Skip to main content
NIH Logo NIH Logo

Office of Research Services

Serving the NIH Community

Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted. The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov. Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov.

​​​​

NIH Visiting Program Scientists

Visiting Program Scientists

J-2 Visa Holders Overview

​​​J-2 Visa

The J-2 visa is a non-immigrant visa for dependents (spouses and unmarried children under age 21) of J-1 Exchange Visitors. Each family member must possess their own Form DS-2019. If you are a J-2 Dependent sponsored by NIH, see our Dependent Family Members page.

J-2 Dependents Volunteering at the NIH

Depending on the type of activity, a J-2 dependent may or may not be able to volunteer at the NIH. Permissible volunteer activities for J-2 dependents are ones that are recognized volunteer activities. That is, they are open to any person who wants to volunteer and would not displace a U.S. worker. For example, volunteering with the NIH Clinical Center’s Patient Volunteer Ambassador Program would be a permissible, recognized volunteer activity.

HOWEVER, J-2 dependents can only be “Special Volunteers” at the NIH provided they have received a valid Employment Authorization Document from the USCIS. Special Volunteers do *not* fit the above description because they provide a service to the NIH, such as research services, direct patient care, clerical support, technical assistance, or any other necessary service for the NIH. The NIH receives a benefit from the unpaid service. Such service requires permission to work. See J-2 Employment Authorization Procedures.​​

DIS Info

​​​​​Service Hours:
9:00AM - 4:00PM ET

Non-FTE Check-In/EOD:
Monday By 11:30am (​in local time zone of lab)
Submit Online​
Document Pickup:
By Appointment
J-1/J-2 Travel Signature Requests:​
Submit Online
Badge Validation:
Submit Online​