Accompanying Family

Inviting J-2 Dependents

Please read and provide the required information needed for a visa application for family members:

US Department of State regulations on J-2 visas

Financial Requirements

• A minimum of $900 per month for a spouse and $475 for each additional dependent in addition to costs for health insurance and round-trip transportation between the home country and Williamstown;
• The student must provide bank statements from the most recent three months showing available funds (denominated in U.S. dollars) in a U.S. bank account (or in a similar non-U.S. account not subject to potential currency restrictions) held by the student;
  
• OR a signed letter from a financial guarantor (financial sponsor or employer) covering those minimum amounts. If an individual guarantor, the signed letter must be accompanied by three months of supporting bank documents.

Estimated transportation costs: Latin America-$1000 per person; NIS, Africa, and Asia $2000 per person. These amounts may vary widely dependent on exact itinerary and dates of travel.

These amounts are in addition to the total resources required for the CDE student to apply for US visa certification.

CDE Program Requirements

• All students must reside in College housing and purchase the full meal plan unless they are accompanied by their families. Students with families must secure appropriate housing independently; there is no family housing available on campus.
• Those students living off-campus with their families must purchase a meal plan, with the option of either the full meal plan (21 meals per week) or a partial meal plan (10 meals per week).
• Meal plans are committed to by the semester. A student who comes to the CDE alone will be required to purchase the full meal plan, and will remain on the full meal plan through the end of the semester even if his/her family arrives in Williamstown prior to that time.

To Receive Visa Support for Family Members the Student Must:

• Demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support family members;
• Be in good academic standing; and
• Obtain written approval from the financial sponsor and from the permanent employer.

The CDE reserves the right to withhold visa support for family members until the student has established his/her ability to manage the academic component of the program. In such cases, visa documents may be issued after the first round of exams in October, or upon successful completion of the first semester.

Additional Requirements:

• The US Government requires that all J-2 visa holders be covered by minimum standard medical and repatriation insurance in effect from the date of entry into the U.S. through the date of departure.
• J-2 visa holders are expected to comply with the Commonwealth (State) of Massachusetts minimum creditable coverage standards.
• Family members holding J-2 visas must reside with the J-1 visa holder in Williamstown or an adjacent town.
• School age children (those who are between the ages of 6 and 16 as of September 1) are legally required to attend school in the town or school district in which they reside. Children who are age 5 as of September first, or are 17-18 years old may also attend school.
• No visa support for minor children will be issued unless that child will be accompanied in the U.S. by a parent or guardian who is not in the CDE program.
• Family members who plan to visit the U.S. for 90 days or less should apply for a Visitor's Visa.

Required Insurance Guidelines:

Program participants and their dependents are required to have medical insurance from the day of entry to the US, through the day of their departure from the US. Williams College provides insurance to all enrolled students through Gallagher Koster, which meets all federal and Massachusetts state standards. It is also available to family members at an additional cost per person. While health insurance that meets the minimum federal and state standards may be obtained from an alternate company, it is likely that the Williams/Koster insurance will be the least expensive option.