Quicklinks

• On-Campus Employment
  • What counts as On-Campus Employment?
  • Application Process
• Off-Campus Employment (Academic Training)
  • What is Academic Training?
  • Eligibility for Academic Training
  • Application Deadline
  • Application Steps
  • Academic Training Authorization

On-Campus Employment

• J-1 students must obtain written work authorization before starting any on-campus employment. To obtain work authorization follow the instructions below for students with a DS-2019 from SJSU.
• Work authorization is job specific. If there are significant changes to your employment or you change jobs, then you must complete this form again. You cannot work beyond your authorized employment end date. You may use this form to request a Social Security Number (SSN) support letter. 
• Work is limited to part-time (not to exceed 20 hours per week) when school is in session.

What counts as on-campus employment?

• Employment on the SJSU campus (Examples: teaching assistant, student assistant, Spartan Shop student worker, etc.)
• Work performed on the SJSU campus for a commercial firm providing direct services to students (Example: Jamba Juice, Panda Express, Subway. etc.)
• Employment at an off-campus location educationally affiliated with SJSU. The educational affiliation must be associated with your academic department's established curriculum or related to contractually funded projects at the postgraduate level, and be an integral part of your educational program.

Application Process 

• Obtain an official and signed employment offer letter from SJSU.
• Complete the J-1 Student On-Campus Employment Authorization Request eform in iSpartan.
  • Processing time is 3-5 business days.
• Once processed, you will receive an email with an updated DS-2019 and on-campus authorization letter. Social Security Number (SSN) Support Letter and instructions on applying will be sent as well, if you do not already have an SSN. Once you have these documents, then you can work within the authorized period on your on-campus authorization letter and for the specified department on-campus.

Off-Campus Employment: Academic Training

What is Academic Training?

Academic Training (AT) is a type of off-campus work authorization in a student’s field of study available to J-1 degree seeking and non-degree seeking students. AT is intended to provide experiential learning that is an integral part of the program of study. Training can be paid or unpaid. Students must obtain authorization from his/her J-1 program sponsor, institution, that issued the DS-2019 BEFORE they can start working. San Jose State University J-1 exchange students must request authorization from ISSS. Students sponsored by other universities or institutions (Fulbright, ISEP, LASPAU) should check with their program sponsor for information about Academic Training.

Exchange Students: The amount of Academic Training, cannot exceed your exchange period. For example: Your exchange program is 9 months, therefore you cannot exceed 9 months of work authorization.

Eligibility for Academic Training

• Student is primarily in the U.S. to study rather than engage in Academic Training.
• Student is in good academic standing at SJSU.
• Student is participating in Academic Training that is directly related to his or her major field of study, which is indicated on their DS-2019.
  
• Academic Training may be used before the completion of degree/exchange program for a maximum of 20 hours per week during the fall and/or spring semester or full-time in summer.  
• After completion of the degree/exchange program, full-time (more than 20 hours per week) AT may be granted.
  Period of Academic Training not to exceed the time spent in the program of study. For example, non-degree exchange students engaging in a 4-month course of non-degree study can only be authorized for no more than 4 months of AT. 

Application Deadline 

• Pre-Completion: Submit your application at least 15 days pior to the requested AT start date.
• Post-Completion: Submit your applicatiion at least 30 days before the completion of your exchange program AND at least 14 days before the DS-2019 expires. 

Application Steps

• Obtain an internship or job offer which is related to your major for your exchange program, which is indicated on your DS-2019. Be sure the offer or employment letter contains all of the following criteria:
  • On company letterhead;
  • Includes employer/company name and address;
  • Includes job title and description of job duties or tasks;
  • Includes start and end date;
  • Includes the number of hours to be worked per week;
  • Includes salary or compensation (if paid);
  • Includes supervisor’s name, title, phone number and email address;
  • If you are working remotely, then this should be indicated on your offer letter, including the address where you will be working. 
• Submit the J-1 Student Academic Training Request in iSpartan. In this request you will need to upload offer letter.
  • For post-completion AT requests: submit proof of finance to support an extension of program, for the entire period of Academic Training. The minimum funding requirement is $3,000/month for self, $1,500/month for spouse, $1,000/month per child.  

Academic Training Authorization

• You are required to continue to carry health insurance that meets U.S. Department of State’s minimum coverage requirements for yourself and all J-2 dependents for the duration of your program, including Academic Training. Failure to maintain health insurance coverage will result in termination of your J-1/J-2 record.
• Once ISSS has authorized Academic Training, we will email you the updated DS-2019 and with Academic Training work authorization and employment authorization letter. SSN Support Letter and instructions on applying will be sent as well, if you do not alreadh have an SSN.Once you have these documents, then you can work with the authorized period and specified employer on your Academic Training employment authorization letter.