J-1 On-Campus Work/Employment Information
ATTENTION: J-1 students MUST receive approval BEFORE beginning any on- or off-campus work/employment (paid or unpaid). Engaging in unauthorized work/employment violates U.S. immigration regulations and can result in severe consequences, including the termination of a student’s immigration status, requiring their immediate departure from the U.S.
- U.S Work/Employment Overview
- Defining On-Campus Work/Employment
- Limitations For On-Campus Work/Employment
- J-1 On-Campus Work/Employment Information
- Important Reminders
- Additional Resources
U.S. Work/Employment Overview
Important Information For MIT International Students: U.S. federal regulations impose strict limitations on work/employment opportunities for international students. International students enrolled in an MIT degree program are eligible for limited on-campus work/employment.
Defining On-Campus Work/Employment
The U.S. government defines work/employment-related activities by the “nature of the work/employment-related activities, services, and/or duties performed”, regardless of whether it’s paid or unpaid, for a company outside the U.S. and/or a non-U.S. company. If a student provides a service or benefit to an employer, organization, or individual, proper work/employment authorization is required.
U.S. Work/Employment Categories
On-Campus: “On-Campus” work/employment is defined as activities exclusively for MIT, at MIT, and/or funded by MIT (i.e., salary, stipends, fellowships, RA/TA-ships, housing benefits, honorarium, etc.).
- All J-1 degree-seeking international students are REQUIRED to obtain prior authorization from the ISO, or their J-1 program sponsor (e.g., Fulbright, etc.) BEFORE starting any on-campus work/employment.
Off-Campus: “Off-Campus” work/employment is defined as activities that DO NOT meet the “On-Campus” work/employment criteria, requiring prior authorization from the ISO and/or USCIS. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Activities performed at MIT, but they are not for MIT and/or funded by MIT.
- Activities with a professor’s private company/companies.
- Consulting or freelance work/employment.
- Participation in another MIT student’s and/or professor’s startup.
- Activities with/for a company outside the U.S.
- Mentor/Mentee relationships in company/start-up.
- Team project that provides a service/benefit.
- Activities conducted at another school, university, institution, lab, etc.
Limitations For On-Campus Work/Employment
The total number of hours for on-campus work/employment is subject to a strict weekly limit, which includes the combined hours of ALL on-campus work/employment activities.
- During Required Academic Terms: During a program’s required academic terms (e.g., fall and spring), on-campus work/employment is limited to 20 hours per week or LESS.
- During Official Vacation Terms: During a program’s official vacation term (e.g., summer and IAP), students may work more than 20 hours per week, but ONLY if their program/department does not require coursework or enrollment during those terms.
IMPORTANT: Research Assistantships (RA), Teaching Assistantships (TA), and Fellowship Awards with service components count as on-campus work/employment at 100% and are considered equivalent to the 20-hour weekly limit for international students. However, some Fellowship Awards without service components may not be categorized as on-campus work/employment. Students should confirm with their academic department if unsure.
J-1 On-Campus Work/Employment Information
On-Campus Work/Employment Information For J-1 Students: Understanding U.S. immigration rules and regulations regarding work/employment is crucial for a student’s success in the U.S. MIT international students should thoroughly review the information on this webpage while also maintaining clear documentation (i.e., department job letters, etc.) of their on-campus work/employment details.
ATTENTION: J-1 on-campus employment can ONLY be authorized for a maximum of twelve (12) months at a time. As a result, J-1 students MUST renew their on-campus work/employment authorization annually.
Guidelines For J-1 On-Campus Work/Employment
- J-1 students must be enrolled full-time and maintain their J-1 status to be eligible for on-campus work/employment.
- J-1 on-campus work/employment can ONLY be authorized by a student’s J-1 Program Sponsor (e.g., the ISO, Fulbright, etc.).
- J-1 students MUST receive approval BEFORE beginning any on-campus work/employment (paid or unpaid).
- Separate J-1 on-campus work/employment requests are REQUIRED for each on-campus job/position.
- For MIT-sponsored J-1 students, work/employment authorization requests take up to 10 business days to process once a complete request is submitted to iMIT. See the How To Request J-1 On-Campus Work/Employment section below.
- Non-MIT-sponsored J-1 students must contact their J-1 Program Sponsor to obtain both on and off-campus work/employment authorization BEFORE beginning any on or off-campus work/employment (paid or unpaid).
Special Guidelines For J-1 UROP Participation
J-1 students participating in a paid or for-credit Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) must maintain clear documentation of their UROP details. BEFORE engaging in any UROP activities, they must follow the guidelines outlined above, along with the following additional steps:
- Confirm details with the UROP hiring department, lab, and/or facility, including:
- Name of the UROP department, lab, and/or facility.
- A clear description of the UROP position and duties.
- Whether the UROP is paid or unpaid.
- Weekly hours during the academic term and/or vacation term periods [see Limitations section above].
- Start and end dates of the UROP.
- UROP supervisor’s name and administrator office contact information.
- Obtain a formal UROP offer letter with the above details and keep it for personal immigration records.
- Track hours carefully:
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) considers both paid and unpaid UROP activities as part of the total allowable hours [see Limitations section above] for on-campus work/employment.
- NOTE: Unpaid UROP hours are NOT logged in the student payroll system. Therefore, unpaid UROP students must self-track the total hours they work per week to ensure their immigration compliance.
How To Request J-1 On-Campus Work/Employment
- MIT-sponsored J-1 students must log in to iMIT.
- NOTE: Non-MIT-sponsored J-1 students must contact their J-1 Program Sponsor to obtain both on and off-campus work/employment authorization BEFORE beginning any on or off-campus work/employment (paid or unpaid).
- Click the “J-1 Student Services” tab on their iMIT Home Page.
- Select, complete, and submit the “J-1 On-Campus Work Authorization” e-Form. This e-Form will require students to upload their MIT Fellowship, RA, TA, and/or on-campus employment letter from the MIT department hiring them.
Important Reminders
- J-1 students MUST submit and receive approval BEFORE beginning any on-campus work/employment (paid or unpaid).
- J-1 on-campus work/employment can ONLY be authorized for a maximum of twelve (12) months at a time. As a result, J-1 students MUST renew their on-campus work/employment authorization annually (set calendar reminders!).
- J-1 students MUST ensure they do not violate the limitations of their J-1 on-campus work/employment authorization.
- J-1 students MUST ensure they follow all the J-1 on-campus work/employment guidelines and continuously update the ISO within 10 calendar days of any changes.
Additional Resources
- ISO Main Employment webpage.
- Special & Advanced Study Program Students: MIT Special and Advance Study Program (ASP) Students are NOT eligible for on-campus work/employment at MIT.
- MIT Visiting Student Program (VSP): International students taking part in the MIT Visiting Student Program (VSP) are NOT allowed to pursue work/employment or positions (paid or unpaid) outside the research activity with their host research group on-campus at MIT.
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Working in the United States webpage.
- The Department of State (DOS) J-1 College and University Student webpage.
Disclaimer: The information on this webpage is for MIT students only. For additional questions, students should email their ISO Advisor directly.
