Employment by J-1 Exchange Students
Exchange students must have permission from the Responsible Officer at the Office
of International Education before beginning any employment.
On-campus
J-1 exchange students can work on campus with authorization from the Office of International Education. Employment is limited to 20 hours per week during Fall and Spring semesters and up to 40 hours per week during official school breaks like the Winter Break and the Summer semester. Students may not work on campus after their DS-2019 end date.
Off-campus
Exchange students experiencing unforeseeable economic hardship may be eligible for off-campus employment authorization. Contact the Office of International Education for more information.
Academic Training
Academic training is practical training and employment experience available to J-1 university students. The training may be paid or unpaid but must relate to the field of study indicated on the Form DS-2019. Participation may occur while the J-1 student is enrolled at WSU or beginning within 30 days after completing his/her studies at WSU. The time limit for academic training may not exceed the amount of time the student spent studying at WSU. For example, a student who studies at WSU for one semester would be eligible for a maximum of four months of academic training.