State Department Expands J-1 Academic Training for Undergraduate or Pre-Doctoral Degree Programs in STEM

State Department Expands J-1 Academic Training for Undergraduate or Pre-Doctoral Degree Programs in STEM

September 16, 2024: The U.S. Department of State announced via email to all J Exchange Visitor Visa sponsors of the extension of the J-1 Academic Training STEM Extension program until June 30, 2026 for bachelor’s and master’s degree students. The same conditions as described below apply to eligibility and authorization procedures.

February 18, 2022: USDOS Posts Update/FAQ on Expansion of J-1 Academic Training In STEM Fields — Clarifies Limits on AT to Length of Academic Program (Please read this linked announcement)

On January 21, 2022, the U.S. Department of State announced that it will expand to 36 months the J-1 Academic Training employment authorization eligibility for Undergraduate (Bachelor’s degree) and Pre-Doctoral (Master’s degree level) students in certain STEM-designated fields of study.  This initiative will be available only for two academic years (2021-2022 and 2022-2023) who meet eligibility requirements.

The full announcement is available here.

Students in undergraduate or pre-doctoral degree programs who are not in eligible STEM degree fields will remain only eligible for Academic Training authorization for maximum of 18 months, or the length of the academic program, whichever was shorter. 

Students in all Ph.D. programs remain eligible for up to 18 months of Academic Training authorization during their Ph.D. program, and an additional 18 months of Academic Training after completion of the Ph.D. degree (for a maximum of 36 months).

The ISO is still awaiting verification from the State Department Exchange Visitor Program for specific details on the authorization request procedures, and will be sure to update the ISO J-1 Academic Training website once available. 

For J-1 students whose Form DS-2019 is issued by MIT, please contact you ISO Advisor with any questions.  For those J-1 students with Form DS-2019 not issued by MIT, please contact your J-1 visa sponsoring organization with questions on your Academic Training authorization process.