Spouse and minor children (under the age of 21 years) of J-1 exchange visitors who accompany or later join the J-1 holder in the U.S. can apply for a J-1 visa. A J-2 visa, a dependents visa, and its immigration status ends the same time as the J-1 visitor status.
Duration of the stay under J-2 visa is the same as the duration of J-1 visa. Extended family members such. As parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and beyond are not eligible for J-2 visa.
Please fill out the J-2 visa dependent form through GIP online portal.
Application Procedure
The application procedure is the same as that a primary visa applicant. The sponsor must approve the accompaniment of the dependents. Each dependent must be issued their own Form DS-2019, which is required for each person to get the visa. Each Form DS-2019, will have a unique SEVIS ID number, but it is signed by the J-1 primary applicant.
- Make and Attend your visa appointment: If you are applying for your visa along with the J-1 Visa holder, you may schedule your visa appointments together. If you are applying for your visa separate from the J-1 Visa holder, you will schedule your own appointment with the embassy/consulate.
- Review and Sign your DS 2019 Form: DS 2019 form permits you to apply for a J-2 visa.
- Complete your visa application and gather the required documents and payments. Carefully follow the visa application instructions on your home country’s embassy/consulate website. Complete any required application forms and gather any supplemental materials (e.g. proof of ties to home country, proof of sufficient funds, photographs, etc.). You will also need your DS-2019 for an interview. Please note that J-2 Visa holders are not required to pay a SEVIS fee.
- Receive your Visa stamp: If your J-2 Visa is granted, the embassy/consulate will put the visa sticker in your passport and return it along with your DS-2019 form to you. Please submit a copy of your visa to GIP through our online portal for our records.
Travel
J-2 visa holder can enter the U.S. at the same time as J-1 visa holder or after that. However, J-2 visa holder cannot enter the U.S. before J-1 visa holder. After initial entry, a J-2 holder can freely in and out of the U.S. and does not have to be accompanied by the J-1 visa holder.
Health Insurance
J-2depedents must have health insurance coverage that meets the minimum amounts required by the U.S. Department of State. TaiAn Financial LLC arranges the same insurance coverage to J-1 and J-2 visa holders.