Dependents | International Student and Scholar Services

Dependents (legal spouse and/or unmarried children under age 21) of J-1 visa holders may apply to enter the U.S. in J-2 status. Dependents planning to accompany the J-1 or to join the J-1 later in the U.S. must have their own Form DS-2019 and must have a J-2 visa stamp in their passport.

The J-1 visa holder may apply for a new Form DS-2019 for their dependents by submitting an Add a Scholar Dependent request in the ISSS Portal. It is very important that J-1 Exchange Visitors have sufficient funds to be able to support their families for the remainder of the J-1 program.

All J-2 visa holders are also required to be covered by health insurance that meets the Department of State’s requirements from their date of entry to the U.S .and for the remainder of the J program, including periods outside of the U.S.

Employment for J-2 Dependents

J-2 dependents may apply for employment authorization from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to be employed in the U.S. Money earned by the J-2 dependent cannot be used to support the J-1 Exchange Visitor or dependents. Applications and Instructions on applying for employment authorization are available on the USCIS website. Processing times for the Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) vary.

J-2 Dependents Taking Classes

The current regulations do not prohibit J-2 dependents from attending school either part-time or full-time and pursuing a degree program. It should be noted however that a J-2 dependent’s status is connected to the J-1 and therefore if the J-1’s status ends or changes to another immigration status, the J-2’s status also ends or changes. A J-2 student may want to discuss options regarding changing status or category with an ISSS advisor to avoid future difficulties.

J-2 Dependent Travel

Before a J-2 dependent travels outside of the U.S. (including Mexico and Canada) they should check to make sure they have all the necessary travel documentation. The travel validation box can be found in the lower right corner of the Form DS-2019. This signature is required for re-entry into the U.S. in J-2 status from abroad. There is no known restriction on the amount of time a J-2 dependent can be abroad. However, if a J-2 dependent leaves the U.S. and has no intention of returning in J-2 status, they should notify ISSS so that their J-2 status can be ended in SEVIS.

J-2 Change of Status

If a J-2 dependent is pursuing a change of status, they should be in communication with ISSS. Once their status has been officially changed, they must notify ISSS so that their J-2 status can be ended in SEVIS as per the regulations of the Department of Homeland Security.