International Student and Scholar Services

Academic Training

J-1 students in good academic standing may be eligible for employment authorization in the form of Academic Training for a period of up to 18 months or the length their program, whichever is shorter.

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Important Announcement: Due to significantly increased program administration costs, ISSS will be charging an administrative fee for post-completion Academic Training requests received for start dates beginning September 1, 2026. Fee payment must be uploaded into the ISSS Gateway when requesting post-completion Academic Training. Fee policies will vary depending on the length of academic training requested. For more information about the fee amount, go to the ISSS Administrative Fees page.

Academic Training: Main Features

Academic training must be directly related to their field of study, and may occur during or after completion of their academic program.
The amount of academic training available is 18 months or the length of the program, whichever is shorter. For example, a student engaged in 9 months of degree study would be eligible for a maximum of 9 months.
Post-doctoral students may participate in an additional 18 months of post-doctoral research up to a total of 36 months.
The total amount of available training is inclusive of any prior academic training in the United States as an exchange visitor. For example, a master's degree student who used 18 months of academic training at another program prior to transferring to Brown would not have any additional academic training available, unless they matriculated into and completed a doctoral program.
During the authorized academic training period, the U.S. Department of State requires the J-1 student (and all J-2 dependents) to continue compliant health insurance coverage until the end of the student’s J-1 status.

Eligibility

In valid J-1 status
Obtained offer for position (paid or unpaid) that is directly related to field of study
Has not exceeded maximum amount of allowable Academic Training
Has unexpired DS-2019
If applying for post-completion Academic Training, the employment starts no later than 30 days following completion of degree requirements

Application Procedures

Upload the following to ISSS no later than 2 weeks prior to start of employment or, in the case of post-completion Academic Training, no later than 2 weeks prior to end of academic program.

An employer offer letter with begin/end date(s), job duty description and pertinent salary information
Copy of most recent DS-2019
Copy of J-1 visa
I-94 printout with most recent entry

You and your department chair, academic advisor or graduate advisor will need to provide the following:

The goals and objectives of the specific training program, and an evaluation of the effectiveness and appropriateness of the program in achieving the stated goals and objectives;
A description of the training program, including its location, the name and address of the employer and training supervisor, number of hours per week, and specific dates of the training;
How the training relates to the student's major field of study;
Why it is an integral or critical part of the academic program of the J-1 student;
The completion or the expected completion date of the academic program.

Academic Training Authorization and Student Responsibilities

Employment can start only after the student has received the new DS-2019 from OISSS with the Academic Training and the start date on the authorization has been reached.
Any change in employer MUST be approved by ISSS prior to changing employers.
Students must continue to update ISSS with any change in U.S. residential address within 10 days of the change.
Students must continue to maintain compliant health insurance coverage (for J-1 and all J-2 dependents) for the length of the J-1 program, including any pre- and post-completion Academic Training.