Dear all,

I am in the middle of my application for an LLM in the US starting in 2015. What weighs on my mind is that my boyfriend wants to accompany me (and of course I want him to accompany me, too), but we don't know how to organize this. Has any of you any experience or ideas on this?

Thanks a lot in advance,
Luna2006

In two words.... get married.

:-D We've indeed already thought of that, but a marriage or rather a corresponding visa will not allow him to work in the US - which unfortunately is necessary to finance his stay...

he might be eligible for a F-2 visa; check with the schools you have in mind to apply to. As others have already suggested, this kind of Visa may be for spouses only...

only J-2 visa allows employment, after applying for an employment authorization document (which can take up to 3 months). You should ask your university if they are willing to issue you J-1 visa, especially if you have external funding that can be easier. An F-2 visa will allow your spouse to be with you but he will not be allowed to work at all. Take in mind that those types of visas are only for officially married spouses.

my colleague's spouse in here on a J-2 visa, and he can indeed work in the US. Beware, however, tha the J-1 visa may require you to return to your country for a period of residence upon completion of your US studies (at least it used to be like this). Moreover, J-1 visa is usually for researchers, not for students. Still it is worth asking...