Carnegie Mellon

Bringing F-2/J-2 Dependents and Family Member Visa Information

F-2/J-2 Dependents

F-1 and J-1 students on Carnegie Mellon University documents who wish to bring their immediate family members as F-2 or J-2 dependents should contact OIE with the request. OIE will issue an original I-20 or DS-2019 form for each immediate family member.  Dependents of those in F-1 status will receive F-2 visas; dependents of those in J-1 status will receive J-2 visas.  Note to J-1 students:  If your DS-2019 was not issued by Carnegie Mellon, request dependent documents from your J program sponsor.

To request an I-20 or DS-2019 for dependents, submit the following to OIE:

1.  A completed OIE Request for Services form with the demographic information completed for the dependent you wish to join you.

2.  Documentation of finances to support yourself (tuition plus living expenses) plus additional funds to support the immediate family member dependents.  In addition to any institutional support, funding documentation may be a combination of:

• Original, personal bank statements in English and in U.S. dollars (we cannot accept faxes, photocopies or web printouts) from savings, checking, certificates of deposit, etc. Investment funds that cannot be made liquid for you to use as support will not be accepted.
• If a sponsor will be supporting you, you may submit a letter from the sponsor outlining the support AND documentation of the source of support (for example, original bank statements showing adequate savings, a letter from the employer indicating adequate salary, etc.).

Amounts of funding for students and family members can be found on the OIE website at:  http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/oie/forstu/coming.cfm or on the table below:

Estimated 2008-2009 Expenses
Undergraduates	Tuition Living Expenses Health Insurance Books and Supplies Total	$39,750 $10,050 $1,800 $2,345 $53,945
Graduates	Tuition Living Expenses Health Insurance Books and Supplies Total	contact academic department $15,490 $902 $1,288 $17,680 + Tuition
Dependents	Spouse one child each additional child	$6,764 $3,968 $3,480

Please note that F-2 dependents are not eligible for employment or full-time/part-time studies in the United States.  J-2 dependents may apply for employment authorization to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Click here for further information about J-2 Work Authorization.

Only spouses and dependent children of F-1 or J-1 students are eligible for dependent visas (F-2/J-2).

Family Member Visa Information

Parents, domestic partners and relatives are not eligible for the F-2 or J-2 visa.  Click here for information about how to advise your relatives to apply for a B-2 tourist visa.

Click here for information from the Foreign Affairs Manual (page 24-25) regarding a longer B-2 entry admission for a bona fide domestic partner

Last Updated On:  March 4, 2008