Spouses of non-immigrant students, employees, and exchange visitors at Emory University may be eligible for employment in the United States if they are either in a derivative status that allows employment (J-2) or they have an employer willing to sponsor them for a status that allows employment.

Spouses in other derivative statuses (F-2, H-4, O-3, TD) are not allowed to work. If an employer is willing to sponsor them for H1B employment (specialty occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree), TN employment (Canadian citizens only; position must be on a special list of approved occupations), or O-1 employment (persons of extraordinary ability), the prospective employer will need to submit the appropriate petition to USCIS. Upon favorable adjudication, the spouse's status will be changed and they can begin employment. Similarly, if a spouse is invited to be on an Exchange Visitor Program, the program sponsor will have to issue them an DS-2019, and the spouse will need to either file an I-539 petition (change of status, which could take several months) with USCIS or exit the country with the DS-2019 form, apply for a J-1 visa at a U.S. consulate, and reenter in J-1 status to begin the J-1 program.