J-1 Student Employment

J-1 students may accept employment under certain circumstances. In all cases, your J-1 program sponsor must authorize your employment. If you are uncertain about who your J-1 program sponsor is, refer to Item 2 on your DS-2019.

If you have questions or would like to determine your eligibility for J-1 employment, please contact Mrs. Enola French for assistance.

If you are sponsored by an outside agency, please consult with your program officer regarding employment eligibility.

On-Campus Employment

As a J-1 visa student, you may work on-campus up to 20 hours per week during the academic year, and full-time during school vacation periods. This includes any job for which TTU will pay you, either on an hourly basis or as a part of a graduate assistantship. Please note that your on-campus employment must stop once you complete your studies.

J-1 On-Campus Employment

J-1 Academic Training

J-2 Dependent Employment

Persons in J-2 Dependent status are eligible to apply to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for employment authorization. The wages from the J-2's employment cannot be used to support the J-1 Exchange Visitor. Applications from J-2 dependents in Lubbock are filed with the Texas Service Center of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). When approved the J-2 will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card, INS form I-766. With this card the J-2 can work part-time or full-time, at any job, for any employer within the dates of validity of the card. EAD cards are issued for one year or until the program end date on the J-2's form DS-2019, whichever is shorter. An EAD card can also be used to show eligibility for a Social Security Number.

USCIS may take 60 to 90 days or more to process the application for employment authorization. A J-2 can only work during periods when he or she has an EAD. Although a J-2 can apply for an extension and new card by following the same application procedures as the first time, there is no guarantee that the new card will be received before the expiration of the first card. There is no extension of employment authorization until the new card is received.

Application Procedures:

• Complete an immigration form I-765, "Application for Employment Authorization" showing "(c)(5)( )" in item/field 20.
• A copy of any previously issued EAD cards.
• Copy of your Passport.
  Two color passport photos taken within the last thirty days with a white background.
• A copy of J-2's and J-1's forms I-94.
• A copy of the J-1's and J-2's form DS-2019.
• A $410 check or money order payable to "DHS."
• A letter from the J-2 to USCIS requesting employment authorization, telling why the J-2 wishes to work, and stating that money from the employment is not needed to support the J-1 or the J-2 (s).