Inviting Your Spouse/Child
If you want to bring your spouse and/or children to the United States, you must obtain a new form DS-2019. After obtaining a new DS-2019, your spouse and/or children can then apply for J-2 visas at the US embassy or consulate in their home country. J-2 dependents are defined as a spouse or an unmarried minor child (below 21 years of age) of a J-1 visa holder. Before the SIUE Office of International Affairs can issue a new DS-2019, you must provide the following support documents for each family member.
Inviting J-2 Dependents
J-1 scholars may invite a spouse or unmarried children (under the age of 21) to join them at SIUE by the providing following documentation to the Office of International Affairs:
- Completed Request to Add F-2 or J-2 Dependents.
- Copy of photo passport page for each dependent.
- Evidence of financial support for one year (dated within the last 6 months), including your new dependents. Acceptable forms of financial documentation include:
- Bank statements or bank letters in your name
- Bank statements or bank letters in a sponsor’s name (requires submission of the SIUE International Student Financial Form, found on the admissions website)
- Scholarship from government/organization/employer
- SIUE scholarships
After dependents arrive in the U.S., you must update your personal information with the SIUE Office of International Affairs to reflect the presence of dependents. As principal visa holder, you must bring all DS-2019 documents and family member passports to SIUE Office of International Affairs so copies can be made for our records.
If the J-2 dependent changes his or her status successfully to J-1 or another status, the J-1 principal visa holder must have his/her name and dependent expenses removed from the form DS-2019. Please stop by the SIUE Office of International Affairs to request this change on your DS-2019.
