Prospective Students

Student Services

UTSA Policy on International Travel to Restricted Regions Department Guidelines for International Policies

Dependents

The spouse and unmarried minor children (under 21 years old) of an F-1/J-1 student can be admitted in F-2/J-2 status to accompany the student to the U.S. or follow to join the student at a later date.

F-2 Dependents
J-2 Dependents

F-2 Dependents

General information
  • F-2 visas are limited to spouses and unmarried children under 21 years old, no extended family.
  • F-2 dependents must have sufficient funds to cover their expenses or that other arrangements have been made to provide for such expenses.
  • F-2 dependents may remain in the U.S. providing they have a valid Form I-20 and their principal F-1 maintains legal F-1 status inside the U.S.
  • F-2 dependents may not accept employment or engage in business under any circumstances.
  • F-2 spouses may not engage in full-time study.
  • F-2 children may only engage in full-time at the K-12 level.
  • Part-time study is permitted only to the extent that it is “avocational or recreational.”
  • F-2 children lose their F-2 status once they marry or reach 21 years of age. If F-2 children want to remain in the U.S., they should apply for an independent status before the end of the F-2 status.
  • F-2 dependents are not required to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee.
Process

1. Submit to International Student Services the required documents below:


You can submit the above documents to International Student Services through one of the three methods:

  • In person. Bring your documents to our office between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
  • E-mail the documents as attachments to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Please do not send compressed files (.zip, .rar, etc). We accept PDF, JPEG, JPG file formats.
  • Mail the documents to:
            UTSA Office of International Programs
            International Student Services
            One UTSA Circle
            Main Building 1.210
            San Antonio, TX 78249

2. Upon receipt of all the required documents, International Student Services will issue a dependent I-20 and updated I-20 for the principal F-1 student. The F-1 student is the signatory for the dependent I-20. Make sure to sign the bottom of page 1 of the I-20s. Note: the SEVIS I-901 fee does not have to be paid.

3. Deliver the F-2 dependent I-20s to your immediate family, along with copies of your F-1 I-20.

4. F-2 dependents apply for an F-2 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

5. If approved for the visa, the F-2 dependents may join the principal F-1 student. F-2 dependents should provide International Student Services with copies of their stamped dependent I-20s, passport ID page with expiration date, F-2 visa, and I-94 within 5 days of their arrival in the U.S.

J-2 Dependents

General information
  • J-2 visas are limited to spouses and unmarried children under 21 years old, no extended family.
  • J-2 dependent DS-2019 can be issued only if the funding of their support and required health insurance is adequate.
  • J-2 dependents may remain in the U.S. providing they have a valid Form DS-2019 and their principal J-1 maintains legal J-1 status inside the U.S.
  • J-2 dependents are eligible to apply for employment authorization with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
  • J-2 dependents may study part-time or full-time in the U.S while the principal J-1 student maintains status.
  • J-2 children lose their J-2 status once they marry or reach 21 years of age. If J-2 children want to remain in the U.S., they should apply for an independent status prior to the end of the J-2 status.
  • J-2 dependents are not required to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee.
Process

1. Submit to International Student Services the required documents below:

  • Completed DS-2019 Request form
  • Financial Support documents: You must provide an additional $5,000 for spouse and $3,000 for each child for an academic year (9 months).
  • Copy of the dependent’s passport ID page with expiration date
  • Copy of the principal J-1 student’s current Form DS-2019, if the student is already in the U.S.
  • Copy of the principal J-1 student’s valid passport ID page with expiration date

2. Upon receipt of all the required documents, International Student Services will issue a dependent DS-2019 and updated DS-2019 for the principal J-1 student. Make sure to sign the bottom of page 1 of the DS-2019s. Note: the SEVIS I-901 fee does not have to be paid.

3. Deliver the J-2 dependent DS-2019s to your immediate family, along with copies of your J-1 DS-2019.

4. J-2 dependents apply for a J-2 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Proof of insurance may be requested by a U.S. Embassy official.
 
5. If approved for the visa, the J-2 dependents may join the principal J-1 student. J-2 dependents should provide International Student Services with copies of their stamped dependent DS-2019s, passport ID page with expiration date, J-2 visa, health insurance card and coverage summary, and I-94 within 5 days of their arrival in the U.S.

 

 

J-1 and J-2 Health Insurance Requirements


All J-1 and J-2 dependents are required to have insurance during the entire period of their program participation which will be listed on their DS-2019. You are required to provide proof of health insurance (Insurance card and coverage summary) at the International Student Orientation.


Minimum coverage should provide:

  • Medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness
  • Repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500
  • Expenses associated with medical evacuation to their home country in the amount of $10,000
  • A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness

Any policy plan or contract must be at minimum underwritten by an insurance corporation having:

  • An A. M. Best rating of “A-“ or above
  • An Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. fating of “A-“ or above
  • A Standard and Poor’s Claims-paying ability rating of “A” or above,
  • A Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above