J-1 Employment
On-Campus Employment
On-campus employment is limited to 20 hours per week (including assistantships) during the school year. Full-time employment is permitted during summer and vacation periods.
Authorization Required
All J-1 student employment, including graduate assistantships and non-graduate assistantships (student assistants), must obtain employment authorization from ISSS BEFORE on-campus begins. J-1 students must submit the On-Campus Employment Authorization eform via iStart.
An original employment letter on official letterhead will be uploaded into the e-form. The employment letter must contain all of the following information:
- Employer Name
- Employer Address
- Number of work hours per week
- Beginning and end dates of employment
- Type of employment (assistantship, fellowship or other on-campus)
- Signature of supervisor
Please Note: On-campus authorizations have a maximum duration of 12 months. If the on-campus employment extends beyond 12 months, the J-1 student must submit the On-Campus Employment Authorization e-form again and upload an updated employment letter BEFORE the current authorization expires.
Overview
Regulatory Reference: 22. C.F.R. § 62.23 (f)
J-1 Academic Training (AT) is off-campus employment directly related to a student's field of study. Appropriate activities may vary over disciplines. AT can involve sequential or simultaneous activities, either paid or unpaid, with multiple employers, provided the application approval procedures are followed for each employer and the time limits are not exceeded.
Please Note: Never work or accept off-campus employment without authorization from ISSS in advance. Employment without authorization is a violation of J-1 visa status.
Eligibility
- The student is in good academic standing.
- The student is primarily in the United States (U.S.) to study rather than engage in AT.
- The student is participating in AT that is directly related to his or her major field of study as indicated on his or her Form DS-2019.
- The student receives written approval in advance from ISSS
- AT can only be authorized by the J-1 program sponsor (Georgia State, Department of State, Fulbright, USAID, etc.).
Duration of Academic Training
Time limits are cumulative, so any AT used prior to completion of the study will be deducted from the remaining allowable time available after completion of a degree.
Non-Degree seeking students
Degree-seeking students
Ph.D. students
If you are offered an established Post-Doctoral position you may be authorized for additional 18-months, for a total of 36 months of post-doctoral training, which is the maximum amount.
Part-time/Full-time
- Graduate students who have completed all coursework for the degree and plan to conduct AT that will assist them in the development of their thesis/dissertation
- Undergraduate students who conduct internships that are required of their program or for which they will receive credit
Application Procedures
Students must submit the completed Academic Training Request eform at least two (2) weeks prior to their program end date or their current authorization end date.
Employer Letter
- Job title
- Name of supervisor
- Location of employment
- Proposed start and end dates of employment
- Number of hours per week
Please Note: Salary must be included on this letter if employment occurs post-degree/program completion. If the employment is unpaid, then you will also need to submit financial documents showing that you or your sponsor can cover the cost of living expenses for the required DS-2019 extension.
How to Request Academic Training
- Log into iStart
- From the iStart homepage: click on J-1 Student Services submit the Academic Training Request e-form.
- After submission, an ISSS advisor will review your e-form submission within 3-5 business days and notify you via email of a decision or follow-up for more information.
In this eform, you will provide the name and email of your Academic Advisor (J-1 degree-seeing student) or Program Coordinator (J-1 non-degree seeking student).
Your request will go to that person via email for secondary approval. ISSS cannot approve your Academic Training Request e-form until your secondary approver replies to the request, so make sure they are aware of this process before you submit the e-form.
Required Evaluation
- Log into iStart
- From the iStart homepage: click on J-1 Student Services submit the Academic Training Evaluation e-form.
- After submission, an ISSS advisor will review your e-form submission within 3-5 business days and follow-up for more information if necessary.
Contact Us
Location:
Sparks Hall - Room 252
ISSS, Georgia State University
33 Gilmer St. SE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Telephone: 404-413-2070
Fax: 404-413-2072
Email: isss@gsu.edu
Mailing Address (please use our physical address above for express mail):
International Student and Scholar Services
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3987
Atlanta, GA 30302-3987
USA
Georgia State-sponsored H-1B, TN, O-1, J-1 Scholar and Permanent Residency Petitions
Any advising for employment-based visas, green cards or hosting a J-1 Scholar (Research Scholar, Professor, Short-Term Scholar, Student Intern, Specialist) which are sponsored by Georgia State needs to be set up by appointment after the hiring department has requested the immigration process they wish to sponsor.
Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday
Advising Hours (F-1 & J-1 Students) are as follow:
Monday: 1-4 p.m.
Tuesday: 9 a.m.-noon
Wednesday: 1-4 p.m.
Thursday: No Advising Hours.
Friday: 1-4 p.m.
ISSS is committed to serving you in the safest and most efficient way possible.
QLESS: F-1 and J-1 students wishing to speak with an ISSS advisor at the Atlanta Campus over the phone or in-person must access the QLESS system during advising hours in order to get into our virtual queue. Once in the virtual queue you will receive instructions regarding a call back from one of our available advisors or instructions on when to come into the ISSS lobby to meet an advisor.
If you wish to speak with an ISSS advisor, please click the QLESS link below during advising hours and get into the virtual queue.
Clarkston Campus
Location & Mailing Address:
Building CN 2230 (Student Center)
ISSS, Perimeter College, Clarkston Campus
555 N. Indian Creek Dr.
Clarkson, GA 30021
Telephone: 678-891-3235
Fax: 678-891-3068
Email: issspc@gsu.edu
Dunwoody Campus
Location & Mailing Address:
Building NB
Room 1200
ISSS, Perimeter College, Dunwoody Campus
2101 Womack Rd.
Dunwoody, GA 30338
Telephone: 770-274-5570
Fax: 770-274-5253
Email: issspc@gsu.edu
Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday
Walk-in Advising Hours (F-1 & J-1 Students):
9-11:30 a.m., Monday and Wednesday
1:30-4 p.m., Monday through Friday
Occasionally it may be necessary to make emergency cancellations of advising times last minute. We apologize for any inconvenience.