1. The J-1 Exchange Visitor must Complete the Form DS-2019. Each Form DS-2019 has two pages. The ISO has created a separate Form DS-2019 for each family member who will enter the United States in J-2 visa status. Please remember that the J-1 Exchange Visitor must sign the “certification” on the bottom of page one on each family member's Form DS-2019.

2. The J-2 dependent must submit the Form DS-2019 to a U.S. Consulate or Embassy to apply for a J-2 visa stamp [Canadian citizens, please read the information below]. The J-2 visa is a nonimmigrant visa, and the consul who issues the visa stamp must be satisfied that you do not plan to immigrate to the United States. The burden of proof will be on you to show you have a residence in your home country which you do not intend to abandon and that you qualify for the J-2 visa category.

Please note:

• J-2 dependents are NOT required to pay a SEVIS fee before applying for a visa stamp or admission to the United States. Only the J-1 Exchange Visitor must pay this fee. Click here for more information about the SEVIS fee.
  
  
• J-2 dependents may apply for their J-2 visa stamps either with the J-1 Exchange Visitor or separately, without the J-1 Exchange Visitor. If you apply separately, we recommend that you bring with you a copy of the J-1's appointment or invitation letter from MIT, and documentation supporting the J-1's funding listed on the Form DS-2019.

3. Upon entry to the United States, you will complete a Form I-94 Arrival/Departure record. The Form I-94 is a small, white card that will be stamped by the immigration examiner and stapled inside your passport when you enter the United States. It is a very important immigration document, so be sure to complete it carefully. Your name on the I-94 card should be written exactly as it appears in your passport and on your DS-2019.

4. When you arrive at the airport or border, present your DS-2019 along with your passport and J-2 visa stamp to the immigration examiner, and request to be admitted in J-2 status. The immigration examiner should mark your Form I-94 with the notations “J-2” and “D/S” (duration of status).

Please note:

• Like J-1 Exchange Visitors, J-2 dependents may enter the United States up to 30 days before the start date listed on the Form DS-2019. However, unlike J-1 Exchange Visitors, who must enter the United States within 30 days after the start date listed on the Form DS-2019, J-2 dependents may enter the United States at any time after the start date.
  

Please check in with the ISO. We are located in Building 4, Room 105. Please bring the following documents to our office upon arrival: your passport, Form I-94, Form DS-2019, and J-2 entry visa stamp. We will review your documents and provide you with a travel signature at this time.

Canadian citizens are never required to obtain a visa stamp from a consular officer. However, they are admitted in a specific visa classification and must present the Form DS-2019 at the border or port of entry in order to be admitted in J-2 status and be given a Form I-94 with the correct notations. Canadians are typically asked to pay a $7 border-crossing fee related to the Form I-94.

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Please do not leave the United States without the immigration documents that are required for your return. You must have a valid J-2 entry visa stamp in your passport and a valid Form DS-2019, signed on the front by an ISO staff member, in order to re-enter the United States. Be sure to check your documents before departing the United States. We will be happy to assist you with questions about your documents. If your visa stamp has expired or will expire soon, please check with us to get the proper instructions for applying for a new visa stamp. It is not possible to apply for a U.S. entry visa stamp within the United States. Special regulations apply to visits to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands. Click here for more information. We also recommend that you read our latest Travel Advisory.

Permission to work will be authorized by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) if the employment is for support of the spouse and/or minor children in the United States but not for the support of the J-1 Exchange Visitor. The money earned may be for J-2 travel, recreational, or cultural activities. If the income is needed to support the Exchange Visitor, USCIS will not authorize employment. Click here for instructions.