F2 Visa – All You Need To Know About F2 Visa in 2020

The F2 visa is a unique visa designed exclusively for the dependents of F1 student visa holders. If your partner, spouse or parent attends school in the United States, then you are eligible to qualify for an F2 visa, in which case you can join your family member in the United States for the period of that person’s studies in the US.

This content will focus on answering the following questions:

• Who is Eligible for an F2 Visa?
• What is F1 and F2 visa?
• What Are The Documents Required For F2 Visa
• How to Apply for an F2 Visa
• How Long Does It Take to Process an F2 Visa?
• How Long Does an F2 Visa Last?
• Can I change my status to an F-1 visa as an F-2 visa holder?
• Can I get a green card with an F-2 visa?
• What are the limitations of an F-2 visa?

 

What is F1 and F2 visa?

The F visa is classified in F1 and F2 visas. F1 visas are used by nonimmigrant students for academic and language training courses. F2 visas are used by the dependents of F1 visa holders. It is said that the spouse and unmarried minor children are dependent on the F1 visa holder

Who is Eligible for an F2 Visa?

The F2 visa is available to certain qualified dependents of an F1 student visa holder. Sometimes, the F1 visa holder will apply for the F1 visa and will be approved before they start submitting their F2 visa documentation. In other cases, you can apply for F1 and F2 visas together.

To qualify for an F-2 visa, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be the spouse of an approved F-1 visa holder
• Be the unmarried child under 21 years of age of an approved F-1 visa holder
• Have the financial means to support your family during your stay in the United States

As with any visa, F-2 visa applicants must also provide certain documents before being approved for an F-2 visa. You may also have to attend an in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate.

What Are The Documents Required For F2 Visa

• F-2 visa requirements include all of the following:
• Your current and previous passports
• Photocopies of your passport pages
• The DS-160 confirmation page
• Proof of financial stability, including bank account statements, tax records, paystubs from an employer, and other information
• A qualified photograph taken within the last six months
• A confirmation of your embassy interview time
• A copy of your I-20 form and an extra copy
• A copy of the F-1 visa holder’s F-1 visa
• A copy of the F-1 visa holder’s I-20 form
• A copy of the F-1 visa holder’s passport (if you are filing your F-2 form separately from the F-1 visa applicant)
• An original, valid marriage certificate proving you are the genuine spouse of the F-1 visa holder
• An original, valid birth certificate proving that you are the child of the F-1 visa holder

Additional proof that you are really married to the F-1 student visa holder, including a wedding album, a list of wedding guests, a receipt for wedding expenses and a receipt for honeymoon trips Or, if you got married at a registry office, you must submit an affidavit of marriage and provide photographs of you and your spouse with the wedding witnesses.

If you have all the previous documentation and are legitimately trying to enter the US. As a dependent of the F-1 student visa holder, then you should have no trouble obtaining an F-2 visa and joining your parents or spouse in the United States for the duration of your studies.

How to Apply for an F2 Visa

Here’s the step-by-step guide for completing the F-2 visa process:

Step 1) Obtain an I-20 form: the F-1 visa holder will receive a letter from the I-20 form after being accepted at an institution on the SEVP list. This form verifies that the applicant has been accepted to the American school. Form I-20 explains the details of the program, including cost, duration of the program and other information. The F-1 visa holder must tell the educational institution that he plans to apply for an F-2 visa. Once you have the I-20 form, you can continue with the rest of the F-2 visa application process normally.

Step 2) Complete form DS-160 online: Form DS-160 is available online at the website of your local US embassy. The form is the standard form for all non-immigrant visas to enter the United States. Provide all necessary information, then save and print the confirmation page once the form is completed.

Step 3) Pay the visa application fee: The F-2 visa comes with a fee of $ 160 USD, which is similar to most other US visas. You must pay this fee to continue your request. Without this fee, you cannot schedule an interview with a US embassy. The F-2 visa applicant only has to pay this visa application fee, although the F-1 visa applicant pays both the visa application fee and a $ 200 SEVIS I-901 fee (F-2 applicants They do not receive a SEVIS number and are exempt from this fee).

Step 4) Schedule your visa interview: You can schedule your visa interview at the same time as the F-1 visa holder (if presented together). Or, your interviews can be done separately. In general, it is recommended that F-2 visa applicants apply together with F-1 visa applicants and conduct the interview at the same time. Once your interview has been scheduled, you will receive a confirmation letter. Save and print this letter, as you will need it at the US embassy.

Step 5) Gather the required documents: As an F-2 visa applicant, you may need to bring all the documents listed above to your interview. Gather all these documents before your interview at the embassy.

Step 6) Attend your interview: your interview will take place at the US embassy. You will go through a security check at the US embassy. Then, you can take your fingerprints. A consular officer will conduct your interview. During the interview, the officer will ask you questions about your request. Respond with sincerity. At the end of the interview, the officer can tell you that your visa has been approved or denied. Or, it may take several days or weeks to process your visa.

How Long Does It Take to Process an F2 Visa?

Sometimes, you can process an F-2 visa before your interview at the embassy. In this case, the interview is the final stage of the application process. The consular officer will tell you if your F-2 visa has been approved or denied when you complete the interview.

Sometimes, an F-2 visa application may take longer to process. You may have to wait several days or weeks for the application process to complete.

In general, F-1 and F-2 visas are processed relatively quickly compared to other US visas.

How Long Does an F2 Visa Last?

An F-2 visa is directly connected to the F-1 visa. In general, the F-2 visa expires at the same time as the F-1 visa, which usually expires once the educational program is completed. If your spouse’s or parent’s F-1 visa is valid for two years, then your F-2 visa will be valid for two years (in most cases).

In some cases, the F-1 visa holder will extend his stay by obtaining a new I-20 form. As a dependent of the F-1 visa holder, this extension will also apply to you.

You can renew your F-2 visa by submitting form I-539. To qualify for a renewal, you may need to attach proof of your relationship with the F-1 visa holder. You may also be asked to provide financial evidence that demonstrates that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay.

 

Can I change my status to an F-1 visa as an F-2 visa holder?

As the holder of an F-2 visa, you can request to change the status of your visa to an F-1 visa. If you are accepted to an academic institution on the SEVP list, you can apply for an F-1 visa and change your status.

What happens if I turn 21 while I am in the United States with an F-2 visa?

You can apply for an F-2 visa as a single child of the F-1 visa holder under the age of 21. But what happens if he turns 21 while in the United States?

In this case, you must apply for a different visa to stay in the United States (or you can simply return home). If you do not qualify for a different type of visa, you must leave the United States.

Can I get a green card with an F-2 visa?

In general, an F-2 visa is not a path to a green card. However, there are certain situations in which an F-2 visa holder can become a permanent legal resident (that is, a green card holder).

If the F-1 visa holder requests and receives a green card (i.e. legal permanent resident status), then the F-2 visa holder, as a dependent of the F-1 visa holder, will also receive Automatically a green card.

There are two other possible ways to get a green card in the United States: you can marry a US citizen and change your immigration status. Or, you can find an employer willing to sponsor you for an H-1B visa.

What are the limitations of an F-2 visa?

Like other dependency visas, there are certain limitations for an F-2 visa. The F-2 visa is intended exclusively to keep families together while a family member is studying in the United States, so the capabilities of an F-2 visa holder are limited. Limitations include all of the following:

Cannot work: F-2 visa holders cannot work in the United States. To qualify for an F-2 visa, the F-1 visa holder must demonstrate that he can cover his family’s living expenses when they come to the United States. You can volunteer or do unpaid work, but you are not allowed to receive payment in exchange for the job or enter into any employment agreement.

You cannot enroll in school: you cannot enroll in school with an F-2 visa. However, you can take certain courses without credits, such as a cooking class.

Children cannot enroll in high school: if you are the unmarried child under the age of 21 of an F-1 visa holder, then you cannot enroll in high school while in the United States. However, you are allowed to complete primary and secondary school. If you wish to complete high school in the United States, you must request a change of status.

You cannot travel to the United States before the F-1 visa holder arrives: you must arrive in the United States with the F-1 visa holder or after the F-1 visa holder has already arrived . You cannot travel to the US. Before the F-1 visa holder arrives. Interestingly, there are no other travel restrictions for the F-2 visa holder. The F-2 visa holder can leave and enter the country at any time, regardless of whether he is accompanied by the F-1 visa holder.