Comment by Bobaso

11 hours ago

Hi, I'm European, working in Europe My wife has a J1 visa To apply for a J2 visa, I need be present and stay in USA for all the duration of the application? no way to come back to Europe in the meantime? How long would the processing take?

The best solution is just to apply for a J-2 visa at a U.S. Consulate rather than applying for J-2 change of status in the U.S. and then once you reenter the U.S. on your J-2 visa you can apply for a work card and travel while your work card application is pending without impacting this application.