J2 Visa Questions, please help?

[karvagear]

What does it mean by "Money earned by a J-2 cannot be used to support the principal J-1 Visa holder." If I am working full time on an exchange program with a J1 visa can my husband still work and bring in funds to our home?
Can my children (2+4yo) go to school on a J-2 Visa?

[Latonyadodson]

What does it mean by "Money earned by a J-2 cannot be used to support the principal J-1 Visa holder." If I am working full time on an exchange program with a J1 visa can my husband still work and bring in funds to our home?
Can my children (2+4yo) go to school on a J-2 Visa?

Hello,

The J-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa for spouses and dependents (unmarried children under the age of 21) of J-1 exchange visitors who accompany or later join the J-1 holder in the United States. J-2 visa holders may study or work while in the United States, but they must obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before they can start working.

One of the conditions for obtaining an EAD is that the money earned by a J-2 cannot be used to support the principal J-1 visa holder. This means that the J-2’s income must be used for other purposes, such as recreational and cultural activities, travel, to gain work experience, for career advancement, etc. The J-2 must provide a written statement explaining the reason for seeking employment and how the income will be used. The J-2 must also show that the J-1’s funding is sufficient to cover the living expenses of the family.

Therefore, if you are working full time on an exchange program with a J-1 visa, your husband can still work and bring in funds to your home, as long as he has an EAD and his income is not used to support you. He must also demonstrate that your income is adequate to meet your family’s needs.

As for your children, they can go to school on a J-2 visa, as there is no regulatory restriction on study for J-2 dependents. However, if they wish to remain in the United States to pursue an education beyond the age of 21, they must change their status to a separate student visa. J-2 children are also allowed to attend U.S. public schools (Kindergarten-12th grade).

I hope this helps you.

Best regards,
Latonyadodson

[alexcray]

What does it mean by "Money earned by a J-2 cannot be used to support the principal J-1 Visa holder." If I am working full time on an exchange program with a J1 visa can my husband still work and bring in funds to our home?
Can my children (2+4yo) go to school on a J-2 Visa?

J-2 dependents can apply for work authorization in the US with an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). However, the money earned by the J-2 visa holder cannot be used to support the primary J-1 visa holder financially.