what is a j2 visa

Full Answer

Who is eligible for J-2 visa?

The J-2 visa is for a dependent spouse or an unmarried child who is under the age of 21. J-2 status enables dependents to stay in the United States during the J-1 visitor's program.

How long is a J-2 visa good for?

2 yearsJ-2 Visa Validity If your spouse with a J-1 has a visa valid for 2 years, your J-2 visa will be valid for the same time. If the J-1 visa holder applies for a visa extension and is approved, you are also eligible to apply for an extension. When your extension is approved, you will get a new DS-2019 form.

What does J-2 visa means?

What is the J-2 Visa? The J-2 Visa is a non-immigrant visa issued by a consular official at a U.S. embassy or consulate for spouses and dependents (unmarried children under the age of 21) of J-1 exchange visitors who accompany or later join the J-1 holder in the United States.

Is J-2 visa allowed to work?

J-2 visa-holders are authorized to work in the U.S. as long as they obtain an EAD (Employment Authorization Document) card from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Currently, EAD cards are taking up to 90 to 120 days to process. On item #9, leave blank if you do not yet have a Social Security number.

Can a J-2 apply for green card?

Can I Get a Green Card with a J-2 Visa? A J-2 visa is not considered a path to permanent residency. However, in some cases, a J-2 visa applicant may be able to remain in the United States by changing their status. You can find a job that is willing to sponsor you on an H-1B visa, for example, and apply for that job.

Can I do residency on J-2 visa?

Yes you can do residency on J2,but you need to get an EAD along with J2.

Can you convert J-2 to J-1?

Can I change my J2 Visa status to another Visa Status? A J-2 may be able to Change Status to another visa. However, the defining factor is whether the J-1 visas has a two-year home residency requirement, which this condition normally applies to J-2 dependents, and should always be considered.

Can J-2 visa be rejected?

The regulations do allow, however, for informal review of a consular officer's adverse determination. An individual who is denied a visa must be advised of the specific reasons for denial and given an opportunity to present evidence to overcome the stated objections. Applicants can reapply for a visa.

How long does it take to get J-2 EAD?

Allow 2-5 months processing time to receive your employment authorization document (EAD). The earnings of J-2 dependents are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes. If you wish to renew your EAD, you will need to submit a new application and allow another 2-5 months processing time.

How long does it take to process J-2 EAD?

Processing time at the USCIS is estimated to be 6-12 weeks.

What is the J-2 Visa?

J2 Visas are designated for spouses and minor children of J1 Visa holders. J1 Visas are for Exchange Visitors. J2 Visa holders are dependent on the J1 Visa holder’s status. If their status ends, so does the J2 Visa eligibility.

How can I apply for the J2 Visa?

Similarly to the first step in obtaining a J1 Visa, spouses or dependents of the J1 visa applicant must get their own Form DS 2019 from a sponsor program to start the application process. For more details on finding the right sponsor program, please visit the official J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa Program site.

Other J2 Visa Benefits

In addition to the ability to accompany a J1 Visa spouse while he or she is in a sponsored exchange program, J2 Visas also grant the following privileges:

What is a J-2 visa?

A J-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued by the United States for spouses and dependents of J-1 exchange visitors. Any J-2 visa with the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) can work for any employer in the US without sponsorship. 39.350 J-2 visas were issued in 2017.

Can a J-2 student change to F-1?

J-2 visitors who have not completed their academic program by the time the principal J-1's status ends may petition for a change to F-1 student status, provided they are not subject to the Two-Year Home Residency Requirement.

What should be stated in a J-2 visa?

When you got the J-2 visa, the J-1 person stated that they have enough financial resources to support you. Your reasons for getting an EAD should include travel, recreational, and cultural purposes. You cannot use your employment salary to supplement the income of the J-1 person. The statement should also contain information about the J-1 person, including their category, sponsor details, and salary or stipend.

How long is a J2 visa valid?

This means that your J-2 visa is valid as long as the J-1 visa is valid too. If your spouse with a J-1 has a visa valid for 2 years, your J-2 visa will be valid for the same time.

How long do you have to stay in your home country for a J-1 visa?

Since most J-1 visas have a two year home residency requirement, the same applies to their dependents too. So if your spouse has that requirement, your J-2 visa is also dependent on that requirement. This means that after your visa expires, you will have to return to your home country and remain there for 2 years before you can apply for a similar visa, except for a visitor or tourist visa.

What can J2 holders do?

One of the most important things that J-2 visa holders are allowed to do while in the country is seek employment in the U.S. They can do so by getting an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). They can get the EAD only after they have arrived in the U.S.

How long does it take to get a J2 visa?

However, a general time frame for how long it takes to process the J-2 visa is around 30 days or 1 month. So from the time you submit your application to the U.S Embassy, you can expect a response regarding whether you got the J-2 visa or not in 30 days time.

Can I change my J-2 visa status?

Some J-2 visa holders want to change status to another visa. This is only possible if you don’t have a two year home residency requirement. You can find a job which makes you eligible for a different type of visa, such as an H-1B visa and apply for it. In that case, your employer needs to file your Form I-129 so that you are allowed to start employment.

Is a J-2 visa the same as a J-1?

The J-2 visa application is similar to the J-1 visa application. If the J-1 sponsor allows them to bring dependents, they will issue them a separate DS-2019 form. With that form the J-2 application procedure is as follows:

What is the procedure for a dependent visa?

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.

Can extended family members get a J-2 visa?

Extended family members, such as parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and beyond, are not eligible for a J-2 visa.

Can a J-2 visa be used before a J-1 visa?

A J-2 visa holder can enter the U.S. at the same time as a J-1 visa holder or after that. However, a J-2 visa holder cannot enter the U.S. before the J-1 visa holder.

Can a J-2 student study in the US?

Study. J-2 dependents may study in the U.S. without being required to apply for a student (F-1) visa or change to F-1 status. They may enroll in academic programs as recreational or degree-seeking students. They may enroll either full-time or part-time. They may discontinue their studies at any time.

Can a J-2 student be a part time student?

They may enroll either full-time or part-time. They may discontinue their studies at any time. If a J-2 dependent’s academic program has not ended by the time a J-1 holder’s status ends, they can change to an F-1 student status, as long as they are not subject to the Two-Year Home Residency Requirement.

Can a J-1 visa holder travel without a visa?

If the dependents of a J-1 visa holder do not intend to stay in the U.S., but would like to visit for vacations only, they may be eligible to apply for visitor (B-2) visas. Alternative ly, if they qualify, they can travel without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program.

What is a J2 visa?

The J2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa which allows the dependants (spouses and unmarried children under 21) of J-1 visa holders to enter into the U.S.

When can a J-2 child be waived?

In cases of death or divorce from the J-1, or when a J-2 child reaches the age of 21, the Waiver Review Division may entertain requests for waivers on behalf of the J-2. The Division will need:

What is a check made payable to the USCIS?

Check or money order made payable to the USCIS for the filing fee, or receipt from bank for fees paid for consulate.

How long is the grace period for J status?

The J status grace period is for 30 days. During this grace period you may legally stay in the U.S. after the expiry of your J status.

What is DS-2019?

If the spouse and/or children apply for visas at a later date, Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility, must be obtained from the sponsor and furnished together with a copy of principal applicant’s J-1 visa.

Can I change my J2 visa?

Yes, you may apply for J2 visa change of status, but only if you are not subject to the home residency requirement. If you are changing job, or taking up a job which requires separate status, have your employer file Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, at the USCIS Regional Service Center with jurisdiction over your case.

Where to make a qualification for various classifications and conditions and limitations on employment?

Qualifications for various classifications and conditions and limitations on employment should be made by the prospective employer or agent in the U.S. to the nearest USCIS office

What is a J2 visa?

What Is the J2 Visa? The J2 visa is a dependent visa issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). It is a specific visa issued to spouses and dependents of J1 exchange visitors. These people may go on to accompany or ultimately join the J1 visa holder in the United States.

How long can a J2 visa last?

So if their program is going to last for two years , then the J2 visa holder may apply for the full two years of duration, if not less.

What happens if a J1 visa expires?

You are dependent on the status of the J1 visa holder. If it expires or is withdrawn, then it directly affects your status.

What is the I-94 document?

This document summarizes your U.S. arrival and departure. Whenever you’re crossing the border, you need to show this document. If this is your first time in the U.S., then you’ll be provided with your copy of the I-94.

Can a J2 visa be used for work?

Fortunately, a J2 visa allows such individuals to contribute and earn a living for themselves. This is contrary to the B2 visa, which prohibits them from obtaining employment.

Can spouses get a visa?

Spouses are given preference for this visa and are immediately made eligible.

Can DS-2019 be rejected?

When filing immigrant-related applications like form DS-2019, you shouldn’t shy away from seeking professional help wherever necessary. A small error may result in the rejection of your application.

What is a J2 Visa?

The J2 visa is a non-immigrant visa for the dependents of a J1 visa holder (Exchange visitor). Under this visa, immediate relatives (spouse and children under 21 years old) are able to join their spouse or parent in the U.S. while they complete their program.

How to apply for a J2 Visa?

Acquiring a J2 visa will depend on the type of program the J1 visa holder is enrolled in. For example, if they are in a program that does not allow a dependents visa, such as au pair or camp counselor, they are ineligible to apply for a J2 visa. Furthermore, eligible J1 visa holders who wish to have their immediate family members join them in the U.S. while completing their program must have their employer agree to sponsor the J2 visa petition.

What is the 2-year home residence requirement?

Under this requirement, the exchange visitor must return to their home country after their program ends and live there for at least 2 years before applying for another visa.

How long is the J2 visa valid?

If a visa extension is approved for a J1 visa, the J2 visa is then also eligible for a visa extension. If an exchange visitor must return to their home country to satisfy a 2-year residency requirement, the J2 visa holder must also do the same.

Can you study in the U.S. on a J2 Visa?

In addition to being able to work in the United States with an employment permit, J2 visa holders can also enroll in academic programs without having to file for an F1 visa. These programs can be either recreational or in the effort to obtain a degree.

Domestic Partners

A J-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued by the United States for spouses and dependents of J-1 exchange visitors. Any J-2 visa with the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) can work for any employer in the US without sponsorship. 39.350 J-2 visas were issued in 2017.

Eligibility

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