training, or violate your immigration status in any way. International Student Services will notify you, the student, and your payroll office should you no longer be eligible for employment prior to the end date of this employment authorization letter.
     


Off-Campus Employment or Research 

J-1 students may request work authorization for off-campus employment. Students may request Academic Training for off campus employment when:
 
  • The training is directly related to his/her field of study listed on the DS-2019
  • The training is an integral or critical part of his/her academic program
  • The student is in good academic standing and in a legal program status

There are two types of Academic Training:
 
  • Pre-completion Academic Training occurs before the student has completed his/her academic program.
  • Post-completion Academic Training will occur after the completion of his/her academic program. If the training will occur after completion of a program, the start date of the training must be within 30 days of the date they complete the program.

Although no Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is required from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); ISS provides an official letter of authorization for a specific job, for specific dates, with a specific employer. Changes in employment conditions require a new authorization letter.

If you work off-campus without proper authorization from International Student Services (ISS) you will be in violation of the exchange visitor program. As a result your J-1 SEVIS record will be subject to termination and you will be required to exit the U.S. to try to regain your immigration status. Do not leave the U.S. without meeting with an ISS advisor first.

A student who receives approval for pre-completion Academic Training or post-completion Academic Training may not engage in on-campus employment in a student worker or graduate assistant position.
  1. Students must review the ISS Academic Training website.
  2. Students will meet with their academic department to discuss the Academic Training opportunity.
  3. Students will collect all documents as stated on the ISS Academic Training website.
  4. Students will submit a complete application to ISS.
  5. The RO/ARO will review the application and provide written authorization for the student to work off campus in the form of an updated DS-2019 and letter. The letter will state the exact dates of employment, location, and employer information.
  6. Students with a DS-2019 issued from Texas A&M University must receive written authorization from ISS BEFORE the student will be eligible to work.

Current Students