Academic Training

J-1 international students are eligible for training that is related to their field of study, called Academic Training (AT). This can be done either before or after program completion so long as the request is approved before their DS-2019 expires. It requires the support of the academic advisor, who must fill out a recommendation form for the student.

Students may be authorized for more than one AT experience and may work for more than one employer at the same time, provided the application and approval procedures are followed by each employer and the student does not exceed the AT time limitations (see limitations to Academic Training tab). AT can be either paid or unpaid.

• You must be maintaining valid J-1 status
• You must be enrolled full-time and in good academic standing
• You must find an AT experience that is directly related to the major listed on your DS-2019
• You must read and understand the information on this webpage. Please ask ISSS if you have questions!

1. Before you can submit your Academic Training eForm, first gather the correct documents: 

• Have your employer complete the Academic Training Employer Form.
• If you are applying for post-completion AT, you will also need to gather proof of funding documents to cover your living expenses for the duration of the AT. This can be an offer letter from your AT employer and/or a personal bank statement.

2. Submit the J-1 Student Academic Training Application eForm at least one month before your requested start date.

3. Once you have submitted your portion of the eForm, your Academic Advisor will receive an email with instructions to complete their portion of the eForm. Make sure they understand that your AT cannot be approved until they submit their eForm.

4. Once your academic advisor has reviewed and completed their portion of the eForm, an ISSS advisor will review what you and your Academic Advisor submitted to determine eligibility for AT. We will follow up with you if we have concerns about approval or need additional documentation to proceed.

5. Once your AT request is approved by an ISSS advisor, you will be invited to complete the AT Health Insurance Compliance eForm. This is the last step and it is required for final AT approval. You will need to upload J-1 compliant health insurance documentation. If your insurance meets J-1 requirements, we will finalize your AT approval and email you your updated DS-2019.

• If you will be registered for credits or continuous registration at CSU during your AT, you will automatically be enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) unless you request to be waived out.
• Your employer may provide you with health insurance that you wish to use instead of SHIP or another insurance policy, but this is only possible if ISSS determines that the policy offered by your employer is J-1 compliant.
• If the insurance coverage offered to you by your employer is not J-1 compliant, or you do not receive insurance coverage through your employer, you will need to enroll in SHIP (if you are enrolled at CSU) or purchase a separate J-1 compliant policy.

After the student initiates the eform submission, you, the academic advisor, will receive an email from ISSS with the subject line: “Action Needed: Academic Training Request for International Student.” Click on the link in the email to access the eForm. You will need to provide feedback on these areas:

• The goals and objectives of the specific AT program
• How the AT relates to the student’s major field of study
• Why the training is an integral or critical part of the academic program of the student.

After you submit the eForm, your portion is complete. ISSS will now be notified to process the student’s request.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s: Students in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program can be authorized for up to 18 months of AT. STEM majors are eligible for up to 36 months. In either case, the AT cannot exceed the amount of time you spent enrolled in a full course of study.
• PhD: Students in a doctoral program can be authorized for up to 18 months of AT prior to completing the program and an additional 18 months after completing the program, for a total of 36 months. If no pre-completion AT was used, the full amount can be used after program completion.
• Non-Degree: Students in a non-degree program (such as exchange/VIP students) can be authorized for AT that does not exceed the amount of time they spent enrolled in a full course of study.
• AT can be either full-time or part-time, but both are counted as full-time toward the time limitations.

• You will be in J-1 status during AT and must continue to report any changes to your physical address, email address, or name to the ISSS office within 10 days of any changes.
  • Students doing pre-completion AT can report these updates through Ramweb.
  • Students doing post-completion AT must report any changes by email to [email protected].
•  All students must submit an AT evaluation form to ISSS after 18 months of employment and, if AT lasts longer than that, again at the end of their AT.
• Students participating in AT are still Exchange Visitors in the U.S. and expected to continue to engage in cross-cultural activities and programs during the period of authorized AT.

• During AT, all J-1 students must continue to maintain health insurance that complies with the Department of State regulations for themselves and any J-2 dependents.
• According to J-1 regulations, CSU is required to terminate the SEVIS record of a J-1 exchange visitor who does not maintain the appropriate health insurance for the duration of the program, including any post-completion AT.
• If you are applying for Pre-Completion AT, you will automatically be enrolled in CSU’s Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), which meets all the J-1 requirements.
• If you are applying for Pre-Completion AT, you will have the option to waive out of the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) if your employer’s plan meets J-1 insurance requirements and the timing is correct. Please note that if your Pre-Completion AT starts more than 15 days after the start of the semester, you will stay enrolled in SHIP for the current semester. You can request a waiver with ISSS for the following semester, but the request must be submitted to ISSS before the first day of classes.
• Students on Post-Completion AT are no longer eligible for the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) and must obtain separate coverage.
• If your AT employer is CSU, CSU offers J-1 employees the J-1 Pathways Insurance Plan. This plan meets the J-1 deductible requirement. CSU will also automatically enroll you in a supplemental plan that covers evacuation and repatriation. Combined, these plans meet all J-1 health insurance requirements.
  *Note- once you start your job at CSU, your insurance will not start until the first day of the following month, unless you ask Human Resources for an exception.
• CSU’s other employee health insurance plans–Ram Plan HDHP, Green, or Aggie Orange–do not meet J-1 insurance requirements. If you do not choose CSU’s J-1 Pathways Insurance Plan, you will need to purchase a separate comprehensive health insurance plan that meets all the J-1 minimum requirements.
• If you need to purchase a separate comprehensive health insurance plan, CSU has partnered with ISI. The ISI plan meets all J-1 insurance requirements.