Employment Guidelines for J-1 Students

Employment
Students on J-1 visas may work on campus, if the work is specifically a part of their financial aid or exchange program, and they may be eligible to apply for Academic Training, which is off-campus work in a job related to their studies at Mount Holyoke.

Students on J-1 visas who are in good standing at Mount Holyoke and with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services are eligible for employment according to the following guidelines:

On-Campus Employment
Students on J-1 visas may work on campus, during the academic year or during the summer, if the work is specifically a part of their financial aid or exchange program. In other words, students who have a financial aid package including "work-study" may work on campus; and exchange program students may work in the appropriate language department, as required by the terms of their award. However, students who do not specifically have campus employment as part of their financial aid, or exchange program students who have the opportunity to work in other jobs on campus (for example, to tutor an individual student for pay, or to work in dining services), must first obtain approval of one of the advisers in the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives.

Please note: Only MHC offices and departments (Dining Services, International Affairs, LITS, Buildings and Grounds, etc.) are considered to be "on-campus" employers. Working in the Village Commons, as a babysitter for a faculty/staff family, at another college or university, etc. is NOT considered to be on-campus, and is work that violates INS rules. In particular, you may hear the Village Commons referred to as being "owned" by Mount Holyoke, but be aware that work there is NOT considered to be on-campus employment. If you have any question about what constitutes "on-campus" employment, please check with the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives before taking any position!

Off-Campus Employment
A student on a J-1 visa may apply for permission to work off campus, either prior to or after completion of studies, under a program called "Academic Training." The purpose of the program is to enable you to obtain practical work experience in a position related to your studies at Mount Holyoke. Students enrolled in a degree program are permitted an overall limit of 18 months of Academic Training; however, the total training period may not exceed the amount of time spent in the program of study. A student who is enrolled for nine months is eligible for a maximum of nine months of Academic Training. You must have a specific job offer in order to apply. For more information, click on the menu item above.