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The following employment options are available provided you are in good academic standing and are enrolled in a full course of study except for official school breaks and the annual vacation period. You must receive employment authorization in advance by notifying Dr. Petoskey of your job offer (instructions are below).
Employment must total no more than 20 hours per week, except during school breaks and the annual vacation period. Your on-campus employment must be authorized in advance. The employment can be authorized up to 12 months at a time. Notify Dr. Petoskey, who will update your SEVIS record. The SEVIS record update is the authorization. Bring a letter containing the following information to the study abroad office in order for Dr. Petoskey to approve your application.
Employment that is necessary because of serious, urgent and unforeseen economic circumstances that have arisen since acquiring exchange visitor status. Employment on account of economic circumstances may be authorized up to a maximum of 12 months at a time. Employment must total no more than 20 hours per week, except during school breaks. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Petoskey to further discuss your potential opportunities.
Academic Training is training related to your field of study. It can be a job, internship, cooperative education position, or other opportunity to obtain off-campus experience related to your field of study.
Step 1: Find an Academic Training opportunity (job, internship, cooperative education position, etc. related to your studies)
Use campus resources like the career center or your academic department to find opportunities. The training position must start either during your studies or no later than 30 days after you complete your studies.
Step 2: Contact your academic adviser or exchange coordinator for a letter of recommendation. The recommendation letter must be addressed to Dr. Petoskey in the study abroad office.
Provide your academic adviser or exchange coordinator with a copy of your job or internship offer. They will need to evaluate the training opportunity to make sure it relates to your field of study and provides a valuable academic experience.
The recommendation letter from your academic adviser or exchange coordinator must include the following information:
Step 3. Submit the following documents to the study abroad office.
Dependents in J-2 status may request employment authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Income from the J-2's employment may be used to support the family's customary recreational and cultural activities and related travel, among other things. Employment will not be authorized if the income is needed to support the J-1. Employment may be authorized up to twelve months, and may be renewed annually.
The application for employment authorization may take up to 90 days to be processed. If approved, the J-2 will be issued an employment authorization card. The card will have an expiration date, and may be renewed annually. During the period of authorized employment the J-2 may accept any kind of employment, full-time or part-time. The J-2's employment authorization is valid only while the J-1 is maintaining status.
To apply for an employment authorization document (EAD), or to renew a previously approved EAD, mail the following to USCIS:
We advise you to visit the study abroad office and discuss this before starting your application!