J-1 College and University Student: Study Requirements, Funding, Employment, Academic Training, and Program Duration

# J-1 College and University Student: Study Requirements, Funding, Employment, Academic Training, and Program Duration

The **J-1 College and University Student** category allows eligible international students to participate in qualifying academic and educational exchange programs at U.S. colleges and universities.

It is not another name for the F-1 student visa, and receiving admission from a U.S. university does not by itself make a student eligible for J-1 status.

J-1 students participate through the **Exchange Visitor Program**, which requires a Designated Sponsor and specific qualifying circumstances involving funding, exchange agreements, or an eligible student internship program.

The category can cover degree programs, non-degree study, and qualifying student internships. Whether J-1 is appropriate therefore depends on the student's program, funding, and sponsor—not on whether it appears easier or less expensive than F-1.

## What is the J-1 College and University Student category?

College and University Student is an official category within BridgeUSA.

Under the regulations, participants may take part in:

• Degree-granting programs.
• Non-degree academic programs.
• Qualifying student internship programs.

The academic program must involve an accredited U.S. post-secondary academic institution, and the exchange is intended to promote educational and cultural understanding between international students and their American counterparts.

## Who can qualify?

Admission to a U.S. university alone is not enough.

The Designated Sponsor must select the participant and determine that the student possesses the academic credentials required for the exchange program.

Before issuing Form DS-2019, the sponsor must also ensure that the student has been admitted to the institution or accepted into the qualifying student internship program listed on the form.

J-1 participants must also have sufficient English proficiency to successfully participate in their program and function in everyday life.

Under the Exchange Visitor Program regulations, the sponsor must verify English proficiency through an objective method such as a recognized language test, signed documentation from an academic institution or English-language school, or a documented interview.

In addition, the student must satisfy one of the specific eligibility bases established for the College and University Student category, such as qualifying funding, an exchange agreement, or participation in an eligible student internship.

## What types of study are allowed?

### Degree Programs

A J-1 College and University Student can participate in a degree-granting academic program when the program meets the category requirements.

The regulations do not impose one universal two-year or four-year maximum on degree students.

A degree student may generally remain in the Exchange Visitor Program while pursuing a full course of study at the institution listed on Form DS-2019 and maintaining satisfactory progress toward completing the academic program.

Authorized Academic Training may also form part of the student's program duration.

### Non-Degree Programs

J-1 students can also participate in prescribed non-degree academic programs.

However, the regulations impose an important limit:

**A non-degree program may last no more than 24 months, including Academic Training.**

The student must be enrolled full-time in the prescribed course of study.

### Student Internship Programs

The category also includes a Student Internship option for a foreign national who is enrolled in and pursuing a degree at an accredited post-secondary institution outside the United States.

The U.S. internship must fulfill educational objectives of the student's degree program at the home institution.

Student Interns are subject to additional rules and use Form DS-7002 in addition to Form DS-2019.

## What is the difference between the university and the Designated Sponsor?

The academic institution and the J-1 sponsor can sometimes be the same organization, but they are not automatically the same.

Not every U.S. college or university is authorized to issue Form DS-2019 for this J-1 category.

### The Academic Institution

The institution generally:

• Admits the student academically.
• Provides the academic program.
• Monitors academic progress.
• Provides access to the academic dean or adviser where regulatory approval is required.

### The Designated Sponsor

The Department of State-designated sponsor administers the J-1 exchange program.

Its responsibilities include:

• Determining participant eligibility.
• Verifying English proficiency.
• Checking compliance with category requirements.
• Maintaining required SEVIS information.
• Issuing Form DS-2019.
• Appointing Responsible and Alternate Responsible Officers.
• Authorizing certain employment and Academic Training activities.

Only authorized Responsible Officers and Alternate Responsible Officers may sign Forms DS-2019 for the sponsor.

## What is Form DS-2019 for a J-1 student?

Form DS-2019 is the:

**Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status**

It contains important information about the exchange program, including:

• The participant's J-1 category.
• Sponsor information.
• Program location.
• Program start and end dates.
• Funding information.

The student needs DS-2019 to apply for the J-1 visa.

However, **Form DS-2019 is not a visa and does not guarantee visa issuance**.

The visa application remains subject to a separate decision by a U.S. consular officer.

## What are the J-1 student funding requirements?

Funding is one of the most important distinctions between the J-1 student category and the traditional F-1 academic student route.

The current regulation does **not** establish one universal percentage of external funding that every J-1 student must receive.

Instead, a student may qualify when one of several regulatory bases applies.

These include circumstances in which the student or program is financed directly or indirectly by:

• The U.S. government.
• The government of the student's home country.
• An international organization of which the United States is a member by treaty or statute.

Eligibility may also arise when the program operates under qualifying agreements between governments or educational institutions.

Another route exists where the student is **substantially supported by funding from a source other than personal or family funds**.

For this reason, personal or family funds alone should not automatically be assumed to satisfy the funding-based eligibility provision for the J-1 College and University Student category.

An eligible Student Internship has its own separate basis under the regulation.

Students must also have adequate resources to meet applicable tuition, living, and program costs as required by the sponsor and academic institution.

## How to apply

The typical process is:

1. Receive admission to a qualifying academic program.
2. Confirm eligibility for J-1 through a Designated Sponsor.
3. Provide required academic and funding documentation.
4. Receive Form DS-2019.
5. Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee when required.
6. Complete Form DS-160.
7. Pay the J-1 visa application fee.
8. Schedule a consular interview.
9. Attend the interview and provide the required documents.
10. Wait for the visa decision.
11. If the visa is issued, travel and seek admission to the United States under the applicable entry rules.

University admission and Form DS-2019 do not guarantee visa issuance or admission at the U.S. border.

## J-1 College and University Student fees

Several separate costs may apply.

### Visa Application Fee

The current J nonimmigrant visa application processing fee is:

**US$185**

Certain participants in qualifying officially U.S.-government-sponsored exchange programs with specified program serial numbers may be exempt from the application fee under Department of State rules.

### I-901 SEVIS Fee

The current I-901 SEVIS fee for the J-1 Student category is:

**US$220**

Students should confirm with their sponsor whether they must pay the fee themselves or whether it has already been paid on their behalf.

### Visa Issuance or Reciprocity Fee

An additional visa issuance fee may apply after approval depending on the applicant's **nationality** and the U.S. reciprocity schedule.

There is therefore no universal issuance fee for all J-1 students.

### University and Program Fees

Tuition, insurance, housing, sponsor charges, and other exchange-program costs are separate from the government visa and SEVIS fees.

## Can a J-1 student work while studying?

**Yes, but only under specific rules and with advance authorization.**

A J-1 College and University Student, other than a Student Intern subject to separate rules, may engage in part-time employment in qualifying circumstances.

Permitted situations can include employment:

• Under the terms of a scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship.
• On the premises of the post-secondary academic institution the student is authorized to attend.
• Off campus when necessary because of serious, urgent, and unforeseen economic circumstances that arose after the student acquired exchange visitor status.

To qualify, the student generally must:

• Remain in good academic standing.
• Continue pursuing a full course of study.
• Obtain specific advance written authorization from the Responsible Officer.
• Work no more than **20 hours per week** while school is in session.

The 20-hour limit does not apply in the same way during official school breaks and the student's annual vacation.

These are J-1 employment rules and should not be replaced with F-1 employment rules.

## What is Academic Training?

**Academic Training** is practical training directly related to a J-1 student's major field of study.

It can take place during the academic program or, under the applicable rules, after the student's studies are completed.

Academic Training may be paid or unpaid depending on the circumstances.

The key requirements include:

• The training must be directly related to the student's major field.
• The student must be in good academic standing.
• The academic dean or adviser must support the training.
• The sponsor's Responsible Officer must provide written approval in advance.
• The student's primary purpose in the United States must remain study rather than employment.

For post-completion Academic Training, the training must begin within the regulatory timeframe. Current rules provide that it must commence **no later than 30 days after completion of studies**.

### How long can Academic Training last?

For undergraduate and pre-doctoral students, Academic Training generally may not exceed:

**18 months, or the student's full period of study in the United States, whichever is shorter.**

Additional time may be permitted to the extent necessary to satisfy mandatory training requirements of a U.S. degree program.

For postdoctoral training, the total may reach:

**36 months**

subject to the regulatory limitations and any previous Academic Training.

There are also special initiatives relating to Academic Training in certain STEM fields. Eligibility should be checked for the individual student and program rather than assuming that an extended period applies automatically.

## Can a J-1 student work off campus?

Not as unrestricted employment.

There is an important distinction between:

**authorized Academic Training** directly related to the student's field,

employment approved because of serious, urgent, and unforeseen economic circumstances,

and

ordinary unauthorized off-campus employment.

Students should obtain the required sponsor authorization **before** beginning employment.

Unauthorized employment may jeopardize J-1 status.

## How long can a J-1 student program last?

There is no single duration for every student.

### Degree Students

A degree student may generally remain in the program while:

• Pursuing a full course of study.
• Making satisfactory academic progress.
• Studying at the institution listed on Form DS-2019.

Authorized Academic Training may also be included.

### Non-Degree Students

The maximum period is:

**24 months, including Academic Training.**

### Student Interns

A Student Internship may last for:

**Up to 12 months for each degree/major**

subject to the Student Internship rules.

Students should also distinguish between:

**the J-1 program duration on DS-2019,** **the validity of the visa stamp in the passport,** and **the period of authorized status in the United States.**

They are not necessarily the same thing.

## Can spouses and children receive J-2 visas?

Yes. College and University Student is not one of the J-1 categories that automatically prohibits J-2 dependents.

An eligible spouse and unmarried children under age 21 may qualify for J-2 status when permitted by the specific exchange program and approved by the sponsor.

Each qualifying dependent receives a separate Form DS-2019.

Employment and study rules for J-2 dependents are better addressed in a separate J-2 guide.

## Can the INA 212(e) two-year requirement apply to J-1 students?

Yes, **some students may be subject to it, but it does not apply automatically to every J-1 student**.

The Two-Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement may apply because of factors including:

• U.S. government funding.
• Funding by the government of the participant's nationality or last residence.
• The Exchange Visitor Skills List when the participant's country and field fall within the applicable rules.

The current **2024 Exchange Visitor Skills List** became effective on December 9, 2024.

Because government and institutional funding are common in J-1 exchange programs, students should check their individual 212(e) position rather than assuming that they are—or are not—subject to the requirement.

## J-1 Student vs. F-1 Student

Both categories may allow an international student to study at a U.S. college or university, but their purposes and regulatory structures differ.

| J-1 College and University Student | F-1 Student | | ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------ | | Part of the Exchange Visitor Program | Main academic student classification | | Uses a Designated Sponsor and Form DS-2019 | Uses an SEVP-certifi |