General Information

Department of State J-1 regulations allow visiting scholars to participate in occasional lectures and short-term consultations outside of the program sponsor under limited conditions.  Before accepting such an opportunity, you must first obtain approval in writing in advance from the program sponsor.  The program sponsor must evaluate the documentation listed below in terms of your program objectives, your individual circumstances and the J-1 regulations, and then determine whether it would be appropriate or not. Only when the all the criteria are met and procedures completed, will authorization be approved.
 

Criteria for Authorizing Work Permission 

The proposed employment must:

    1.    be directly related to the objectives of your program;
    2.    be incidental to your primary activities;
    3.    not delay the completion of your program; and
    4.    be occasional and not an ongoing activity
 

Procedures 

To obtain authorization for additional employment, you must present the following to an Immigration Coordinator at International Affairs:

1. A letter of offer from the prospective employer describing the terms and conditions of the proposed employment, including the duration, the number of hours, the field or subject, the amount of compensation, and a description of the activity for which you are being hired.
   
   
2. A letter from your department head or supervisor at Ohio State that acknowledges he or she has read the letter from the prospective employer.  The letter should also explain how the employment is directly related to the original program objective, how it is indeed incidental, and how it will not delay completion of your program.  Finally, the letter should explain how the proposed activity will enhance your program and include a recommendation for approval of the employment.
    
   

Work Authorization

Your work authorization will take the form of a letter to you from International Affairs, which your employer may ask to see, and which you should keep - permanently.  You will be working not as an employee but as an independent contractor, meaning that you will not have a sustained employer-employee relationship with the person or institution paying you, and will not complete Form I-9, "Employment Eligibility Verification," in order to start work

If there are any questions, please consult an Immigration Coordinator at International Affairs. Schedule an Appointment.