Yesterday, we looked at the employment options for an individual on an F-1 student visa in America. Today, we continue the series by looking at J-1 exchange programme visas and M-1 vocational visas. Finally, we review the process for transitioning from a student visa to an H1B employment visa.

J-1 visas

J-1 visas are given to individuals under the United States Exchange Visitor Program. This programme is designed to increase social awareness between the US and other countries through educational and cultural exchanges.

J-1 visa holders participate in a wide variety of exchange programmes -- they may be student, professors, research specialists etc. Visa holders will need to be sponsored by an organisation or individual within the US, such as a university.

For a complete list of available programmes, as well as specific details related to the visa qualifications and sponsorships, visit  the US Office of Vocational and Adult Education's official web site.

Working as a student on a J-1 visa

While there are similarities between employment options available to F-1 students and J-1 students, they differ in many respects.

Unlike F-1 employment options, J-1 student visitors can only pursue options that qualify as Academic Training. Academic Training is work, training or experience related to a student's field of study.

Academic Training can only be authorised for work related to one's course of study. For example, a biology student is not eligible to work in a bank.

Academic Training is permitted at any stage of a student's programme, while he or she is enrolled in school. Ater completion of the programme, a full-time Academic Training work schedule is allowed.

Unlike Optional Practical Training on the F-1 visa, Academic Training can be done without authorisation from the USCIS. Instead, the J-1 student should be authorised for work by the Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) at the school he or she is attending.

Students in undergraduate and pre-doctoral programmes are permitted an overall limit of 18 months of Academic Training for the duration of their course. If the academic programme is shorter than that, then the Academic Training period is reduced so that it does not exceed the total length of study.

Students who have already received a PhD are eligible for a maximum 36 months of Academic Training, provided it relates to their degree specialisation. These 36 months include any Academic Training undertaken by the student while completing his doctorate.

M-1 vocational visa

M-1 visas are allotted to foreign students looking to participate in vocational and non-academic programmes. Some students mistakenly believe they can enrol in an academic university on an M-1 student visa.

Students seeking an M-1 visa can only apply to vocational schools. Once in the United States, they can never change their course of study, though they can transfer to a different vocational school offering the same specialisation.

Vocational schools offer a specific field of training; students focus on this one field exclusively because they plan to pursue it as a career. Some common examples are catering and tourism, auto mechanic school and information technology.

As an M-1 student visa holder, you can work 20 hours a week on-campus in a field unrelated to your course of study,. This is similar to what you can do under the F-1 visa. You also have the option of working off-campus, provided your job is tied to your vocational training; you must also have the authorisation of the USCIS to work off campus. You cannot work off-campus if it is not in your specified field.

After completing your course, you can apply for up to six months of Practical Training, provided you are able to find employment.

For more details, visit the US OVAE web site.

Final thoughts

While employment options are different between various student visas, there are some other considerations that one should take into account when deciding which status to pursue.

For example, J-1 status provides for certain non-degree or non-enrolled educational programs that are not easily available to F-1 students. Also, students who are funded totally or for the most part by personal or family funds are ineligible for J-1 status.

J-1 students are required to carry health insurance for themselves and their dependents, while there is no such requirement for F-1 students. J-2 dependents are eligible to apply for work authorisation, while F-2 dependents may not work under any circumstances.

Another important consideration to keep in mind is that individuals of J-1 status are often subject to the two-year home country return requirement. This means that after the exchange programme, the participant must return to his or her own country for at least two years before returning to America. There is no such requirement for F-1 students. This should be fully investigated before accepting J-1 status.

Finally, if you're interested in a specific vocation, such as tourism, an M-1 visa best fits your needs as a student. Just remember, once you've selected your specialisation for your M-1 visa, you cannot alter it.

Part I -- Can I work on an F-1 visa?