Dependents

F-1 Students

If you wish to bring your dependents with you to the U.S. while you complete your studies, you will need to prove that you have adequate financial resources to support them for the entire length of your program. In addition, in order to include them on your I-20, the Admissions Office will need the names, relationships, as well as the birth dates of your dependents. Please be advised that an I-20 cannot be issued if the proper financial documentation is not proven. To find out how much financial resources need to be shown for each dependent, please contact the Office of International Students. Unfortunately, an I-20 listing your dependents does not necessarily mean that your dependents will be granted an F-2 visa by the U.S. consulate or embassy. The U.S. consular will determine your dependents' ability to be issued an F-2 visa to enter the US. You must also plan on purchasing dependent insurance for each dependent that will be traveling with you.

J-1 Students

You must receive approval by your sponsor in order for your dependents to travel with you to the U.S. If your sponsor approves your request, you need to prove enough financial resources to cover your dependents for each year that you have left in your entire program. You will also need to purchase dependent insurance that extends to the U.S. It is up to your program sponsor to create a new DS2019 listing your dependents (or they can be included in your initial DS2019 if it has not been created as of yet). However, please be advised that issuance of a DS2019 with your dependents listed does not guarantee J-2 visa issuance. It is solely up to the U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country to decide if they meet U.S. visa issuance criteria.

Denials

If for any reason your dependents are not approved for a F-2 or J-2 visa, please contact the Office of Multicultural and International Student Programs for assistance. You need to give us the name and location of the U.S. embassy or consulate to which you applied, the name of the consular who denied the visa application, copies of your financial statements of dependent support, as well as a copy of the I-20 (or DS2019) listing the dependents. Although we offer assistance with visa denials, visa issuance is considered a serious U.S. matter, and we can only intervene to ensure that no error or oversight was made during your application process and cannot guarantee a reverse decision.