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On June 24, 1998 the United States Information Agency (USIA) temporarily suspended certain requirements governing program status as well as on-campus and off-campus employment for students whose financial supports come from Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

This allows:

• Full-time on-campus employment while school is in session

• Full-time off-campus employment for the duration of the employment authorization

• Reduction in enrollment to no less than 3 courses per semester for undergraduate students and no less than 1 course for graduate students, ONLY if you have been granted employment authorization under the Relief program. Reduction in enrollment DOES NOT apply to non-degree and language programs.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Your source of financial support comes from any of the following countries: Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines

2. You must demonstrate severe economic hardship resulting from the economic crisis

3. You received J-1 status and engaged in studies prior to June 10, 1998

4. You are currently in status and carrying a full course of study

Employment Authorization Application

For employment authorization application you need to present to ISSS:

• A written statement, which includes a summary of your financial situation, a budget, or any additional information that demonstrates severe economic hardship

• Your original DS-2019 Form

After reviewing these documents to confirm your eligibility, an ISSS advisor will endorse your DS-2019 Form item number 4, make copies of documentation to be kept on file, and return your DS-2019 Form to you. If you plan to work off-campus, a work authorization letter will be issued by ISSS to accompany your DS-2019 Form.

Social Security Numbers

Before you begin work you will need a valid Social Security number (your Penn ID is not a valid Social Security Number). If you do not already have one, please obtain application instructions and directions to the Social Security Office from ISSS. The Social Security Administration will process your application and a number will be sent to you in about one month.

Taxes

In general, J-1 students who have been in the US in less than six calendar years are exempt from social security (FICA) and Medicare taxes. You should be sure to bring this to the attention of your employer because many employers are not familiar with this provision of the tax laws. If you need more information about the J-1 social security and Medicare tax exemption, please contact ISSS.

Students in J-1 status are subject to all other taxes that may apply: federal, state, and local (but check with ISSS to see if your country is one of the few that has a tax treaty with the US allowing students to exclude a limited amount of earned income from federal taxation).