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• Undergraduate and graduate J-1 students are eligible for up to eighteen months of AT. 
• Any student (graduate or undergraduate) in a program less-than eighteen months may be eligible for a period of AT equivalent to the length time spent in a full-time course of study in the U.S. (i.e. a nine month academic program equates to nine months of AT.)
• Doctoral students are eligible for two 18-month periods of AT. However; the second period is only awarded once the PhD has been completed.
• A student must apply for AT prior to the expiration of the DS-2019 or prior to the completion of the academic program, whichever is earlier.
• It is the responsibility of the student to maintain a valid DS-2019 for the duration of the AT period. If an extension is needed, contact the OISS. Plan ahead!
• Post-Completion AT must be paid employment, or you must provide proof of sufficient funds to support yourself during the training period.
• AT is awarded on a full-time basis—part-time employment is not deducted at a half-time rate.
• The academic training/employment must begin within the first 30 days after the official academic program completion date. Your authorized period of academic training will begin on the day after you complete your studies, whether or not you begin working on this day.  
• It is a requirement by the U.S. Department of State that Academic Training must be completed fully in person or on a hybrid schedule. Hybrid positions may be a maximum of 40% (no more than 2 out of 5 days per week) remote.  Positions that are fully remote are not eligible for Academic Training.

• Student must be in good academic standing.
• Student must be maintaining J-1 status (including maintaining adequate health insurance, as stipulated by the U.S. Dept of State—see p. 2 of Form DS-2019).
• AT employment must be directly related to academic program of study.
• Student must have an offer of employment.

The letter must include all of the following: (Sample Employment Offer Letter)

• Job title
• Brief description of employment
• Start and end dates of employment
• Address of location of employment
• Salary (If unpaid, must provide proof of sufficient funds to support yourself during the training period)
• Number of hours to be worked per week
• Modality of employment (Employment cannot be more than 40% remote)
• Name, address, phone number, and e-mail of direct supervisor

Access the and go to the Documents & Requests section. Select, complete and submit the Academic Training request.

The request will ask for your academic department approver’s information. They will receive an email to approve. Once approved, the request will come to the OISS and it will be processed in 3 business days. 

Students applying for pre-completion AT must apply prior to the start-date of their employment. Any student working off-campus before receiving authorization is in violation of their immigration status. All applications for AT require an offer letter and a completed application in order to be authorized.

• A student must apply for AT before the expiration date listed on the DS-2019 or prior to the completion of the academic program, whichever is earlier.
• Completed applications generally require 3-4 days to process. Plan ahead!

NOTE: PhD students who have completed their programs, and who are currently working in the first 18-month period of AT should apply for the second period of 18-months at least 30-days prior to the end-date of the first 18-month period.

• Travel outside the U.S. before the completion of the academic program at Northwestern requires a valid passport (six-months into the future), valid J-1 visa stamp, and valid DS-2019.
• Travel outside the U.S. after completion of the academic program requires a completed AT application and approval prior to departure. Plan ahead and contact the OISS if you require assistance.

If you wish to change your job/employer, you must complete the entire application procedures outlined above, prior to terminating the already authorized employment, and before beginning the new employment.

If your employment is terminated unexpectedly, your authorization is terminated as well. In this instance, you are required to either leave the U.S. or change your status within 30-days of termination.

Consult the OISS immediately if there are changes in your employment or for any additional questions.

In order to be paid, you are required to provide your employer with a SSN. Visit our Social Security page for more information about applying for an SSN.

As a J-1 student you are exempt from paying Social Security (F.I.C.A.) taxes as long as you remain a "non-resident alien" for tax purposes (see ).

Unless you qualify under a tax treaty between the U.S. and your home country government, your earnings as a J-1 student will be subject to applicable to U.S. federal, state and local taxes, and employers are required by law to withhold those taxes from your paycheck. You are required to file a U.S. federal income tax return by April 15 of the year following the year in which you were employed.