Family Information
Can my family accompany me to the U.S. if I am selected to teach with the VIF Program?
As VIF sponsors teachers on the J-1 cultural exchange visa, we also sponsor immediate family members as dependents on the J-2 visa. Family members eligible for J-2 visa sponsorship include a legal spouse and dependent children under the age of 21.
Can my spouse legally work in the U.S. on the J-2 visa?
Work opportunities for spouses vary depending on the area in which you are living. Spouses under the J-2 visa must submit a work authorization application and the required application fee to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) if they are planning to seek employment. This approval process may take 90 days or more. In many cases, family members are able to find work similar to what they were doing in their home countries.
My child will turn 21 while in the U.S. on a J-2 visa. What happens then?
The J-2 visa for your child will end when the child turns 21. The child will be required to leave the country at that time.
Can my children attend the school where I teach?
Your children will be eligible to attend public school in the U.S. In many cases, children can attend the school where their parents teach. After accepting a position with VIF, it is important to contact the school to find out the enrollment requirements.