J-2 Dependents

Your spouse and children can accompany you to the U.S. under the J-2 Dependent visa status. Dependents of J-1 Exchange Visa holders are defined as immediate family - a spouse or unmarried child/children under the age of 21. Non-immediate family members do not qualify for a J-2 visa status and must enter the U.S. under their own non-immigrant status, usually as B-2 non-immigrant visitors.

You must show evidence of adequate financial support for each one of your dependents; the U.S. Federal Government requires J-2 visa holders to purchase and maintain health insurance coverage.

In order to be considered for a J-2 Dependent Visa your dependents must first acquire Form DS-2019. Please follow the application process below:

  • List all accompanied dependent in the Application for DS-2019
  • Additional financial support must be provided for each dependent. Estimate annual expenses : $8,000 for spouse, $6,000 for each child.
  • Note: J-2 visa holders are not required to pay the .
 
  • Once an initial DS-2019 is received, the J-2 dependent listed must schedule an appointment with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate office to apply for the J-2 visa, as soon as possible. To locate the Embassy/Consulate near you click . Embassies and Consulates review a vast number of applications and you may have to wait for an appointment. To learn more about wait and processing times please visit . 
  • Dependent should contact your local U.S. Embassy/Consulate and follow their procedure for J-2 visa application process.
  • To prepare for your visa interview, learn as much as you can about the forms and documents required of you please click . Be prepared to convince the consul that you will return to your home country after completing your study course. Place large emphasis on your personal, family and economic ties with your home country, show undeniable reasons why you will return home:
    • present copies of property ownership
    • business ownership by you or your family
    • if you have traveled to the U.S. before emphasize that you have returned home
    • if your siblings have studied in the U.S. and have returned home show copies of their diplomas, etc.
Each dependent must bring with them:
  • a valid passport
  • the original Form DS-2019 for J-2
  • a copy of the Form DS-2019 for J-1
  • a copy of J-1 passport biographical page
  • financial support documents (bank statements, proof of scholarship/assistantship)
  • a copy of Letter of Admissions from 黑料社
  • a copy of your J-1 visa stamp (if available)
  • A 鈥渃onsul鈥 makes a decision to grant or deny a visa. The Consul鈥檚 job is to make sure that persons who are issued visas will return home after completion of studies. As a person wishing to enter the U.S. you will be viewed as someone wishing to remain in the U.S. permanently therefore your job as an interviewee is to convince the Consul that you will return home after completing your study course. The Consul is required by law to say: 鈥淵ou are not coming back h