Housing
School Age Children
Obtaining a Visa
Reasons for Visa Denials
Employment for Dependents

The spouse or unmarried minor children (under the age of 21) of a J-1 exchange visitor may accompany the scholar to the United States or follow at a later date. If you would like your family members to join you at UNH, you must make a request to the OISS at least 60 days (or more, during the busy period from April to August) in advance of your dependents' anticipated arrival:

Submit the following with your request:

For EACH family member:

•  
  • full name (underline family name)
  • date and place of birth (city and country)
  • country of citizenship
  • country of legal permanent residence
  • relationship to you (spouse, son, daughter, etc.)
  • photocopy of passport page with biographic information

You must also show proof of adequate financial support for your dependents for the duration of their stay in the United States. You must show:

• $6,000 for the first dependent, and
• $4,000 for each additional dependent

Acceptable evidence of adequate financial support includes:

• a recent, original monthly bank statement (less than 3 months old),
• a letter from your bank on official bank letterhead indicating the name of the account holder, the date the account was opened, and the bank balance.

Documents must be in English, and funds must be in U.S. dollars.

Photocopies are not acceptable.

Verification of Health Insurance: All "J" Exchange Visitors are required to carry adequate health insurance for the duration of their program -- both for themselves and for any accompanying dependents. The insurance must include coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains.

You must complete a separate Health Insurance Compliance Form for each dependent.

As soon as your dependents have obtained their visas, you are required to purchase adequate health insurance for them and to provide proof of that coverage to the OISS immediately after your dependents arrive.

We cannot issue documents to bring your dependents to the U.S. without proof of insurance coverage. If there is no insurance policy to cover your family and a medical emergency arises, hospital, physician and prescription bills can run into thousands of dollars and you will be liable to pay these medical bills. Scholars in non-immigrant status are not eligible for any type of U.S. federal government aid or funded programs (e.g., subsidized housing, Medicaid or other subsidized health care, food stamps, etc.) to assist them or their families while they are in the U.S.

Top

Housing

If you are currently living in Babcock Hall, you need to arrange for alternate housing as your family will not be able to live there. Also, if your dependent(s) will arrive during the academic year, you will have to file a petition with the Housing Department requesting to be released from your contract. Be aware that your petition to Housing may be denied. Even if the petition is approved, there is no guarantee that you will receive any type of refund. Contact the Housing Department at 862-2120 for more information.

If you intend to live in Forest Park, note that there is usually a waiting list and that space may not be available. Apply as early as possible in order to increase your chances of getting an apartment.

If you are already living in Forest Park, you must notify the Forest Park office that family members will be joining you.

Top

School Age Children

If you are bringing your school-age children to the US, you need to make sure that all their medical immunizations are up-to-date and documented. The following are the general minimum requirements for children entering schools in New Hampshire:

• 4 doses DTAP/DTP (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) -- last dose after 4th birthday;
• 4 doses IPV/OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) or 3 doses of TOPV/eIPV -- last dose after 4th birthday, or 4 valid doses administered at any time;
• 3 doses Hepatitis B for children born on or after January 1, 1993;
• 1 dose MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) given on or after the first birthday, with a second dose of MRR before entry to school (at least one month after the first dose)
• 1 dose of varicella vaccine (or a parent-reported case of chicken pox) for children entering Kindergarten or first grade
• A mantoux test for TB (Tuberculosis) is recommended for anyone coming from a country with a high incidence of this disease.

These vaccinations must be properly documented. In addition, you will need an official birth certificate and complete medical history for each child. You will not be able to enroll your children in school without these documents.

Top

Obtaining a Visa

In order for your dependent(s) to obtain a J-2 visa, they will need to present the following items to the Consular Officer at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country which serves their place of residence:

• Form DS-2019 (this will be given to you by the OISS after you have provided all of the documentation listed above)
• valid passport(s)
• proof of adequate financial support
• proof of their legal relationship to you (copy of marriage certificate, birth certificate)
• evidence of close ties to the home country (e.g. a job from which they have obtained a leave of absence and to which they intend to return (employer should state this in writing), and/or evidence of the ownership of personal or business property in the home country.

Top

Reasons for Visa Denials

The main reasons for denial of non-immigrant visas at U.S. Embassies or Consulates overseas are:

• failure to convince the Consular Officer of the intent to return home at the end of the authorized stay
• inadequate financial support.

Work Authorization for J-2 Dependents

Although some J-2 dependents may be eligible to obtain work-authorization from the US immigration service once inside the US, you may not use this as documentation of sufficient financial support to the U.S. Consulate. You should not depend on your spouse working to help support you or your family.

Top