EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS:
> Internships | J-1 | Off
Campus
General Information Regarding Work and Study
- J-1 students sponsored by
CSUB may be eligible to engage in off campus employment unrelated to their
field of study due to unforeseen severe economic hardship. The financial need
must have arisen after the student's program began and must be thoroughly
documented. J-1 students issued a DS-2019 by another agency must check with
their sponsor for employment eligibility.
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- New federal regulations that implemented the Student
and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) exact heavy penalties for
those students in J status who work off-campus without authorization. ISP
reminds all J-1 students that all off-campus employment must be authorized
before it can begin. This includes internships, practicum, and other types of
off-campus experiences, whether or not you are receiving college credit for
it.
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- Working off-campus without the appropriate
authorization is considered illegal employment according to federal
immigration law and is a potentially deportable offense. SEVIS regulations
require that all unauthorized employment be reported. So, now more than ever,
it's essential for international students/scholars to understand the off-campus
employment rules that pertain to them.
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- Employment on Campus
- J-1 students may work on
campus up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and up to 40 hours
per week during vacation periods. Permission is required from the Program
Sponsor.
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- Employment off Campus
- J-1 students can engage in
part-time off campus employment unrelated to the field of study if the
employment is due to unforeseen economic need, does not adversely affect
full-time enrollment status; and has the written approval of the program
sponsor. This option is called J-1 Economic Necessity and requires an
unforeseen financial crisis. It is very seldom approved.
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- Academic Training
- J-1 students may be
authorized for Academic Training for a total
of 18 months, but no more than the total number of months the student studied.
The training must be recommended by the CSUB academic advisor and must be
authorized for a specific job offer. For more information, please contact the
office of ISP to meet with an advisor.
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- J-2 Dependent Employment
- Individuals with J-2 status can apply for employment
authorization from USCIS. Employment will not be authorized if this income is
needed to support the J-1 student. USCIS must receive an application for an
extension of employment authorization before the expiration date of the
current employment authorization. Employment is permitted only after USCIS
authorization and issuance of the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is
received by the J-2. The period of authorized employment is tied to the
validity dates of the DS-2019 for the J-1 student.
- J-2 dependents may apply
to the DHS for employment authorization. They must verify that the employment
is only to pay for their expenses or the expenses of their children, not for
the J-1.
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- Application Procedures
- Students should make an
appointment with the International Student Advisor and take the following
documents to the appointment:
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- 1) valid passport,
- 2) pink copy of the DS-2019
Form, and
- 3) written proof of the
reasons for the financial difficulties.
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- If the Advisor determines
that the student is eligible, the student will be given a letter of employment
authorization. This letter is the required written documentation that the
student is legally authorized to accept employment.
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- The authorization will
terminate either on the ending date of the DS-2019 Form, or at the end of one
year, whichever is sooner. It may be renewed, but it is automatically
terminated if the student fails to maintain J-1 status or completes the J-1
program.
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