Visas may be issued to the spouse, unmarried minor children, and sometimes the parents (if dependents) of a person with a corresponding visa type. For example, the J-2 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued by a consular official at a U.S. embassy or consulate for spouses and dependents of J-1 exchange visitors who accompany or later join the J-1 Visa holder in the United States.
Many classes of visas have their own dependent visa, but others do not.
In Illinois, as in all states, the issuance of visas falls under federal jurisdiction, not state law. The U.S. Department of State oversees visa policies, including those for dependents. The J-2 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa for the spouses and dependents of J-1 exchange visitors. It allows them to accompany or join the J-1 holder in the U.S. for the duration of the J-1's program. Each visa category has specific rules for dependents. While many nonimmigrant visas, such as the F-2 for students' families, H-4 for workers' families, and O-3 for individuals with extraordinary abilities' families, allow for dependents to join the primary visa holder, some visa categories may not provide this option. It's important for individuals to consult with an attorney or the U.S. Department of State's resources to understand the specific regulations for each visa type regarding dependents.