Dependent Visas
Summary
This page provides information on visas for dependents and family members joining an international student or scholar while they’re at Harvard.
The spouse and unmarried children (under 21 years of age) of the student or scholar coming to Harvard are eligible for "dependent" visa status. To obtain dependent visa status, the international student or scholar must request a dependent visa document from the Harvard International Office. It is often necessary for the family to show that they have additional financial resources to support themselves while living in the U.S.
Dependent Visa Types
For a basic description of the different dependent visas, click the appropriate visa type below.
F Visa
The accompanying spouse and children (under age 21) of the F-1 visa holder are referred to as F-2 dependents.
- F-2 visa holders can remain in the United States as long as the F-1 student is enrolled or otherwise maintaining status.
- F-2 visa holders are not permitted to engage in paid employment in the United States under any circumstances.
- F-2 spouses are allowed to enroll in less than full course of study even if that part-time study eventually leads to a degree or certificate. F-2 children may enroll in primary or secondary school.
- F-2 visa holders are not eligible for Social Security Numbers.
To request a Form I-20 for accompanying dependents(s), please fill out a Dependent Data Sheet and submit it along with a Document Request Form to the registrar's or admissions office at your school. You may need to show additional funding for dependent expenses.
For travel outside the U. S. the following documents are required for re-entry to the U.S.:
- Valid Form I-20, signed once a year on page two by an advisor in the HIO
- Valid F-2 visa in the passport (except for Canadian citizens)
- Passport that is valid for at least six months after the date of re-entry
J Student
J-2 Status Defined
A J-1 student's spouse and unmarried children aged of 21 or younger are eligible for J-2 status. The J-2 Form DS-2019 can be issued once evidence of sufficient funding for their expected living expenses and required health insurance is provided. Each J-2 dependent will have their own Form DS-2019 with a SEVIS number. J-2 visa holders do not have to pay the SEVIS fee. J-2 visa holders must sign their own Forms DS-2019 unless they are younger than 14 years of age in which case the J-1 visa holder must sign the Form DS-2019 as a parent or guardian. Each J-2 dependent may accompany or follow to join the J-1 student in the United States and remain here while the J-1 student maintains status here. All J-2 dependents are required to comply with applicable federal regulatory requirements, such as maintaining required health insurance. J-2 visa holders may study in the United States.
To request a Form DS-2019 for accompanying dependent(s), please fill out a Dependent Data Sheet and submit it along with a Document Request Form to the registrar's or admissions office at your school. You may need to show additional funding for dependent expenses.
Maintaining J-2 Status
J-2 dependents may study part time or full time in the United States while the J-1 student maintains status here.
Employment Permission
J-2 visa holders may apply for work permission with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) once they arrive in the U.S. To apply for work permission, please refer to applying for employment authorization.
Travel
For travel outside the U. S. the following documents are required for re-entry to the U.S.:
- Valid Form DS-2019 signed once a year in the "travel validation" section by a Responsible Officer of your spouse's Exchange Visitor Program
- Valid J visa stamp in the passport (except for Canadians)
- Valid passport
J Scholar
J-2 Status Defined
A J-1 scholar's spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 are eligible for J-2 status. The day the child turns 21, they become ineligible for a dependent J-2. The J-2 Form DS-2019 can be issued once evidence of sufficient funding for their expected living expenses and required health insurance is provided. Each J-2 dependent will have their own Form DS-2019 with a SEVIS number. J-2 visa holders do not have to pay the SEVIS fee. All Forms DS-2019 should be signed by the J-1 visa holder.
Each J-2 dependent may accompany or follow to join the J-1 scholar in the United States and remain here while the J-1 scholar maintains status here. All J-2 dependents are required to comply with applicable federal regulatory requirements, such as maintaining required health insurance. J-2 visa holders may study in the United States.
To request a Form DS-2019 for accompanying dependent(s), please fill out a Dependent Data Sheet and submit it along with a Document Request Form to your HIO advisor. You may need to show additional funding for dependent expenses.
Maintaining J-2 Status
J-2 dependents may study part time or full time in the United States while the J-1 scholar maintains status.
J-2 Employment Permission
J-2 visa holders may apply for work permission with USCIS once they arrive in the U.S. To apply for work permission, please follow these instructions.
J-2 Travel Outside the U.S. and Re-entry
For travel outside the United States the following documents are required for re-entry to the U.S.:
- Form DS-2019 signed once a year in the "travel validation" section by a Responsible Officer of your spouse's Exchange Visitor Program
- Valid J-2 visa in the passport (except for Canadian citizens)
- Valid passport
H Visa
Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 of H-1B visa holders are considered dependents and are eligible for H-4 status. H-4 visa holders are only eligible to stay in the U.S. while their H-1B spouses or parents are in the U.S. maintaining the terms and conditions of their H-1B visa status.
H-4 visa holders are not permitted to work in the U.S. and are not eligible to obtain Social Security Numbers. H-4 visa holders may apply to change their visa status to H-1B if they qualify for the specialty occupation requirement and find an employer who is willing to file a petition on their behalf.
H-4 visa holders may study in the U.S., full-time or part-time, for the duration of the H-1B's period of stay.
H-4 visa holders cannot be issued H-4 visas if the H-1B visa holder does not have an H-1B visa in their passport. If the H-1B visa holder obtained a change of status in the U.S. and has not traveled abroad to obtain the H-1 visa, dependents will not be eligible for H-4 visas at a U.S. consulate.
For travel outside the U.S. the following documents are required for re-entry to the U.S.:
- Original Form I-797, H-4 Approval Notice from the USCIS or copy of spouse's I-797, H-1B Approval Notice which is valid for a period beyond the anticipated travel
- Valid H visa stamp in the passport (except for Canadian citizens)
- Valid passport
O Visa
The spouse and unmarried children (under 21 years of age) of are eligible for dependent visa status. Dependents of O-1 visa holders are classified in O-3 status and are not eligible for employment under any circumstances. However, O-3 visa holders may attend school full time.
For travel outside the U. S. the following documents are required for re-entry to the U.S.:
- Original Form I-797, O-3 Approval Notice from the USCIS or copy of spouse's I-797, O-1 Approval Notice which is valid for a period beyond the anticipated travel
- Valid O visa stamp in the passport (except for Canadian citizens)
- Valid passport
TN Visa
The spouse and unmarried children (under 21 years of age) of a TN visa holder are eligible for TD status. Individuals in TD status are not permitted to work, but they may engage in part-time or full-time study. If an individual in TD status is a Canadian citizen, they are exempt from the consular visa requirement.
For travel outside the U.S. the following documents are required for re-entry to the U.S.:
- Unexpired passport
- Proof of relationship with TN visa holder (marriage certificate or birth certificate)
- Citizens of Mexico: must have a valid TD visa stamp in their passports
E-3 Visa
The spouse and unmarried children (under 21 years of age) of E-3 visa holders are eligible for dependent visa status. The dependent spouse and children of an E-3 non-immigrant do not have to be Australian Citizens to be eligible for E-3 dependent status.
Additionally, E-3 spouses are eligible to apply for employment authorization after arriving in the United States and are eligible for Social Security Numbers once they obtain their work authorization. E-3 children are eligible to attend school either full-time or part-time.
For travel outside the United States the following documents are required for re-entry to the U.S.:
- Valid E-3 visa stamp in the passport
- Valid passport
- Copy of Form I-797, E-3 Approval Notice if applicable
Employment of J-2 Dependents
Individuals in J-2 status are eligible to apply for U.S. employment authorization by submitting an application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). J-2 dependents are not eligible to work in the U.S. until they have received approval from USCIS in the form of an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Authorized dates of employment for J-2 dependents are noted on the EAD, and usually match the dates on the Form DS-2019. J-2 dependents must be in the U.S. in J-2 status in order to submit an application for employment authorization. Once an application has been received by USCIS, it may take 4-6 months to be approved. We advise that you make a photocopy of your entire employment authorization application for your own records before mailing it to USCIS.
Please note, USCIS does NOT accept applications for J-2 work permission online. To request this work authorization, you must follow the instructions below to prepare and mail a hard copy application to USCIS.
When applying for J-2 work permission, the J-2 visa holder must provide:
- Completed Form I-765 signed in black ink by the J-2 visa holder. Review the instructions on how to complete the Form I-765.
- Copy of the J-2's I-94 print out.
- Copy of the J-1's I-94 print out.
- Photocopies of both the J-1's and the J-2's most recent Forms DS-2019.
- Photocopies of the personal data (photo) page of the J-1's and J-2's passports.
- Photocopies of most recent U.S. visas in the J-1's and the J-2's passports (not applicable to Canadian citizens).
- $520 application fee. You may pay the fee by electronic debit from a U.S. bank account using Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH Transactions, or by credit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions. Refer to the USCIS website to confirm fee information.
- A written statement requesting J-2 work authorization.
- Proof of marriage to the J-1 visa holder (e.g. marriage license); if the proof of marriage is not written in English, a translation to English must be provided.
- Two U.S. passport-sized photographs with photograph specifications.
- Photocopy of the J-2's previous EAD (if this is an extension application).*
*For an extension of your work permission, you should apply as early as possible but no more than 180 days before your current employment authorization expires. J-2 visa holders may not apply for an extension of their employment authorization until the J-1 visa holders have their status extended. If the extension hasn’t been approved by USCIS, the J-2 visa holder must stop working once the initial EAD expires.
To complete the application process, you must mail the completed application materials to the USCIS. Please note the two different addresses depending on the shipping method used.
USCIS Elgin Lockbox
U.S. Postal Service (USPS):
USCIS
Attn: NFB
P.O. Box 4115
Carol Stream, IL 60197-4115
FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:
USCIS
Attn: NFB (Box 4115)
2500 Westfield Drive
Elgin, IL 60124-7836
Note: It is advisable to mail the application from a U.S. Post Office by "certified mail or return receipt requested," and to make photocopies of the entire application for your own records. If you have any questions, please connect with an HIO advisor during our daily virtual advisor on call hours.
Once you receive J-2 work authorization (EAD), you will need to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN). You may find instructions on the Social Security Numbers page of the HIO website.
Income earned by J-2 dependents is subject to federal and state income taxes as well as Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA).
Additional Information
When applying for a visa and first coming to the United States, a dependent may be asked for evidence of the relationship to the Harvard student or scholar (such as marriage certificate and/or birth certificate). We recommend bringing certified copies of these documents – with English translations, if applicable. This is especially important if the primary visa holder will be paid by Harvard and may be eligible for employee benefits.
Unmarried partners (opposite or same sex) are not eligible for dependent visas. To compensate for this policy, the U.S. government provides discretion for U.S. consular officials to grant B-2 tourist visas for partners not eligible for a dependent visa. The U.S. Department of State citation on this policy is located in section 9 FAM 402.2 Cohabitating Partners, Extended Family Members, and Other Household Members not Eligible for Derivative Status of the U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual. Additional background information on the citation is also available.
The Visa Waiver Program for citizens of certain countries is not included in this policy. Those entering under the visa waiver program must depart the United States within 90 days of arrival. Visitors traveling under the Visa Waiver Program will need pre-clearance authorization called ESTA prior to traveling. Visitors are responsible for presenting evidence of ESTA approval at the port of entry to the United States. Please be sure to print out the approval when applying for ESTA.
When applying for a B-2 visa based on cohabitation, the partner applying should have documentation verifying the long-term nature of the relationship. Such documentation might include:
- Marriage certificate or registered domestic partnership agreement
- A statement from the principal partner coming to Harvard verifying the long-term nature of the cohabitating relationship
- A copy of the U.S. immigration document for the principal partner coming to Harvard University
- Any other type of documentation that supports the spousal nature of the relationship
Presentation of this documentation to a U.S. consular officer does not guarantee the issuance of a B-2 status on the basis of a cohabitating partnership. Please be advised that B-2 visa holders are not eligible for a Massachusetts state driver’s license or identification document. Additionally, B-2 visa holders may not qualify for certain types of health insurance. Please consider carefully all of your possible immigration options prior to applying for a B-2 visa to accompany a partner to the U.S.
Unmarried partners may be eligible for certain benefits offered by employers, local governments and agencies if the couple has registered their partnership. Both Boston and Cambridge offer partner registration services.
Inviting Friends and Family Members to the U.S.
For family, relatives, and friends to visit you temporarily in the U.S., including coming to Commencement, they will most likely need to apply for a tourist visa (B1/B2 visa). There are no specific visa documents, e.g. Form I-20 or DS-2019, with which to apply for a B1/B2 visa. However, there are some guidelines on what a consular official expects of applicants. Applicants should be prepared to explain the following points:
- The visit to the United States will be temporary.
- There are adequate funds to cover the cost of transportation and cost of expenses (accommodation, food, etc.) in the United States.
- The visitors have residences outside the United States to which they intend to return.
For the first item listed above, both an invitation letter from you and a certificate of attendance letter from your school may be helpful. A certificate of attendance letter is usually provided by the registrar's office at your school. Some schools provide letters of invitation to Commencement. Please inquire with your school.
For the second item, your family or friends may provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover their expenses while in the United States in the form of a bank statement. Alternatively, you may provide your current bank statement as evidence of adequate financial support to cover their temporary stay in the United States.
For the last item, proving the intent to return home can be documented by evidence of a job, family, property or other strong ties to their home country. The applicants should be prepared to answer questions about their intent. Please refer to the guidance from the U.S. Department of State on what constitutes as strong ties.
- Applying for a visa: For many individuals a B1/B2 visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate outside the United States is needed to enter the United States. Guidance on visa application is available on the web site of the U.S. Department of State. Please note that Canadian citizens and citizens of Visa Waiver countries do not need to obtain visas for this purpose. Please note that visitors traveling under the Visa Waiver Program will need pre-clearance authorization called ESTA prior to traveling. They must present evidence of ESTA approval at the port of entry to the United States. Please be sure to print out the approval when applying for ESTA.
- Entering the United States: The length of stay that the U.S. government official grants to the visitor is discretionary, normally no longer than 6 months. B visa holders are advised to print out their I-94 . The I-94 indicates how long a B visa holder may remain in the United States. Extensions may be requested with USCIS at a later date.
Since the purpose of a tourist visa does not directly involve Harvard's visa sponsorship, the statements you need should not come from the HIO. Please inquire with your school for a certificate of attendance letter. If your school is willing to write a letter of invitation on your behalf to invite your family or friends for Commencement, here is a sample letter that can be used.
New Alien Registration Requirements (Spring 2025)
Beginning in April 2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires young nonimmigrants who turn 14 while in the United States to "re-register" with USCIS within 30 days of their birthday. This may affect, for example, F-2, J-2, H-4, O-3, and TD dependents of Harvard-sponsored students and scholars.
For additional information, visit Understanding the Alien Registration Requirement
The law requires non-U.S. citizens residing in the U.S. to register with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by providing personal information including fingerprints and home addresses.
USCIS published a web page called Alien Registration Requirement, that explains who and how certain individuals must "register" or "re-register.” This page includes a useful tool that you can use to determine whether the requirement applies to you or not.
Most nonimmigrants are already registered. Most nonimmigrants (for example, F-1, J-1, H-1B, O-1, etc. and their dependents) who were aged 14 or over when they entered the United States were likely already registered with the U.S. government upon their arrival. You have completed registration, and you will not have to re-register under this new program if you:
- Received a visa at a U.S. consulate;
- Arrived at a U.S. port of entry and were admitted by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer; and
- Received a Form I-94 (either on paper or electronically).
Canadians are exempt from the registration requirement, except for some tourists who never received an I-94 at a land border. All Canadian citizens present in F, J, TN, H, O, or other Harvard-sponsored immigration statuses are considered registered based on their I-94 information.
All noncitizens aged 14 and older who were not fingerprinted or registered when applying for a U.S. visa and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer must apply for registration and fingerprinting. Parents and guardians are responsible for registering children under 14. Once a child reaches their 14th birthday, they must apply for re-registration and fingerprinting within 30 days.
- If you have dependent children who turn 14 years old while in the U.S., you must take steps to register them.
- Those in a dependent immigration status (e.g., F-2, J-2, H-4, O-3, etc.), who have turned 14 since their last entry into the U.S., should re-register.
- Parents and guardians are responsible for registering children under 14. Once a child reaches their 14th birthday, they must apply for re-registration and fingerprinting within 30 days.
The G-325R, which will serve as the registration form, is accessible in applicant MyUSCIS accounts.
The USCIS has not specified a fee for the alien registration process itself. However, according to INA 266, willful non-compliance can lead to significant penalties, including misdemeanor conviction, civil fines of up to $1,000 or imprisonment of up to 6 months, and potential immigration consequences.
- Registration does not provide a legal immigration status or work authorization.
- The HIO provides general guidance on these matters based on information obtained from reliable sources and reflecting our years of experience working with students and scholars. We make every attempt to ensure that we provide you with the most up to date information available. Any advice provided to you by our office (as well as the information provided here) does not constitute legal advice.
- It is your responsibility to make sure you and your dependents continue maintaining your Harvard-sponsored immigration status.
- The HIO does its best to provide you with the most current guidance, but please be advised that the Department of Homeland Security, USCIS, or other U.S. government agencies may change their respective interpretations of these policies, procedures, regulations, and eligibility requirements at any time. The HIO is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the aforementioned entities.
- Information about such changes will be provided to you by email and can also be reviewed on the What’s New section of our website.