You may have been granted an F1 student visa to attend school in the United States. While this is an amazing opportunity, you may be hesitant to seize it if you do not want to leave your loved ones behind for the foreseeable future. However, they may be lucky enough to be afforded the option of joining you with an F2 dependent visa. Continue reading to learn who is eligible to enter the United States alongside you with an F2 visa and how an experienced family immigration lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, at Sesini Law Group, S.C., can help you and your loved ones better understand these guidelines.
Who is eligible to enter the United States with an F2 visa?
In its simplest terms, an F2 visa is a type of nonimmigrant temporary permit designated for the immediate family of F1 student visa holders. More specifically, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may consider your immediate family to be your dependent spouse or your unmarried children who are under the age of 21 and who are not living an independent life.
For this to work, you and your dependents must file Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant Student Status. If you apply at a United States Consulate, you must also file Form DS-160, Non-Immigrant Visa Application. Personally, you must file relevant, supporting documentation of your ability to support your dependents during your stay; namely, your financial records. On top of this, your dependents must file relevant, supporting documentation of their relationship with you; namely, their marriage or birth certificate.
It is worth mentioning that getting your dependents to join you in the United States may be expedited, or may even happen in synchrony with you, if you file your petitions together.
What are the restrictions placed on an F2 visa holder?
You must understand that the rights of a F2 visa holder may be limited. For example, if your spouse is granted this status, they may be restricted from obtaining paid employment or pursuing an education during their stay in the United States. They may be limited to non-vocational or recreational courses of study. This may be a major reason you must supply proof of your ability to support your dependent spouse during their stay.
On the other hand, your dependent children may be able to pursue full-time elementary or secondary school education during their stay in the United States. However, once your course of study reaches an end and your F1 visa reaches its expiration date, your dependent children must stop their United States schooling and leave with you.
Rest assured, our team at Sesini Law Group, S.C. has experience in handling cases just like yours. So please do not be afraid to reach out to a skilled family immigration lawyer in Milwaukee, WI.