Good morning everyone,

I am new here and kindly seek your advice.

I recently got a fully funded PhD offer with a tuition waiver and stipend of $31,000 per annum. I have two daughters aged 7 and 2 years. The 2 year old is a US citizen. I wish to go with my husband and two daughters. My questions are as follows:

1. Is this stipend amount enough to cover for a family of four? If not, how do I calculate the amount needed?

2. Do I need to include my two year old, who is a citizen, in my I-20 as a dependent and consequently apply for F2 visa for her?

3. If the two-year old won't be applying for F2, it means her upkeep cost will not be reflected in the I-20. Should I, nonetheless, let this reflect in my POF?

4. My older daughter and husband were denied J2 visa twice in 2018 (before my baby was born) when they applied with me as dependents. Only my J1 was approved as it was self funding then. Would this affect their chances of getting F2 visas this time?

5. Is it likely the VO would ask for proof of payment of hospital bills for the birth of my younger daughter? I completed all payments, though it was by installments.

6. Due to past refusals, I'm thinking of applying with my older daughter first, when we get approval, my husband can then apply for his. Or should we all apply at once?

7. Finally, my daughter's Nigerian passport and mine will expire in June 2023. The PhD program is for 5 years. Do we need to renew our passports before applying for the F1/F2 visa?

I will be most grateful if I get answers to these questions as I have no one else to ask.

Thank you.