Topic	F-1	J-1
Eligibility Restrictions	None	Cannot be self-funded unless participating in an exchange program pursuant to a formal written agreement between educational institutions or governmental offices
On-Campus Employment	Available up to 20 hours per week when school is in session and 40 hours per week during annual school holidays	Same as F-1
Off-Campus Employment	Yes: Can be authorized for unforeseen financial hardship, Curricular Practical Training, or Pre- and Post-completion Optional Practical Training	Yes: Can be authorized for unforeseen financial hardship or Academic Training
Practical/ Academic Training Types	1) Curricular Practical Training (CPT) 2) Optional pre- or post-completion Practical Training (OPT)	Optional or Required Academic Training may take place before or after graduation
Time Limits	Curricular: None, although if you use more than 12 months of full-time CPT, you lose your eligibility for any OPT Optional (Pre- and Post-completion, combined): 12 months maximum	Note: In general, the period of Academic Training may not exceed 18 months or the amount of time spent in the academic program, whichever is less. Nondegree: 24 months maximum, including the academic program itself Degree: Pre-doctoral, 18 months maximum Post-doctoral, 36 months maximum (for post-doctoral research only) Part-time Academic Training counts the same as Full-time Academic Training
Requirement of Job Offer	Curricular: Yes Pre-completion Optional: Recommended Post-completion Optional: No	Pre-Completion: Yes Post-completion: Yes. Must have job offer within 30 days of completion of studies and you must apply before you complete your program as well
Authorization From INS	Curricular: Not required. Authorization is obtained from International Office advisor. Pre- and Post-completion Optional: Required before student may begin work. Authorization takes 3-4 months	None required. Authorization is obtained from the International Office advisor
Possibility of Changing Status	Yes, fairly easily	It depends. May be problematic for students subject to the 2-year home residency requirement
Work Authorization For Spouse	None possible	Yes, with evidence that salary is not needed to fund stay, and it requires INS approval
Insurance Requirement per Visa Status	None per visa category. Although the University requires all students to carry insurance, this is nota federal requirement, nor does it apply to spouses	Yes, for J-1 students and all dependents. Willful failure to maintain adequate health insurance as defined by federal regulations will result in the student's termination from the J-1 program, thus also terminating his/her J-1 status
Permission to Stay in U.S. after Completion of Studies	60 days granted automatically	30 days granted automatically