J-1 Employment Options

J-1 students must obtain written approval from their program sponsor before beginning any employment, on-campus or off-campus. The program sponsor will issue written approval after updating SEVIS.

On-Campus Employment
Any on-campus job (when payment is from the University) is limited to 20 hrs/wk during the semester or full time during vacation periods. A work permit must be issued by an Adviser in Berkeley International Office before employment begins. This authorization must be shown to the hiring unit at UC Berkeley. The same work permit can be used to apply for a Social Security Number. For more information, see J-1 On-Campus Employment

Off-Campus Employment
There are two types of off-campus employment authorization. Both require approval from the program sponsor before the employment begins:

Economic hardship authorization may be granted for financial need that had not been anticipated when the student entered the U.S.
Academic Training is employment related to a student's field of study. It is available both before and after completion of the degree program. The deadine to apply is the student's program completion date.


	J-1 Employment Authorization Overview	A-Z Index
Home Students Prospective Students New Students Current Students Exchange Students Practical Training Students Summer Students Returning Students Professors & Researchers Prospective J-1 H-1B TN O-1 Permanent Residents B-1/B-2 Visa Waiver Family UCB Departments Students J-1 Researchers & Faculty H-1B Staff TN Staff O-1 Staff B-1/B-2 Visitors Visa Waiver Visitors Permanent Residents Living at Berkeley Transportation Housing Money Health & Safety Legal Resources Cultural Adjustment Travel & Visas Programs & Workshops Calendar Resource Links About Berkeley International Office Staff Contact US	J-1 students must obtain written approval from their program sponsor before beginning any employment, on-campus or off-campus. The program sponsor will issue written approval after updating SEVIS. On-Campus Employment Any on-campus job (when payment is from the University) is limited to 20 hrs/wk during the semester or full time during vacation periods. A work permit must be issued by an Adviser in Berkeley International Office before employment begins. This authorization must be shown to the hiring unit at UC Berkeley. The same work permit can be used to apply for a Social Security Number. For more information, see J-1 On-Campus Employment Off-Campus Employment There are two types of off-campus employment authorization. Both require approval from the program sponsor before the employment begins: Economic hardship authorization may be granted for financial need that had not been anticipated when the student entered the U.S. Academic Training is employment related to a student's field of study. It is available both before and after completion of the degree program. The deadine to apply is the student's program completion date.