International Spouses & Partners At Penn
ISPP
ISSS welcomes all international spouses and partners to the Penn community. Families of Penn students and scholars are important to their success here in the US. It is our hope that your time here will be an enriching experience for every member of your family. Discover resources and information below to enhance your Penn experience!
“ISPP provides excellent guidance and support for foreign spouses and partners of Penn students and scholars. ISPP also gave me the opportunity to meet other foreign spouses and partners on a regular basis. I enjoyed meeting new people and making new friendships.”
– TATIANA PRIHODOVA, PARTNER OF WHARTON MBA STUDENT
Join the ISPP Facebook Group
Currently, ISPP mainly takes the form of an online community through the Facebook group. You may use this page to connect with others, ask questions and advice, invite other spouses and partners to gather, and more!
Penn & Philadelphia Resources
- Family Center at Penn – a hub for information, resources, activities and advocacy for students and post-docs with children
- Graduate Student Center – an intellectual and social community of graduate students and scholars from Penn’s 12 schools
- Penn Women’s Center – provides services for the evolving needs of all women at Penn
- Penn Museum – Exhibits featuring world cultures and also programs for kids and families.
- PennCard Center – family members are also entitled to a PennCard (spouse, domestic partners, children)
- International House – Films, Music and more!
- Visit Philly – provides city information and things to do in and around Philadelphia
- Uwishunu.com – the activities and events blog of Visit Philly
- Kids in Center City – provides resources for parents and family friendly events
English Language Courses
Interested in improving your English language skills? You have options! For more information, visit the website of each organization.
- PEDAL@GSE – Free English classes sponsored by the Penn Graduate School of Education Educational Linguistics division.
- Penn Family Resource Center – Free English language lessons for Penn spouses and families in a family-friendly environment where you can meet other international families.
- Penn English Language Programs (ELP) – Penn has its own English Language Programs department for all levels. There is a cost to attend the courses.
Studying as an F-2 Dependent
F-2 dependents are permitted to study part-time at SEVP-Certified Schools. Previously, only avocational and/or recreational courses were permitted.
Below are some key points to consider:
- Enrollment: The enrollment must be less than full-time.
- Courses: Courses taken may lead to a degree or certificate.
- No Additional Documents: F-2 students will not require any additional immigration documents.
For additional information about studying, please visit this website.
Learn More About F-2/J-2 Visa Categories including Employment Eligibility
The spouse and unmarried minor children (under 21 years of age) of the F-1 Student or J-1 Exchange Visitor are eligible for F-2 or J-2 dependent status. A J-1 Exchange Visitor at Penn can be either a “student” or “scholar.”