J-2 dependents are defined as a spouse or an unmarried minor child of a J-1 faculty, staff, or student.  A minor child is under the age of 21.

J-2 dependents:

• may enter the US along with or after the J-1 nonimmigrant, but never before
• may be employed with approval from CIS (formerly INS) in the form of an EAD card. Click here for application material and instructions (requires Adobe Acrobat)
• may attend classes at the university
• may be admitted as a full-time degree seeking student
• may remain in the US after the J-1 departs if the J-1's departure is temporary.  A J-1 student's departure is temporary if the student maintains fulltime registration at Purdue. A J-1 scholar, however, is a bit more complicated.  For personal reasons, a scholar could temporarily depart for 30 days or less.  However, non-personal reasons would allow a scholar to have a longer departure be considered temporary.  Click here for a site discussing what constitutes a scholar's temporary departure.

Inviting an J-2 Dependent
J-1 students and J-1 scholars may invite a spouse or unmarried child after arriving at Purdue University by the following method:

1. Submitting a Request Form to ISS
• Student Request Form (for J-1 students)
• Staff Request Form (for J-1 scholars)
2. Providing evidence of financial support for the dependent(s) as follows:
   • $360/month for spouse
   • $220/month for each child
3. Providing a copy of the dependent(s) passport(s)
4. Obtaining a Form DS 2019 from ISS that allows a dependent to enter the US

J-2 dependents apply for J-2 dependent visas at the US Embassy or Consulate with the Form DS 2019. When applying for a J-2 visa, an original or certified copy of a marriage (for spouse) or birth certificate (for child) must be submitted in addition to financial support.