Immigration New DOS Initiative: Up to 36 Months of J-1 Academic Training for Pre-Doctoral STEM Students

The US Department of State (DOS) Directorate of Private Sector Exchange recently announced a new initiative for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic year for J-1 bachelor’s and pre-doctoral degree-seeking students enrolled in a STEM field of study.

The initiative will allow J-1 bachelor’s and pre-doctoral students currently enrolled in a STEM field of study to pursue Academic Training for up to 36 months in total. Previously, all J-1 bachelor’s and master’s students were limited to a maximum of 18 months of Academic Training.

The Department of Homeland Security’s STEM Designated Degree Program List can be found here: https://www.ice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/stem-list.pdf.

Students eligible for this extension are eligible for up to 36 months of authorization or the period of their full course of study in the United States, whichever is less. For more information about Academic Training eligibility requirements, please see our website at https://global.upenn.edu/isss/at.

This initiative is temporary and will take place only during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic year(s). The Department of State is still developing the application procedure for this extension.

Further information regarding this announcement is available at https://j1visa.state.gov/opportunity-for-academic-training-extensions-for-j-1-college-and-university-students-in-stem-fields.

ISSS is continuing to monitor upcoming policy updates related to this opportunity and will provide more detailed information on our website in coming weeks. Please consult with your assigned ISSS Advisor for any questions.