F-2 & J-2 Dependents

Dependent requests as an F-1 or J-1 visa holder

UAlbany students and scholars on F-1 and J-1 visas may request I-20s or DS-2019s for eligible dependents, so their dependents may accompany them to the U.S. on F-2 or J-2 visas.

Dependents include a student or scholar’s spouse and/or their children under the age of 21. Note: Children born in the U.S. are not eligible for I-20s or DS-2019s and do not require them.

F-2 and J-2 dependents have restrictions on study and work while in the U.S., and their status is dependent on the F-1 or J-1 visa holder’s status. For guidance on how to obtain and maintain an F-1 or J-1 visa, please review the appropriate webpage below:

Questions? Please contact the office you work with on campus for assistance:

Requirements & restrictions for F-2 dependents
Requirements & restrictions for F-2 dependents
  • F-2 dependents may not work in the United States and are not eligible for Social Security numbers (SSNs).
  • F-2 dependent children can study in kindergarten through 12th grade. They should follow local education district requirements. 
  • F-2 dependents may engage in college/university level study at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified school in the United States as long as they are enrolled less than full-time. They may file for a change status to F-1 if they want to enroll full-time. 
  • F-2 dependents should be added to your health insurance coverage. Contact your benefits coordinator or sign up for international insurance. 
  • F-2 dependents can travel with or separately from the F-1 visa holder but must carry all required documents, including a current I-20 with a valid travel signature, a valid (unexpired) passport with at least six months of validity left and a valid F-2 visa. Please visit the Travel Guidance for International Students & Scholars webpage for detailed guidance. 
Requirements & restrictions for J-2 dependents
Requirements & restrictions for J-2 dependents
  • J-2 dependents may apply for U.S. work authorization granted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). J-2 dependents must wait until they have received an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS before beginning any employment. Please contact [email protected] for more information. 
  • J-2 dependents may engage in full-time or part-time study at the college/university level. 
  • All J-2 dependents must enroll in required international health insurance. If you are adding J-2 dependents after you’ve arrived in the U.S., please contact ISSS at [email protected] for guidance. 
  • A J-2 dependent can travel outside the U.S., with or separately from the J-1 visa holder, but the J-2 dependent must carry all required documents, including a current DS-2019 with a valid travel signature, a valid (unexpired) passport with at least six months of validity left and a valid J-2 visa. Please visit the Travel Guidance for International Students & Scholars webpage for detailed guidance. 
  • A J-2 dependent’s status is dependent upon the J-1 visa holder’s status, so a J-2 dependent should not remain in the U.S. for an extended period of time while the J-1 visa holder is outside the country.  
Childcare & school
Childcare & school

In New York State, the school year begins the first week of September and runs through late June. School starts with kindergarten and ends in 12th grade.  

All children who will be six years of age or older before December 1 can enroll in school in New York State.  

There is no tuition for children attending New York State public schools, and bus transportation may be provided, depending on where you live.  

Public school districts are determined by your place of residence. For example, if you live in the city of Albany, your school district would be the City School District of Albany. Contact your local school district directly for registration information.

There are also several private and charter school options in the Capital Region.

If you have children under the age of five, you may have to pay for qualified daycare or babysitting. Please plan ahead, as childcare for young children can be quite expensive and have a waitlist. 

 

How to bring dependents with you to Albany

Step 1: Gather required documents
Step 1: Gather required documents

Financial documentation

For each dependent, you are required to show an additional proof of finances (beyond the amount you for which showed proof to obtain your F-1 or J-1 visa):

  • $4,000 U.S. dollars per dependent for a full year
  • $2,000 U.S. dollars per dependent for part of a year

This may be a funding letter from your academic department or an external source, a personal bank statement, a family member or friend’s bank statement with a signed financial affidavit of support, or any combination of these sources.  

You may use multiple accounts/sources as long as the cumulative total meets the minimum required.
 

Passport(s)

You will also be required to submit photocopies of your dependents’ passport biographical page. Your dependents’ passports must be unexpired and have at least six months of validity remaining.
 

Proof of health insurance

University Scholar Fee(s)

J-1 visa holders connected to UAlbany’s Visiting Scholar Program must pay the J-2 Scholar Dependent Fee for each of their dependents before requesting DS-2019s.

Step 2: Request I-20s or DS-2019s from ISSS
Step 2: Request I-20s or DS-2019s from ISSS

F-1 visa holders should request I-20s for each of their dependents. J-1 visa holders should request DS-2019s for each of their dependents. Please follow these instructions:

  1. Log into AccessISSS via the AccessISSS portal or the Sunapsis app (available on the App Store and Google Play).
  2. Select “Dependent Request” from the EForm menu.
  3. Complete the form and upload supporting documents.  

Note: Visit the AccessISSS Instructions page for detailed guidance on using AccessISSS, including how to upload files.

ISSS will send updates on your request to your UAlbany email address. Please allow up to five to seven business days for processing. 

Step 3: Have your dependents apply for F-1 or J-1 visas
Step 3: Have your dependents apply for F-1 or J-1 visas

Once your dependents have received their I-20s or DS-2019s, they must apply for F-2 or J-2 visa status.  

  • If they are currently outside the U.S., they should apply at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country.
  • If they are currently in the U.S., they must either leave the U.S. to apply for a visa and return in their new status or apply for a change of status within the U.S.

If you have questions about either of these options, please contact ISSS at [email protected].