J-2 Employment Authorization Application
I. Conditions
- J-2 dependents' income may not be used to support the J-1 principal.
- You may not work until you receive your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- You may work part-time or full-time on or off campus.
- J-2 dependents may work as long as your EAD is valid
How to Apply
To apply for your Employment Authorization Document (EAD), send the following documents by certified mail to:
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
Eastern Service Center
75 Lower Welden Street
St. Albans, VT 05479-0001**
**Please Note: This is the service center to use if you are currently living in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia or West Virginia. If you are NOT living in one of these states, please contact an advisor at the ISSO about where to send your application.
- Form I-765 (Please note that the "signature card" mentioned in the instructions is no longer required).
- A photocopy of the J-1 visitor's valid DS-2019
- A photocopy of the J-2 visitor's valid DS-2019
- A photocopy of your and J-1 visitor's I-94 Card
- Two passport photos. Print your name and admission number in pencil on the back of each photo, and put the photos in an envelope and attach it to the petition.
- A copy of photo page of your passport and of your J-2 visa page (Canadians may use another form of photo bearing identification)
- A check or money order for $340, payable to Department of Homeland Security
- A photocopy of your previous EAD, if applicable
- A letter (see the sample letter) requesting the employment authorization. In the letter you should state why the employment is desired and emphasize income from your earnings will not be used to support the J-1 Exchange Visitor. You also should indicate the sources and amount of the J-1 Exchange Visitor's support, and include a short budget or statement of family expenses to show that his or her resources are adequate for support of the J-1 principal.
Staple all above documents together and send by certified mail with a return receipt. After mailing inthe documents, you will receive a notice (Form I-797) stating you need to wait for 60 to 90 days to receive your EAD. With the receipt notice, you can check your case status on line at http://uscis.gov. In general, it takes about 3 months to get your card.
Employment Authorization Extension for J-2 Dependents
To be able to continue to work, you need to apply for an extension of your work permission at least three months before it expires. If your work permission expires at the same time as the J-1 visitor's program, the J-1 visa holder should apply for program extension before the extension of your employment authorization.
How to Apply
To apply for extension, you need to follow the same procedures as the first time you applied.
The New EAD:
When you receive the new EAD, you should show it to your employer so your Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) can be updated. For non-academic positions at Cornell the papers should be taken to your hiring department. For academic positions at Cornell, the papers should be taken to the ISSO, B-50 Caldwell Hall.
Note:
If Cornell is not your visa program sponsor: J-1 visa holders whose visa sponsor is not Cornell University (i.e., the form DS-2019 was issued by USAID, Fulbright, or another sponsor, but NOT Cornell) must be sure to obtain the new form DS-2019 from their sponsor well in advance of the 60 day limit. Please make sure you receive the extension form from your sponsor in time!
Tax
J-2 dependents are subject to Social Security taxes, federal income taxes, and where applicable, state income taxes. (see IRS publication 519, United States Tax Guide for Aliens.).