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International Student Services

Pre-completion Academic Training

Any internship you do before graduation is considered pre-completion academic training.
What is it?
When do I apply?
How do I apply?
How is it approved?
When can I start?
How long is it?

Academic training allows a J-1 student to engage in employment training or practical training, with or without pay, that is directly related to that student’s field of study.

Pre-completion academic training is training done prior to your program end date, or graduation.

The Department of State does not differentiate between post-completion and pre-completion academic training. Any internship or training experience, with or without pay, credited or uncredited, is classified as academic training for all J-1 students.

For pre-completion AT, we recommend that you apply at least 30 days prior to the start date of your internship. This will allow adequate time for us to review, make a decision, and process your DS-2019, which is required prior to starting training.

The DS-2019 will serve as proof of your authorization.

  1. Coordinate with your academic advisor to map out how and if you would be able to fit an internship within the time you have left prior to graduation. 
     
  2. Then, you can work directly with your internship coordinator and Career Services to find an experience or opportunity that relates directly to your major. You may also find an opportunity on your own, but you will still work with Career Services to initiate application in Handshake. 
  3. Complete the pre-completion academic training experience request in Handshake. Your application will contain the following items: offer letter, the memorandum of understanding, and learning objectives.  

NOTE: This application will go through a series of approvals, of which ISS is the last.  

The Handshake experience request will go through a series of approvals, of which ISS is the last. You will need approval from your academic advisor, internship coordinator, Office of the Registrar, etc.

You will be able to view in your Handshake experience request whether or not your pre-completion AT has been approved.

Upon approval, you will be notified by our office to pick up your DS-2019. The DS-2019 will show your academic training site of activity. This is the document that authorizes you to engage in an internship, whether on or off campus.

Once you have approval from ISS and the updated hard copy of your DS-2019, you may start your pre-completion academic training. Note that if you are doing it prior to graduation, the last day of your internship MUST end prior to the program end date on your DS-2019.

You are authorized to engage in academic training for the time period specified on your DS-2019. For pre-completion academic training, this period of time is typically no longer than six months.

Note that any time you engage in AT prior to graduation will count towards the total 18 months you are allowed to engage in AT. This means if you complete six months of AT prior to your graduation, you will only be allowed 12 months after graduation to engage in any kind of post-completion AT.