International Center > International Students and Scholars Office > Employment and Internships > J-1 Employment

J-1 Employment

On-Campus Employment 

  • J-1 students are eligible for on-campus work authorization, including employment related to a scholarship or assistantship.
  • The student must be authorized for employment by their Program Sponsor, on form DS-2019, before beginning employment.
  • Employment can be authorized for 12 months at a time.
  • Employment is limited to 20 hours a week during the fall and spring semesters and can be full-time during official school breaks.

To apply, submit the following documents to ISSOJ1@utdallas.edu:

Off-Campus Employment

Academic Training

J-1 students can participate in academic training, either during the students academic program or beginning no later than 30 days after program completion. The process and eligibility is different, depending on whether you are a degree-seeking or non-degree seeking student.

Pre-Completion academic training:

  • Approval is granted up to one year per application. A separate application is needed for extension.
  • Student must maintain full time enrollment.

Post-Completion academic training:

  • Employment Start date is no later than 30-day grace period (after completion of study).
  • 18-month eligibility clock begins on the date the student completed their program.
  • Authorization must be granted before the program end date.

Degree-seeking students (pursuing academic program at UT Dallas)  

Description
  • Can be taken before or after program completion (pre & post).
  • All academic training is counted as full-time.
  • May engage in full-time employment before program completion.
  • Available for a total of 18 months or for a period equal to the length of the study program, whichever is shorter. The total training period may not exceed the period of full course of study.
  • Can be extended only for postdoctoral up to a maximum total of 36 months upon completion of their program.
  • Employment may be paid or unpaid.
  • May work for multiple employers.
  • Authorization is granted by your Program Sponsor.
Eligibility
  • Must be valid J-1 status.
  • Good academic standing.
  • Proposed employment is directly related to your major field of study.
  • Must have a job offer before applying.
  • Receive approval on form DS-2019 before beginning employment.
  • Maintain J status requirements during training, such as enrollment (pre-completion AT), insurance coverage and maintenance of your DS-2019.
Application Process

You must submit your application to the ISSO prior to your DS-2019 program completion date.

Submit the following documents to ISSOJ1@utdallas.edu:

Non-degree seeking student (exchange students)

Due to the exchange agreement between your University and UT Dallas, J-1 exchange students can only be eligible for post-completion academic training with your home university’s approval.

Description
  • Can be taken after program completion (post).
  • All academic training is counted as full-time.
  • Duration up to 4 months, 4-month eligibility clock begin on the date the student completed their program.
  • Employment may be paid or unpaid.
  • May work for multiple employers.
  • Authorization is granted by your Program Sponsor.
Eligibility
  • Must have your home university’s approval
  • Must be valid J-1 status.
  • Good academic standing.
  • Proposed employment is directly related to your major field of study.
  • Must have a job offer before applying.
  • Receive approval on form DS-2019 before beginning employment.
  • Maintain J status requirements during training, insurance coverage, and maintenance of your DS-2019.
Application Process

You must submit your application to the ISSO prior to your DS-2019 program completion date.

Submit the following documents to ISSOJ1@utdallas.edu:

Economic Necessity Employment

  • J-1 students are eligible for off-campus employment due to economic necessity that arose due to unforeseen circumstances after they entered the U.S. in J-1 status.
  • The student must be authorized for employment by their Program Sponsor, on form DS-2019, before beginning employment.
  • This authorization will be for a maximum of one year or for the remainder of your academic program, whichever is less.
  • Employment is limited to 20 hours a week during the fall and spring semesters and can be full-time during official school breaks.
  • J-1 student must submit a letter to explain the circumstances that lead to their economic needs and a budget worksheet indicating their monthly/semester financial needs, how much financial support they have and how much they will need to earn by working off campus. Additionally, they must submit one of the following supporting documents:
    • A signed affidavit from sponsors explaining why they can no longer provide financial support.
    • Recent newspaper articles.
    • Medical bills.
    • Recent exchange rate reports

To apply, submit the J-1 Student Services Request Form and supporting documentation to the ISSOJ1@utdallas.edu.