J-1 Academic Training Reporting Requirements

What are the Academic Training (AT) Reporting Requirements?

Students in J-1 status authorized for employment under AT are responsible for maintaining their non-immigrant status. According to Federal Regulations, J-1 students are required to report information within 10 days directly to the ISO regarding their employment as well as changes to personal information and immigration status. Failure to comply with these reporting requirements may result in denial of future benefits and termination of status and AT authorization.

You are required to report the following information via iMIT.mit.edu.  See the section below for how to report.

You are required to report the following information within 10 days:

  1. Change of legal name or citizenship (also contact ISO advisor)
  2. Change of current residential address. If mailing address is different than residential address, then the student must report both addresses. Report this within 10 days of the change.
  3. Change of U.S. telephone number
  4. Change of primary and alternate email addresses
  5. Beginning and end date of all employment
  6. Name of the employer(s) and mailing address
  7. Type of employment – you cannot be self-employed or without payment while on AT. (Exception: Unpaid employment is only allowed for pre-completion AT.)
  8. Number of hours you work, full time (at least 20+ hours per week) or part time (20 hours or less per week). Note: Post-completion AT employment must be at least 20 hours per week per employer. For Pre-completion AT, students may only be authorized for part-time AT during the academic year (although, it will be subtracted full time from total amount of AT.) Students are eligible for full-time AT during vacation periods.
  9. Decision to end employment/AT 
  10. Final Evaluation Form after the employment/AT is completed
  11. Change of employer (Requires submission of new documents on iMIT.mit.edu -> J-1 Alumni Services -> Add New Employer Information for AT.)
  12. Adding a second employer (Requires submission of new documents on iMIT.mit.edu -> J-1 Alumni Services -> Add New Employer Information for AT.)
  13. Transfer and/or beginning of new program of study
  14. Change of visa status (provide documentation of change of status)
  15. Decision to end J-1 status and depart the U.S.A.

How to Report

For Students or Alumni with active Kerberos IDs

  1. Go to iMIT.mit.edu
  2. Login to Full Client Services for Students
  3. Open “J-1 Alumni Services”
  4. Submit the following forms as necessary 
    1. Update Contact Information for Alumni
      (Available to Alumni on Post-Completion AT students only. Current Students should update their contact information via iMIT->Biographical Information->Your Contact Information.)
    2. Update Addresses for Alumni on AT
      (Available to Alumni on Post-Completion AT students only. Current Students should update their U.S. Address via WEBSIS (student.mit.edu). From WEBSIS, click on “for Students”, then “Biographic and Emergency Records”, then “Addresses and Phone Numbers”, scroll down and update your “SEVIS U.S.” AND “SEVIS International” address.)
    3. Add New Employer Information for AT
    4. Update Employer Information for AT
    5. Report End of Employment and/or Departure

For Alumni without active Kerberos IDs

  1. Go to iMIT.mit.edu
  2. Log in to Limited Client Services for Alumni
  3. Request your PIN if you do not yet have one. If you do not receive this PIN, we may have your incorrect email on file. Please email or call your ISO advisor to give us your new email information.
  4. Open “J-1 Alumni Services”
  5. Submit the following forms as necessary 
    1. Update Contact Information for Alumni
    2. Update Addresses for Alumni on AT
    3. Add New Employer Information for AT
    4. Update Employer Information for AT
    5. Report End of Employment and/or Departure

Travel while on Post-completion AT

Travel while on AT is not restricted. However, in order to reenter the U.S. after you complete your degree and during the entire AT period, you should be in possession of:

  • A valid AT Form DS-2019 with a valid travel signature (not older than 6 months prior to date of re-entry to the U.S.)
  • A valid J-1 visa
  • A valid passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of re-entry to the U.S.)
  • Original letter from your AT employer verifying employment (printed on letterhead paper, dated, and signed)
  • Letter of AT authorization from the ISO advisor

If you are missing any one of these documents you risk being denied entry and losing your AT. While on post-completion AT the travel signature on the Form DS-2019 is valid for 6 months.

Travel Signature while on Post-Completion AT

Alumni/ae who need an updated travel signature during post-completion AT should request a new DS-2019 by submitting the “Request Replacement of Form DS-2019” online form at iMIT.mit.edu > J-1 Student Services.  Please make sure that your reporting requirements to the ISO are up-to-date prior to your online request.

Periods of Unemployment while on AT

After completion of degree, your J-1 status while on post-completion AT depends on your employment. You are not permitted to accumulate days of unemployment for the entire period of post-completion AT. All students on post-completion AT begin accumulating unemployment time if they are not employed in a job related to their major field of study (qualified employment).

What Constitutes Qualified Employment?

  • Paid employment, part-time or full-time that is for multiple employers, short-term multiple employers, contracting work, or employment through an agency (must be at least 20 hours/week). Self-employment not allowed for AT.
  • For pre-completion AT ONLY: Unpaid employment as volunteer, intern, that does not violate labor laws and is at least 20 hrs/week.

Important: Accumulating days of unemployment is a violation of your immigration status that could trigger termination of Academic Training. You may be required to apply for a reinstatement and lose the eligibility for post-completion AT.

Academic Training Final Evaluation Form Required

Per 22 CFR 62.23(f)(6), MIT ISO must “evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of the academic training in achieving the stated goals and objectives in order to ensure the quality of the academic training program.” The ISO Academic Training Evaluation Form should be completed by you and your current supervisor and submitted to the ISO when the student’s J-1 status is completed or the Academic Training period ends, whichever is first.  

Please feel free to contact your ISO Advisor if you have any questions concerning the J-1 Academic Training Process.

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