Academic Training
- Paid or unpaid
- Full-time or part-time
- With one employer or several employers, (U.S. or foreign)
- Sequential or involve simultaneous activities
- Carried out during your studies (pre-completion Academic Training) or after the completion of studies or program (Post-completion Academic training), beginning no later than 30 days after the completion of studies.
Eligibility Requirements
- Student must be in good academic standing at the time of the application.
- AT must be performed with a specific employer or training site and be directly related to the field of study.
- Student must receive written approval in advance (prior to the beginning of the employment) from the Responsible Officer (RO) for the duration and type of academic training.
- Student must be in the U.S. primarily to study rather than engage in AT. This is meant to eliminate situations in which the student studies for a short period and undertakes training for a longer period.
Time Limitations
- Degree-seeking students - Those enrolled in a Bachelors, Master’s, or Doctoral program. These students are permitted an overall limit of 18 months and includes all period of academic training done before or after the completion of the degree. However, the total academic training period may not exceed the amount of time spent in a full course of study. Example: A student spent 12 months at URI. This student is only eligible for 12 months of academic training.
- Postdoctoral training: Postdoctoral activity is limited to no more than 36 months provided that the student spent at least 36 months in a Ph.D. program. Postdoctoral research implies an activity taken after the “receipt of a doctoral degree under the supervision of a mentor.” The 36 months are not granted automatically and must be subject to verification. The first academic training approval will only consist of 18 months, and if an extension is approved, then the student will be granted another period of 18 months.
- Non-degree student - Those enrolled in an exchange program at URI, through their participating home institution. The total amount of time allowed in the United States is 24 months. This period includes all study time and all academic training time. Approved academic training time will only equal to the amount of time spent in school. Example: A student spent 4 months at URI, and then he/she will only be eligible for 4 months of academic training.
Application Procedure
1. The student’s academic advisor or Dean/Chairman of the department must complete the Academic Training Certification Form.
2. Provide an original job offer letter on company letterhead that includes the following information:
- Name of company
- Location of academic training
- Salary information
- Number of hours per week
- Beginning and ending dates of the training
Student must submit all the above documents for approval to the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS).
Important information
- OIP will provide a letter and a notation in the DS-2019 granting permission to engage in academic training. Please keep the DS-2019 and letter attached to each other.
- Your employment begins and ends on the dates stipulated on the approval letter.
- Post-completion AT must be approved before your graduation and must begin no later than 30 days after your DS-2019 expires.
- Part-time Academic Training is always counted as full-time.
- You must report a change in your address to OIP within 10 days of your move.
- If you are not sponsored by UTEP, your AT must Gain approval from your program sponsor.
For example: If you are you are sponsored by the Fulbright or LASPAU, your AT request must be approved by Fulbright or LASPAU.
Unpaid Academic Training
You are permitted to engage in unpaid AT prior to the completion of your program. In some cases, the Responsible Officer (RO) may authorize unpaid post-completion academic training provided that you have the adequate funding to cover your expenses. In this case, you will be expected to submit a bank letter or statement to OIP for verification of funding.
I-9 Issues: Academic training employment is part to the exchange program and therefore is authorized for purposes of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA). Evidence that the student is in status (Form DS-2019 and form I-94 number) and a letter from the RO/ARO granting academic training should suffice for form I-9 purposes.