Additional Requirements for F-1 Students and J-1 Exchange Visitors
There are additional requirements for Foreign Students in F-1 Non-immigrant Status who are involved in Curricular Practical Training, and for J-1 Exchange Visitors.
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F-1 Students
Curricular Practical Training permits non-immigrant students to get practical training in their field of study. Through Curricular Practical Training, students are able to accept paid alternative work or study employment, internships, cooperative education, or other necessary hands-on experience offered by employers who are working together with the student’s school. The school must complete the endorsement page from Form I-20 (Certification of Eligibility for non-immigrant Students Status) before the student can begin training.
A student under this category can use a combination of the following documents to satisfy their List A document:
• the student’s unexpired foreign passport
• Form I-20 with the Designated School Official’s endorsement for employment (on page 3 of Form I-20)
• a valid Form I-94 or I-94A, Arrival/Departure Report indicating F-1 nonimmigrant status
J-1 Exchange Visitors
J-1 Exchange Visitors also have separate requirements. J-1 Exchange Visitors are individuals such as teachers, professors, summer camp counselors, summer work travelers, and au pairs, who are involved in a work-and -learn based exchange program, and they can work legally in the US as long as the employment is part of their approved program or they have permission from the official program sponsor.
Visitors under this category can use the following combination of documents as their List A documentation:
• an unexpired foreign passport
• Form DS-2019 (J-1 exchange visitors cannot work past this form’s program end date)
• Form I-94 or I094A indicating J-1 status
• (for non-immigrant students) a letter or other document from the Responsible Officer
How does an employer fill out Section 2 for a F-1 student or a J-1 Exchange Visitor?
The employer records all of documents for both F-1 students and J-1 Exchange Visitors in the List A box in Section 2. The List A box is split into three smaller section. The employer should record the passport information in the first part of the List A box, and the I-94 information in the second part. In the case of F-1 students, the employer should put the Form I-20 information in the third part of the List A box. In the case of J-1 Exchange Visitors, the employer should record the information for Form DS-2019, including the SEVIS number and the program end date, in the third part of List A. J-1 non-immigrant students also require a letter or document from the Responsible Officer; that information should be recorded in Section 2’s “Additional information” box.