Academic Training (AT)

• Must be "primarily in the United States to study rather than engage in AT" [22 CFR 62.23(f)(3)(i)]
• Be in good academic standing and in compliance with J-1 regulations.
• Request an Academic Training Advising Appointment with a J-1 advisor before beginning your search for potential AT position.
• Discuss your plans to pursue Academic Training with your academic advisor including potential goals and objectives for the Academic Training.
• Use University Career Services resources to help with your search.
• Review position descriptions and AT requirements to confirm AT meets requirements. Contact your J-1 advisor if you have any questions.
• Confirm potential pre-completion AT start date is after completion of relevant classes listed on AT application.
• Confirm potential post-completion AT start date is within 30 days after completion of relevant classes listed on AT application or within 30 days of academic program completion for doctoral students.
• Communicate with supervisor and advisors about Academic Training approval requirements and deadlines.
• Complete your section of the AT application. Request AT supervisor and advisor to complete their sections.
• Gather the required documents to submit with your request.
• Securely submit via the J-1 Dynamic Form by deadline.

• Training activities must be critical or integral to the academic program. AT must "consist of bona fide training activities that are connected to a substantial academic framework and are designed to expose participants to the operations of their field."
• AT must "prioritize academic objectives and are not driven by the labor needs of a host organization"
• AT should consist of "primarily substantive roles (e.g., shadowing managers, participating in project design, management, or event planning) that involve no more than infrequent non-substantive tasks." Unskilled placements do not qualify. Non-substantive tasks that are appropriate to the placement (such as clerical duties) must not be more than 20% of duties.
• Self-employment and remote work positions are not possible.
• AT must be predominately (60% or more) in person. Thus, no more than two days a week of telework is allowed if the employer already has a telework policy in place and it has been pre-approved by OIPS.
• AT must follow all other J-1 regulations.
• If there will be physical contact with human participants or animal subjects as part of the AT, please reach out to a J-1 advisor for specific guidance before applying for the position.
• All sites of work activities for the AT must in the United States.
• Students and placements must agree to the required monitoring plan and evaluations.
• If the proposed Academic Training is post-completion, it must be paid.

Pre-Completion of J-1 program: Submit the complete application to OIPS at least 3 weeks before you plan to start AT.

Post-Completion of J-1 program: Submit the complete application to OIPS at least 3 weeks before the end of your J-1 program completion date. Your completion date may be different from your GMU academic program end date. J-1 completion date could be whichever of the following is first:

• End date on DS-2019 Form
• Last GMU exam for nondegree, Bachelor’s and Master’s students.
• Doctoral Defense Date

Post-Completion Insurance Requirement: Students applying for post-completion AT are required to have insurance coverage that meets J-1 regulations for themselves and any J-2 dependents. Submit all the required documents first. After reviewing the documents, OIPS will confirm if AT will be approved or not. If approved, students will then need to submit proof health insurance that meets the J requirements before the employment authorization letter is provided.

AT length cannot exceed the time spent in the program of study (enrolled in classes). GEO students may participate in AT after completing one semester at GMU. Students applying for post-completion AT must request that their home university mobility coordinator email [email protected] to confirm approval of their delayed return due to Academic Training. Email your home university early in the process in order to receive a reply by the OIPS deadline.

Exchange students studying at GMU through the Global Education Office (GEO) should email [email protected] at least a week before the OIPS deadline and include:

• The J1 Student Academic Training Application.
• AT Recommendation Form with student section completed.
• The completed Academic Training Placement Form and Placement Offer Letter.

China 121 students are eligible to participate in AT after completing one year at GMU. AT length must not exceed the time spent in the program of study (enrolled in classes).

China 121 students should email [email protected] at least a week before the deadline to alert the Academic Manager of your intention to apply for AT and to discuss how it will fit in with your academic plan. The Academic Manager will sign your AT application form in addition to your Academic Advisor. As you are applying to AT, contact your Academic Advisor to confirm how far in advance they need to complete the required OIPS form by the deadline. When your AT documents are ready, you will need to provide your Academic Advisor the following:

• The J1 Academic Training Form.
• AT Recommendation Form with student section completed.
• The completed Academic Training Placement Form and Academic Training Offer Letter.

• Graduate students are encouraged to touch base with OIPS often about their Academic Training plans so that they have a clear understanding of the guidelines and how the timing relates to their specific case.
• Remember that your current DS-2019 form end date is only an estimation of your J-1 program completion. Students are required to inform OIPS promptly if they are completing their program early. OIPS must shorten your DS-2019 form if you complete your academic requirements earlier than 15 days before the end date on your current DS-2019 form.
• Doctoral students interested in post-completion AT should schedule their defense as close as possible to the end of the semester to maintain the full-time J-1 requirement of “enrollment in an academic program of classroom participation and study, and/or doctoral thesis research.”
• Doctoral students may be eligible for full-time AT after their defense.

As you are applying to AT, contact your Academic Advisor to confirm how far in advance they need to complete the required OIPS form by the deadline. When your AT documents are ready, you will need to provide your Academic Advisor the following:

• The J1 Academic Training Form.
• AT Recommendation Form with student section completed.
• The completed Academic Training Placement Form and Placement Offer Letter.