The J-2 Visa
About the J-2 Visa
- Signed J-2 Dependent Visa Sponsorship Agreement for all dependents over the age of 18
- Copy of your valid passport
- Biographical details, including your relationship to the J-1 applicant, emergency contact, and email address
- Full payment of the dependent fee and dependent insurance fee for each dependent. Read more about fee details.
Applying for the J-2 Visa
Step 1: Complete your J-2 Visa application and schedule your J-2 Visa interview.
- 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.
- Appointment and application procedures vary by embassy/consulate, so review the instructions for scheduling an appointment on the website of the embassy/consulate where you plan to apply. You may also review the instructions we provide to J-1 participants on scheduling an embassy interview.
- You will need your SEVIS ID number to complete the DS-160 Visa application. Your SEVIS number is unique and will be different from the SEVIS number of the J-1 visa holder. Your SEVIS ID number can be found in your acceptance email from InterExchange as well as in the top right hand corner of your DS-2019 Form.
- Canadian citizens are exempt from an embassy/consulate visit and will not need a J-2 Visa to cross the border into the U.S. However, your DS-2019 Form and proof of SEVIS payment must be presented at the border.
NOTE: Wait times are longer at certain times of the year and you may not be able to get an appointment before your proposed arrival date. If this happens, please contact InterExchange immediately to let us know your arrival will be delayed.
Step 2: Print and sign your J-2 DS-2019 Form.
Once InterExchange has approved your application for J-2 Visa sponsorship, you will be able to download your J-2 DS-2019 Form from the J-1 participant’s InterExchange portal. The DS-2019 Form is not a visa application form or a J-2 Visa. Instead, it certifies your eligibility and permits you to apply for a J-2 Visa.
- Review the DS-2019 form and thoroughly check that the information is accurate (e.g. your name, dates, etc.). Errors on this form could result in a visa denial. Please inform InterExchange Career Training USA immediately if you discover any errors.
- Print the J-2 DS-2019. A printed version of this form is required; the embassy will not accept digital versions on your phone or via email.
- Once printed, sign your name at the bottom of the DS-2019 Form under “Exchange Visitor Certification” on the first page. Your signature is an explicit acceptance of the terms and conditions of the program listed on page 2 of the form.
- It is your responsibility as a participant of this program to abide by the laws of the federal, state, and local governments of the United States, as well as the rules and regulations set forth by InterExchange, your program sponsor.
- Keep your DS-2019 Form in good condition throughout the entire visa process and your stay in the U.S.
Step 3: Gather the required documents and attend your J-2 Visa appointment.
- Carefully follow the visa application instructions on your home country’s embassy/consulate website, and review our tips on preparing for a visa interview.
- Gather any supplemental materials (e.g. proof of ties to home country, proof of sufficient funds, photographs, etc.).
- Print the SEVIS fee payment receipt.
NOTE: Though J-1 Visa holders must pay a SEVIS fee, J-2 Visa holders are not required to do so. InterExchange will pay the J-1 Visa holder’s SEVIS fee, and confirmation of payment is sent to the J-1 Visa holder upon visa sponsorship approval. As a J-2 Visa applicant, you will still need to demonstrate proof of payment by the J-1 Visa holder when applying for your visa by bringing a copy of the SEVIS payment receipt sent by InterExchange. Please remember that other fees may be required; confirm the exact amounts required by your embassy/consulate.
Step 4: Receive your J-2 Visa.
- 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.
- If you are denied a visa, please contact InterExchange immediately to discuss your options for reapplying.
- In many cases you will be able to reapply and will simply need to bring information that you did not have during your first attempt.
- Be sure to contact us so that we can help you decide if reapplying is a good idea and amend your program dates, if necessary.
Important Documents
The DS-2019 Form
The DS-2019 Form is a U.S. Government document that permits you to apply for a J-2 Visa at the U.S. Embassy in your home country.
The DS-2019 Form:
- Serves as proof of sponsorship for your J-2 Visa.
- Identifies InterExchange as your program sponsor.
- Describes the purpose of the program, which is intended for the J-1 holder to intern in the U.S., while you accompany them as a dependent spouse or a child (under 21 years of age).
- States the time period that you are legally permitted to remain in the U.S.
Printed copies of this form are required for your embassy interview and your entry into the U.S.
J-2 Visa
- The J-2 Visa is a sticker that is added to your passport by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
- The J-2 Visa allows you to enter the U.S. when you present it with your printed DS-2019 Form at U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) upon arrival.
- You cannot obtain a J-2 Visa stamp within the U.S.; it must be obtained in your home country. It is generally valid for one, two, or multiple entries into the U.S.
- The J-2 Visa has an expiration date, which may or may not be the same as the date on your DS-2019 Form.
I-94
- The I-94 record is your U.S. Arrival/Departure record. If you are coming to the U.S. by air or sea, your arrival will be recorded electronically by CBP.
- You can access and print your electronic arrival record I-94 record. You will keep this printed copy with other important documents like your DS-2019 Form and J-2 Visa.
- Visitors coming to the U.S. through a land border (most common with Canadian or Mexican participants) will receive a paper I-94 record from the CBP officer upon entering the U.S. If you do receive a paper I-94, you will be required to surrender the I-94 when leaving the U.S. so that your departure can be recorded properly.
Employment Authorization
- J-2 participants are eligible to work in the United States, but they must first apply through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for work authorization.
- To qualify for employment authorization, you will be asked to prove that the job you are doing is not intended to support the J-1 holder. Instructions are available on the USCIS website.
Social Security Number
- If your Employment Authorization is approved, you may then apply for a Social Security Number, which is a unique nine-digit number that your U.S. employer will need in order to put you on their payroll.
- Should you enter the U.S. on a future work or study program, your Social Security number would remain valid, so please keep your number and card in a safe place.
- PROTECT YOUR PERSONAL ID AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION: Your Social Security number is yours alone. Do not allow others to use your number. Record your number in a safe place in case your card is lost or stolen. Protect both your card and your number to prevent misuse.
- Review our instructions on applying for a Social Security Number.
NOTE: You are not eligible for a Social Security number unless you first apply for employment authorization. If you already have a social security number, you may not work in the U.S. on a J-2 Visa without first applying for employment authorization.
Insurance Information
- InterExchange arranges the same insurance coverage for J-1 and J-2 Visa holders. Insurance details can be found on our insurance resources page.
- J-2 Visa holders must be insured for their entire stay and pre-purchase insurance for the number of months they will be in the U.S.
- If arriving before the start date indicated on your DS-2019 Form, you must purchase additional insurance to ensure you are covered during this time frame. InterExchange will order your insurance upon arrival in the U.S., and you will receive an insurance card via email within approximately two-three days of your arrival.
- Please note that this is not health insurance; it is accident and sickness insurance. Health insurance is comprehensive and includes preventative care and regular check-ups, as well as care for pre-existing and ongoing conditions. Accident and sickness insurance, though, is simply for accidents and unexpected sickness.
- If you require regular, ongoing care, you must ensure that you arrange for a secondary health insurance plan in addition to the accident and sickness insurance provided through InterExchange.
- Similarly, if you have an ongoing illness for which you require more extensive care, you may want to consider temporarily interrupting your program to seek treatment at home. In addition, if your condition is severe, you may want to consider returning home early in order to receive lower cost treatment in your home country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents does InterExchange need to consider my J-2 Visa sponsorship application?
We’ll need a copy of your passport, relationship to the J-1 holder, contact information, and other biological details to provide visa sponsorship. If you are above the age of 18, you will also need to sign and return InterExchange’s J-2 Dependent Visa Sponsorship Agreement.
How much funding does the J-1 visa holder need to provide if they bring dependents?
The J-1 Visa holder will need to consider all costs associated with bringing J-2 dependents to the U.S. Please keep in mind that there is no guarantee a J-2 dependent will receive work authorization. Therefore, the J-1 Visa holder must prove they can support all J-2 dependents independently without needing to rely on additional income from a J-2 dependent. Please contact us directly to discuss the recommended proof of funds amount for your particular situation, as it may vary based on location, number of dependents, and whether you intend to bring dependents under the age of 18.
Is the J-2 holder required to apply for a visa at the same time as the J-1 holder?
Applying for visas together will likely make the visa process easier for dependents. However, J-2 applicants may apply for a visa after the J-1 applicant. Please note that there may be additionals fees for separate interviews, depending on the Embassy/Consulate.
Is the J-2 holder required to arrive at the same time as the J-1 holder?
Most family members choose to arrive together, but J-2 holders may apply for a visa and/or travel to the U.S. separately as long as they have a valid DS-2019 and J-2 Visa. However, J-2 Visa holders may not arrive in the U.S. before the J-1 Visa holder.
How long am I allowed to remain in the U.S.?
The length of your program is dictated by the J-1 holder’s program dates. The dates on your DS-2019 will match the dates on the J-1 holder’s DS-2019.
Similar to J-1 participants, most J-2 holders are entitled to a 30-day grace period to settle your affairs and to travel within the U.S. after your program ends. Your grace period begins the day after the program end date on your DS-2019 Form. You must exit the U.S. by the 30th day of your grace period in order to remain in good standing.
To see if you have been granted a grace period, confirm that the arrival stamp in your passport says “D/S”. This means “duration of status”, which denotes your program dates plus 30 days. If your arrival stamp does not say “D/S” and instead has a date written on it, you must leave the U.S. by that date, even if it is before your program end date.
Are J-2 holders allowed to work?
J-2 holders may only work if they are first approved by USCIS for work authorization. To qualify for employment authorization, you will be asked to prove that the job you are doing is not intended to support the J-1 holder. Instructions are available on the USCIS website.
Are J-2 holders allowed to attend school?
J-2 Visa holders may attend school while in the United States. Please contact the prospective school to find out the requirements for enrolling.
What should I do if I need to travel outside the U.S.?
If you plan to travel outside of the U.S. during your program, you must receive a travel validation signature from InterExchange before departing the U.S. Please submit your request for travel validation at least one week before your intended travel date. Review our tips on travel during your program.
Can I travel outside the U.S. without the J-1 holder?
Yes, you are free to travel outside of the U.S. on your own once you obtain a travel validation signature. There is no limit to the amount of time a J-2 holder may spend outside of the U.S. Remember to bring all your documents with you and inform InterExchange each time you travel.
Am I allowed to remain in the U.S. if the J-1 holder leaves?
No, you must return home if the J-1 holder is no longer completing a program in the U.S. Similarly, former spouses may not maintain J-2 status after a divorce from the J-1 holder.
