The F2 visa is a visa for dependents of F1 visa holders. As such, it is directly related to the conditions that the F1 visa holder has. There is no cap for it, dependents should just fulfill the requirements and complete the application procedures to get the visa.
F2 Visa Requirements
To be eligible for an F2 visa, you must fulfill the following criteria:
- Be the spouse of an approved F1 visa holder, or
- Be the unmarried child under 21 years old of an approved F1 visa holder
- Have the financial means to support the family during your stay in the US
Besides these conditions there are also documents that you need to compile before you can begin your F2 visa application.
Supporting Documents for an F2 Visa Application
Here are the requirements for an F2 visa application:
- Your current and previous passports.
- Photocopies of your passport pages.
- The DS-160 confirmation page.
- Proof of financial stability. You can use bank or tax records, employment pay slips, etc as proof.
- A Photograph. The photo must be taken within the last six months.
- Interview confirmation letter.
- The receipts which prove you have paid the necessary fees.
- The DS-160 confirmation page.
- Your original Form I-20 and one copy.
- A copy of the F1 visa holder’s I-20 form.
- A copy of the F1 visa (if applicable).
- If you are applying separately, the copy of the F1 visa holder’s passport.
- Original marriage certificate if you are the spouse of the F1 visa holder.
- Genuine marriage proof such as:
- Wedding album.
- Wedding guest list.
- Receipts of wedding spendings.
- Receipts of honeymoon trips.
- If married at the registrar, submit the wedding affidavit and pictures of you and your spouse with the wedding witnesses.
- Genuine marriage proof such as:
- Original birth certificate if you are the child of the F1 visa holder.
How to Apply for the F2 Visa?
The steps to apply for an F2 visa are as follows below:
Step 1: Get a Form I-20
When the F1 visa holder gets accepted into a SEVP institution, the school releases a Form I-20. The form I-20 details the purpose of the visa, an estimate of expenses, and the time the educational program lasts. For the dependents of the F1 visa holder to get an F2 visa, the F1 person should inform the SEVP institution that the dependents also intend to apply for the visa.
With this information, the SEVP institution will also compile and release a form I-20 for the dependents too. Each person who wants to apply for an F2 visa must have a form I-20 to qualify for an F2 visa. After getting this form, the application procedure follows similar procedures to other visas.
Step 2: Fill in Form DS-160 online
The DS-160 form should be submitted online with all the necessary information. When you submit it, the page will generate a barcode and confirmation page which you need to retain for later on.
Step 3: Pay the visa fees
The F2 visa has an application fee of $185. You must pay this fee to be able to proceed with the application. Upon completion of payment, you will get a receipt that proves it and you should keep it for later on. There might also be other fees depending on the country or US Embassy you are applying from, such as visa issuance fees or reciprocity fees.
Whereas the F1 visa holder is responsible for also paying the SEVIS I-901 fee, the F2 visa applicant is exempt from this fee.
Step 4: Schedule your visa interview
As an F2 applicant, you can apply at the same time as the F1 applicant, or you can apply separately. If you are applying together, you can schedule the visa interview at the same time. This procedure is actually recommended. However, if you are applying separately, you need to schedule your own visa interview. When scheduled, you will get an interview confirmation letter which you will show to the officers at the US Embassy to prove you have an appointment.
Step 5: Gather and complete your F2 Visa document file
When you go for your visa interview, you need a file with the required documents. Make sure that the file is complete and there are no important documents missing because your application depends on it.
Step 6: Attend your interview
Go to your visa interview on time with all the necessary documents. You will have questions regarding your relationship with the F1 visa holder and your intentions for being in the US. If the visa interviewer suspects that you are hiding something or that you intend to violate F2 visa rules, they will deny your visa.
What is the Processing Time for the F2 Visa?
After your F2 interview, you might get a response immediately from your interviewer on whether you got the visa or you were denied. However, it is more common that the wait will be a few days or weeks.
This is because the US Embassy will take their time to look over your documents and responses. They will particularly focus on you and the F1 visa holder’s financial situation to determine whether you can cover your expenses while in the US.
What Can I Do With an F2 Visa?
Since the F2 visa is directly related to the F1 visa, it will have the same validity. If your spouse on an F1 visa is allowed to stay in the US for 2 years, your F2 visa will also have a validity of 2 years.
| What You Can Do | Description |
|---|---|
| Extend Your Stay | You can apply to extend your F2 visa if the F1 visa holder gets a new Form I-20 and extends their stay. To renew the F2 visa, file Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) and include evidence of your relationship with the F1 holder and proof of financial support. |
| Change Your Status | – You can apply to change to an F1 visa if you enroll in an academic program at a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-approved institution. – You can also change to an H-1B visa if you find an employer willing to sponsor you for employment, following USCIS procedures. |
| Get a Green Card | – If the F1 visa holder applies for and receives a Green Card, the F2 visa holder can automatically receive a Green Card as a dependent. – The F2 holder can also independently pursue an Employment-Based Green Card or switch to a dual-intent visa to apply for a Green Card. |
What are the Limitations of the F2 Visa?
With the F2 visa being a dependent visa, there are many restrictions to what you can and cannot do while in the US. The purpose of the F2 visa is for families to remain together while the person with the F1 visa gets their educational degree, which can be for several years. It has no other purpose, and that is why these are the limitations to having it.
| Limitation | Description |
|---|---|
| Work Prohibition | There are no F2 visa work permits, and no paid employment is permitted. You may volunteer or do unpaid work but cannot enter into any employment agreements. |
| No Social Security Number (SSN) | Since F2 visa holders cannot work, they are ineligible for a Social Security Number (SSN). They can only obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for tax purposes. |
| Limited Educational Enrollment | Not allowed to enroll in a full degree program, such as a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. They can only take non-credit bearing courses, such as recreational or hobby-based classes. Child dependents can attend elementary and middle school but need a status change to enroll in high school. |
| Travel Restriction on Entry | Cannot travel to the US before the F1 visa holder’s entry. They must either travel with or after the F1 holder’s entry into the country. Once in the US, there are no restrictions on traveling in and out without being accompanied by the F1 visa holder. |