Academic Training

J-1 Academic Trainingis training related to your field of study and requires authorization from the Kearney Center.

Training could be in the form of a job, internship, research position, cooperative education position, or other opportunity to obtain experience that furthers your academic objective.

Use campus resources like the Career Development Center or your academic department to find training opportunities. Then, apply for Academic Training authorization through your immigration advisor at the Kearney Center.

Academic Training can be paid or unpaid.

Pre-authorization from the Kearney Center is always required for:

Off-campus academic training opportunities
On- or off-campus academic training opportunities that extend beyond the end of your exchange program

When to Apply

You can apply for Academic Training authorization from your immigration advisor in the Kearney Center at any time during your studies.
You must have an offer for a training opportunity before you submit your Academic Training application to the Kearney Center (authorization is specific to your job/internship/training opportunity)

Academic Training is limited to 18 months or the length of your studies, whichever is shorter. This includes training both before and after completion of studies. The total training period may not exceed the amount of time spent in the full course of study.
All Academic Training is full-time, even if employment is on a part-time basis.
Kearney Center processing time is ten business days for all Academic Training applications, so you must apply at least ten business days prior to your requested Academic Training start date.
You must receive Academic Training authorization from the Kearney Center before starting your Academic Training.

How to Apply

Submit the following documents to the Kearney Center for International Student Services no less than ten days before the Academic Training begins:

A letter of recommendation from your academic adviser. The letter must state your degree candidacy and the date you will complete your studies and set forth:

1. the goals and objectives of the specific training program
2. a description of the training program, including its location, the name and address of the training supervisor, number of hours per week, and start and end dates of the training
3. how the training relates to your field of study
4. why it is an integral or critical part of your academic program

Passport, I-94 card, and DS-2019
Funding documents