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Office of International Programs

OISS

Dependent employment

A dependent with J-2 status can apply for employment authorization from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If granted, your dependent will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) valid for the entire period of your DS-2019 or one year, whichever is shorter. The EAD is unrestricted, so your dependent can work for any employer.

Application timeline

Your dependent should wait at least two months after arriving in the U.S. before applying to work. This is because you, as a J-1, certified on your visa application that you have sufficient funds to support all your family members. If your dependent applies for work immediately arriving in the country, it will look like there has been a sudden change in your financial resources.

Please note that income earned by a J-2 dependent is subject to federal, state and Social Security taxes.

Application procedure

To apply for an EAD, your dependent will need:

  1. A brief cover letter that clearly states that the money earned will be used to support the J-2 dependent and not the J-1 scholar.
  2. Competed Form I-765.
  3. A check or money order payable to the Department of Homeland Security for the $410 filing fee.
  4. Photocopy of Form I-94 (front and back) of the J-1 scholar. 
  5. Photocopy of Form I-94 (front and back) for the J-2 dependent.
  6. Photocopy of current Form DS-2019 (both J-1 and J-2).
  7. Photocopy of passport pages (photo page, biographical data page and U.S. visa page).
  8. Two passport-sized photos taken within 30 days against a white background with no shadows:
    • Full face, front view, eyes open without glasses.
    • Full head from top of hair to bottom of chin.
    • Height of head should measure 1 inch to 1-3/8 inches.
    • Head centered in frame.
    • Eye height is between 1-1/8 and 1-3/8 inches from bottom of the photo.
    • Name printed in pencil on the back of each photo.

Mail the application and supporting documents by certified mail with return receipt to either of these addresses:

For U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
P. O. Box 21281
Phoenix, AZ 85036

For Express Mail and courier deliveries:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Attention: AOS
1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S
Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 84034

If approved, your EAD card will be sent to the address provided on Form I-765.