Bringing your family

If you intend to travel to the United States with your family, it is important that you ask Emory University (if you are F-1) or your sponsor (if you are J-1) to send you an I-20 or DS-2019 with your dependent's information on the form. Dependents are defined as your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21. The additional costs for dependents are listed on the Financial Certification Statement that accompanied your application for admission. The current amount required for spouse per year is $8,400.00; the current amount required for each dependent child per year is $4,200.00.

All dependents will need a separate I-20/DS-2019 in order to enter the United States. The dependents will need to apply for a F-2 or J-2 visa before entering. The I-20/DS-2019 document must be used to enter the United States with evidence of the visa in the traveler's passport.

J-2 Dependents MUST have insurance during their stay in the United States according to the Department of State's regulations. F-2 Dependents are also strongly encouraged to have health insurance due to the high cost of health care in the United States.

F-2 visa holders are not, under any circumstances, allowed to earn income in the United States. J-2 visa holders are eligible to apply to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services for employment authorization once in the United States.

Please be aware that F-2 dependents will not be allowed to study either part-time or full-time unless they first change to a student status.

The exceptions to this are: 1) F-2 children engaged in full-time study in an elementary or secondary school, or 2) F-2 dependents engaged in part-time study which is avocational or recreational in nature (e.g. crafts class, English as a Second Language, etc.)

Dependent Visa Request

For other services and Information, click here.

For even more resources for spouses and families, click here.