International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

Inviting Your Spouse/Child

If you want to bring your spouse and/or children to the United States, you can request to add them at the time of admission and they can be added to your initial I-20. If you request to add a dependent after you arrive in the U.S., you must obtain a new form I-20 (F-1 students) or DS-2019 (J-1 students). After obtaining a new I-20 or DS-2019, your spouse and/or children can then apply for an F-2/J-2 visa at the U.S.. embassy or consulate in their home country. F-2/J-2 dependents are defined as a spouse or an unmarried minor child (below 21 years of age) of an F-1/J-1 student.

Inviting F-2/J-2 Dependents

F-1 or J-1 students may invite a spouse or unmarried children (under the age of 21) to join them at SIUE by providing the following documentation to the Office of International Affairs:

Complete the Request to Add F-2 or J-2 Dependents. You should review the Tuition and Fees to determine how much funding you need as a student and the estimated additional amounts you need to show per dependent.

You will need the following documents to complete the request:

• Copy of photo passport page for each dependent
• Evidence of financial support for one year (dated within the last 6 months), including your new dependents. Acceptable forms of financial documentation include:
  • Bank statements or bank letters in your name
  • Financial Affidavit (completed and signed by you and your sponsor)
  • Scholarship from government/organization/employer
  • SIUE scholarships

Please allow 4 business days to receive the new I-20.

All family members must be covered by medical insurance while they are in the United States. After dependents arrive in the U.S.., the F-1 or J-1 student must update his/her personal information with the Office of International Affairs to reflect the presence of dependents.

F-2 Visa Guidelines

A student with an F-2 visa may enroll in courses on a part-time basis and even pursue a degree program, but cannot enroll full-time while on the F-2 visa. Please note that if the F-1 is not in status, the F-2's status is no longer valid. An F-2 applicant who is considering studying full time will need to obtain the F-1 visa status prior to enrolling full time. F-2 visa holders are not eligible to work in the U.S..

If the dependent changes his or her status successfully to F-1 or another status, the F-1 or J-1 principal visa holder must have his/her name and dependent expenses removed from the Form I-20 or DS-2019. Please email [email protected] to request this change on your I-20 or DS-2019.