J-1 Students
Students in J-1 status are permitted to work on campus for a maximum
of 20 hours per week while school is in session, and full-time during
breaks if they have the written approval of their program sponsor.
Limited off-campus employment is permitted with prior approval by
JMU's Responsible Officer. Any non-approved off-campus employment
renders a student out of status for immigration purposes and will
jeopardize any future stay in the United States. There are two off-campus
possibilities: academic training and a situation created by severe economic necessity.
Academic Training
A student in J-1 status is eligible for an aggregate of 18 months
of "academic training" or employment. If you wish to work
in this category, you will need:
- A written recommendation by your academic advisor or department
head, including the type of employment, name of employer and a
statement about how it relates to your field of study, and
- Prior written approval by JMU's RO. You MUST receive approval
from the RO prior to beginning the employment,
and it must be registered into SEVIS.
Employment based on severe economic necessity
For a very limited number of students, employment authorization
may be obtained based on severe economic need. To qualify for
this employment, you must be able to document that you are facing
unexpected extreme economic hardship that was not present when
you entered school. You must obtain written approval by the RO
and that approval must be documented in SEVIS prior to accepting
employment under this provision.
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