# J-1 On-Campus Work Information
**Source**: https://iso.mit.edu/employment/on-campus-employment/j-1-on-campus-work-information/
## **J-1 On-Campus Work/Employment Information**
**ATTENTION**: ***J-1 students MUST receive approval BEFORE beginning any on- or off-campus work/employment (paid or unpaid).*** Engaging in unauthorized work/employment violates U.S. immigration regulations and can result in ***severe consequences***, including ***termination*** of a student’s immigration status and requiring their immediate departure from the U.S.
- [U.S Work/Employment Overview](#EmpOverview)
- [Defining On-Campus Work/Employment](#DefiningEmp)
- [Limitations For On-Campus Work/Employment](#LimitationsOnCamp)
- [J-1 On-Campus Work/Employment Information](#OnCampResources)
- [Guidelines For J-1 On-Campus Work/Employment](#GuidelinesJOnCamp)
- [Special Guidelines For J-1 UROP Participation](#SpecialUROP)
- [How To Request J-1 On-Campus Work/Employment](#RequestJOnCamp)
- [Important Reminders](#ImportReminds)
- [Additional Resources](#AddInfo)
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## **U.S. WORK/EMPLOYMENT OVERVIEW**
***Important Information For MIT International Students***
U.S. federal regulations impose ***strict limitations*** on work/employment opportunities for international students. International students enrolled in an MIT degree program are eligible for ***limited*** on-campus work/employment.
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## **DEFINING ON-CAMPUS WORK/EMPLOYMENT**
The U.S. government defines work/employment-related activities by the “nature of the work/employment-related activities, services, and/or duties performed”, regardless of whether it’s paid or unpaid, for a company outside the U.S. and/or a non-U.S. company. If a student provides a service or benefit to an employer, organization, or individual, proper work/employment authorization is required.
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***U.S. Work/Employment Categories***
**On-Campus**: “On-Campus” work/employment is defined as activities ***exclusively*** for MIT, at MIT, and/or funded by MIT (i.e., salary, stipends, fellowships, RA/TA-ships, housing benefits, honorarium, etc.).
- All J-1 degree-seeking international students are ***REQUIRED*** to obtain prior authorization from the ISO, or their J-1 program sponsor (e.g., Fulbright, etc.) ***BEFORE*** starting any on-campus work/employment.
**Off-Campus**: “Off-Campus” work/employment is defined as activities that ***DO NOT*** meet the “On-Campus” work/employment criteria and require securing off-campus employment authorization ([Academic Training](https://iso.mit.edu/employment/j-1-academic-training/)) ***BEFORE*** obtaining approval from the ISO and/or your J-1 visa sponsor. Examples considered “Off-Campus” include, but are not limited to:
- Activities performed at MIT, but not for MIT and/or funded by MIT.
- Activities with a professor’s private company/companies.
- Consulting or freelance work/employment.
- Participation in another MIT student’s and/or professor’s startup.
- Activities with/for a company outside the U.S.
- Mentor/Mentee relationships in a company/start-up.
- Team project that provides a service/benefit.
- Activities conducted at another school, university, institution, lab, etc., even if affiliated with MIT and part of an MIT award (research/teaching assistantship).
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## **LIMITATIONS FOR ON-CAMPUS WORK/EMPLOYMENT**
The total number of hours for on-campus work/employment is subject to a ***strict weekly limit***, which includes the combined hours of ***ALL*** on-campus work/employment activities.
- **During Required Academic Terms**: During a program’s required academic terms (e.g., fall and spring), on-campus work/employment is limited to ***20 hours per week or LESS***.
- **During Official Vacation Terms**: During a program’s official vacation term (e.g., summer and IAP), students may work ***more than 20 hours per week***, but ***ONLY*** if their program/department ***does not*** require coursework or enrollment during those terms.
******CRITICAL WARNING******: Research Assistantships (RA), Teaching Assistantships (TA), and Fellowship Awards ***with service components*** count as on-campus work/employment at 100% and are considered equivalent to the 20-hour weekly limit for international students. However, some Fellowship Awards ***without service components*** may not be categorized as on-campus work/employment. Students should confirm with their academic department if unsure.
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## **J-1 ON-CAMPUS WORK/EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION**
***On-Campus Work/Employment Information For J-1 Students***: Understanding U.S. immigration rules and regulations regarding work/employment is ***crucial*** for a student’s success in the U.S. MIT international students should ***thoroughly*** ***review*** the information on this webpage while also maintaining clear documentation (i.e., department job letters, etc.) of their on-campus work/employment details.
****ATTENTION****: J-1 on-campus employment can ***ONLY*** be authorized for a maximum of twelve (12) months at a time. As a result, J-1 students ***MUST*** renew their on-campus work/employment authorization ***ANNUALLY***.
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***Guidelines For J-1 On-Campus Work/Employment***
- J-1 students must be enrolled full-time and [maintain their J-1 status](https://iso.mit.edu/maintaining-status/) to be eligible for on-campus work/employment.
- J-1 on-campus work/employment can ***ONLY*** be authorized by a student’s J-1 Program Sponsor (e.g., the ISO, Fulbright, etc.).
- J-1 students ***MUST*** receive approval ***BEFORE*** beginning any on-campus work/employment (paid or unpaid).
- Separate J-1 on-campus work/employment requests are ***REQUIRED*** for each on-campus job/position.
- For MIT-sponsored J-1 students, work/employment authorization requests take up to 10 business days to process once a complete request is submitted to iMIT. See the *How To Request J-1 On-Campus Work/Employment* [section](https://iso.mit.edu/employment/on-campus-employment/j-1-on-campus-work-information/#RequestJOnCamp) below.
- Non-MIT-sponsored J-1 students must contact their J-1 Program Sponsor to obtain both on and off-campus work/employment authorization ***BEFORE*** beginning any on or off-campus work/employment (paid or unpaid).
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***Special Guidelines For J-1 UROP Participation***
J-1 students participating in a paid or for-credit *Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (*[*UROP*](https://urop.mit.edu/)*)* must maintain clear documentation of their UROP details. ***BEFORE*** engaging in any UROP activities, they must follow the [guidelines](#GuidelinesJOnCamp) outlined above, along with the following additional steps:
1. Confirm details with the UROP hiring department, lab, and/or facility, including:
- Name of the UROP department, lab, and/or facility.
- A clear description of the UROP position and duties.
- Whether the UROP is paid or unpaid.
- Weekly hours during the academic term and/or vacation term periods [see *Limitations* [section](https://iso.mit.edu/employment/on-campus-employment/j-1-on-campus-work-information/#LimitationsOnCamp) above].
- Start ***and*** end dates of the UROP.
- UROP supervisor’s name and the administrator’s office contact information.
2. Obtain a formal UROP offer letter with the above details and keep it for personal immigration records.
3. Track hours ***carefully***:
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) considers both paid and unpaid UROP activities as part of the total allowable hours [see *Limitation*s [section](https://iso.mit.edu/employment/on-campus-employment/j-1-on-campus-work-information/#LimitationsOnCamp) above] for on-campus work/employment.
**ATTENTION**: Unpaid UROP hours are ***NOT*** logged in the student payroll system. Therefore, unpaid UROP students must self-track the total hours they work per week to ensure their immigration compliance.
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***How To Request J-1 On-Campus Work/Employment***
- MIT-sponsored J-1 students must log in to [iMIT](https://imit.mit.edu/).
- **NOTE**: Non-MIT-sponsored J-1 students must contact their J-1 Program Sponsor to obtain both on and off-campus work/employment authorization ***BEFORE*** beginning any on or off-campus work/employment (paid or unpaid).
- Click the “*J-1 Student Services*” tab on their iMIT Home Page.
- Select, complete, and submit the “[*J-1 On-Campus Work Authorization*](https://imit.mit.edu/istart/controllers/preview/ClientEngineIOM.cfm?serviceid=EFormStudentOnCampusWorkAuthorization1ServiceProvider)*”* e-Form.
- This e-Form will require students to upload a letter from the MIT department hiring them confirming their MIT Fellowship, RA, TA, and/or on-campus employment.
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## **IMPORTANT REMINDERS**
- J-1 students ***MUST*** submit and receive approval ***BEFORE*** beginning any on-campus work/employment (paid or unpaid).
- J-1 on-campus work/employment can ***ONLY*** be authorized for a maximum of twelve (12) months at a time. As a result, J-1 students ***MUST*** renew their on-campus work/employment authorization annually (set calendar reminders!).
- J-1 students ***MUST*** ensure they do not violate the [limitations](#LimitationsOnCamp) of their J-1 on-campus work/employment authorization.
- J-1 students ***MUST*** ensure they follow all the J-1 on-campus work/employment [guidelines](#GuidelinesJOnCamp) and continuously update the ISO ***within 10 calendar days*** ***of any changes***.
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## **ADDITIONAL RESOURCES**
- ISO Main *Employment* [webpage](https://iso.mit.edu/employment/).
- **Special & Advanced Study Program Students:** [MIT Special and Advanced Study Program (ASP) Students](https://oge.mit.edu/gpp/registration/status/special-student/) are ***NOT*** eligible for on-campus work/employment at MIT.
- **MIT Visiting Student Program (VSP)**: International students taking part in the [MIT Visiting Student Program (VSP)](https://oge.mit.edu/gpp/admissions-and-registration/student-status/visiting-student/) are ***NOT*** allowed to pursue work/employment or positions (paid or unpaid) outside the research activity with their host research group on campus at MIT.
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) *Working in the United States* [webpage](https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/work/working-in-the-united-states).
- The Department of State (DOS) *J-1 College and University Student* [webpage](https://j1visa.state.gov/programs/college-and-university-student).
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***Disclaimer: The information on this webpage is only for MIT-sponsored students.***
For additional questions, students should first review the ISO *Employment* [web pages](https://iso.mit.edu/employment/) ***thoroughly***. They are encouraged to use the ISO [search tool](https://iso.mit.edu/#:~:text=SEARCH,-FORMS) (located at the top of the ISO website) or consult the comprehensive FAQ section in the ISO [*Knowledge Base*](https://iso.mit.edu/knowledge-base/). MIT students may also contact their designated [ISO Advisor](https://iso.mit.edu/about-iso/student-advisors-by-program/) directly for assistance.
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