Bringing Family

Approximately 35% percent of VIF teachers bring one or two immediate family members to the U.S. under a J-2 visa. VIF encourages applicants to consider the costs of supporting a family when they apply to the Program. VIF strongly recommends that you limit the number of family members who will join you to one accompanying family member for each English-speaking, working adult. Experience has shown that this arrangement is the most successful, both personally and financially, for VIF teachers and their families.

Eligible Family Members

Only legal spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 are eligible to accompany you to the U.S. on a J-2 visa.* J-2 visa sponsorship is subject to VIF approval. Any other family members must obtain visitor's visas. All J-2 dependents must return home within 30 days of your term's end.

General Considerations

As a requirement of the J-1 visa, you, the VIF teacher, must have sufficient financial resources to pay for all the expenses of each accompanying family member with a J-2 visa (known as a J-2 dependent) during participation in the VIF Program. There are significantly higher costs for each additional person you bring (spouse/children), such as insurance, food, housing, childcare and travel. One or two people can live comfortably on one teacher's salary, assuming that you don't have outstanding financial obligations at home.

Your child may be able to attend the school where you'll be teaching, depending on the grade level you teach and your child's age. After accepting a position, you should contact the school district to find out its enrollment requirements. In many public school systems, the school that a child attends is determined by where they live, so you may want to consider this when choosing housing.

As a VIF teacher, you will have an opportunity to interact with many new people everyday. You will have the opportunity to build a social network and become engaged in the cross-cultural experience almost immediately. If you have school-age children, they will have the same opportunity. Spouses are often the ones that have a more difficult time, especially when they do not work.

J-2 Visa

Eligible dependents must apply for the J-2 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of citizenship or legal residency. A J-2 visa will allow the family member(s) to enter the U.S. as your (the J-1 visa holder) dependents. If you plan to bring your family to the U.S., you should inform your VIF Advisor, so he or she can prepare the paperwork you need.

Family Employment Possibilities

To work once in the U.S., any eligible family members (on a J-2 visa) must apply for (1) work authorization through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and (2) a Social Security Number through the Social Security Administration. Appropriate work authorization forms must be submitted by postal mail once you are in the United States. Please be aware that this process may take 90 days or longer.

* Dependents who marry or who turn 21 during the course of the Program will need to leave the U.S. and obtain their own visa, as they will no longer be eligible for sponsorship in J-2 status.