Family & Dependents

An F-1 or J-1 student may bring their spouse and children to the U.S. These family members are admitted as F-2 or J-2 dependents. For information regarding newly admitted students who wish to bring immediate family members, please visit the Applying for a Student Visa section of the New Students section.

F-1/J-1 students may add a spouse or children as F-2/J-2 dependents. To add a dependent, the following items must be submitted to the IO:

  • Financial documentation; amounts should reflect at least $6,300 for a spouse, and $4,300 per child.
  • Marriage certificate and birth certificate(s) with a certified English translation.

For more information regarding adding immediate family members as dependents, please review the F-1/J-1 Dependent Request Form. This form can also be accessed via the Forms and Policies section of the IO website.

Processing Time: Completed applications may take 3-5 days to process.

For F-2 Spouses


F-2 spouses may only enroll in classes that are avocational and recreational in nature. This means that any classes that F-2 spouses take should be recreational in nature or done as a hobby. F-2 spouses may not be enrolled in a full-time or degree-seeking program. F-2 children may only engage in full-time study at the K-12 level. Further, F-2 dependents may not accept employment or engage in business under any circumstance. Please see an advisor at the IO if you have questions.

For J-2 Spouses


The J-2 spouses of NU scholars are free to enroll in classes at any level. Enrollment may be on a part-time or full-time basis. If a J-2 spouse wishes to enroll in a full-time degree-seeking program at NU or any other post-secondary institution, it may be advantageous to consider a change of visa status to F-1 or J-1 student. Please contact an advisor at the IO for more information.

J-2 spouses may apply for employment authorization (EAD) from the USCIS to be employed in the U.S. A J-2 spouse may only begin working after receiving the EAD from USCIS. For more information and the application procedure, please contact an advisor at the IO.