Three types of F visa
- F-1 visas are for full-time students.
- F-2 visas are for spouses and children of F-1 visa holders — these are technically called "dependents."
- F-3 visas are for "border commuters" who reside in their country of origin while attending school in the United States. ...
How to apply for a F2 visa?
To apply for F-2 visa, you must submit:
- Completed Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, for dependents that is issued to the F-2 dependent. If Applying at a U.S. ...
- Filled in Form DS-160, Nonimmigrant Visa Application
- One recent color photograph (37 x 37mm) of each applicant, with the entire face visible. ...
- A passport, valid for travel to the U.S. ...
Can a F2 visa holder work in the USA?
You Cannot Work: F-2 visa holders are not permitted to work in the United States. In order to qualify for an F-2 visa, the F-1 visa holder must demonstrate that he or she can cover the living expenses of his or her family when they come to the United States.
Can I work under a F2 visa?
Since the visa process indicates whether the person will be financially funded in the US, the holder of the F-2 visa is not allowed to work in the United States. They can do unpaid works but are not allowed to work. Can the F-2 visa holders travel outside the US?
How do I apply for a F-1 visa?
How to Apply for an F1 Visa?
- Get your admissions documents from the SEVP institution. ...
- Apply online through the DS-160 form. ...
- Pay the application fee. ...
- Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. ...
- Schedule your F1 visa interview. ...
- Submit the file with the required documents. ...
- Attend the student visa interview. ...
Who is eligible for F2 visa?
The spouse and unmarried minor children (under age 21) of the F-1 student may be admitted into the U.S. in F-2 classification, if each dependent presents a SEVIS Form I-20 issued in his or her own name and an F-2 visa.
What is the difference between F-1 and F2 visa?
F1 Visa issued for full time students enrolled in any University in the US, college, high school, private elementary school, seminary or training program in the US. F2 is issued for any dependents of F1 Visa holder who will accompany F1 Visa holder to the US. Like unmarried children under age 21 or the spouse.
How long F2 visa stay in USA?
How long can I stay in the U.S. on F-2 visa? You may stay in the U.S. as long as the principal F-1 visa holder maintains valid status. You lose your status once the principal applicant loses F-1 status.
Can F2 visa holder work in USA?
No. You cannot seek full-time employment on a F-2 visa. To be able to work overseas, you will have to first apply to get a different permit.
How long is F2 visa valid?
Your F-2 visa will last for the duration of the F-1 student's educational program.
Does F2 visa require interview?
F-2 Visa Application Dependents must complete the DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Application online and make a visa interview appointment.
How can an F2 get a Green Card?
The F2 Dependent Visa is a nonimmigrant permit, meaning that it cannot lead to obtaining a Green Card, but you may apply for a change of status while in the U.S. on this visa.
Why does F2 visa get rejected?
Reasons for denial of a visa include lack of proper documentation (such as lack of evidence of sufficient financial support), suspected excludability (such as criminal activity), or, most often, the inability to convince the consular officer that they will return to their home country after the authorized stay has ...
Can F2 visa attend college?
F-2 visa holders (the family dependents of F-1 students) are now able to study in the United States on a part-time basis. F-2 students may study in either non-degree or degree-seeking status.
How much bank balance is required for F2 visa?
Proof of funding or bank statement in U.S. dollars and dated within the past three months covering at least $7,200 USD for spouse and $3,600 USD per child.
Can we convert F2 to h1b?
As a nonimmigrant permit, the F-2 visa cannot be used as a stepping stone to permanent residency, and it does not automatically allow holders to take up employment in the US. It is possible, however, to change status, including to H1-b visa, in order to work legally.
How long does it take to get F2 visa?
US Visa Processing Times for Different Visa TypesVisa TypeProcessing TimeF-2 visaFew days to 2 weeksJ-1 visa1 to 4 monthsQ-1 visa15 days to 3 monthsM-1 visaAt least 4 weeks8 more rows
Can F2 change to H-1B?
As a nonimmigrant permit, the F-2 visa cannot be used as a stepping stone to permanent residency, and it does not automatically allow holders to take up employment in the US. It is possible, however, to change status, including to H1-b visa, in order to work legally.
Can F2 visa be converted to F-1?
Fill out form I-539 to change your nonimmigrant status from F2 to F1. The filing fee is $370 as of May 2017. The form asks for information such as your name, address, arrival date, current visa status, your I-94 number and passport details.
Can I work remotely on F2 visa?
A F2 visa holder in the US cannot legally perform remote work with a company in her home country.
Can F2 visa holder travel alone?
No, there is no "restriction on the travel duration for an F2 visa holder when traveling alone out of the country".
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 U.S for 2 years, your F2 visa will also have a validity of 2 years.3
What are the limitations of an F2 visa?
What are the Limitations of the F2 Visa? Those who have the F1 visa are allowed to study in the U.S in various education levels, starting from elementary to graduate school. They are also allowed to work in certain situations, but primarily they go to the U.S to study.
What is the processing time for the F2 Visa?
However, it is more common that the wait will be a few days or weeks.
What is the form I-20 for F1?
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.
How to renew an F1 visa?
To get your F2 visa renewed, you should file Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. You should attach proof of your relationship with the primary F1 visa holder and financial evidence that you have enough funds to cover your stay.
Why is my F2 visa taking so long?
This is because the U.S 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 U.S. So if your F2 visa processing is taking too long, do not be alarmed as the U.S Embassy either has a heavy workload or is taking their time to analyze your case.
How much does it cost to get an F2 visa?
The F2 visa has an application fee of $160. 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 U.S Embassy you are applying from, such as visa issuance fees or reciprocity fees.
How to apply for a F-2 visa?
To qualify for an F-2 visa, you must meet the following requirements: 1 Be the spouse of an approved F-1 visa holder 2 Be the unmarried child under 21 years of age of an approved F-1 visa holder 3 Have the financial means to support your family during your stay in the United States
What Are the Limitations of an F-2 Visa?
Like other dependency visas, there are certain limitations to an F-2 visa. The F-2 visa is exclusively intended to keep families together while one family member is studying in the United States, which is why the abil ities of an F-2 visa holder are limited. Limitations include all of the following:
How Long Does It Take to Process an F-2 Visa?
Sometimes, an F-2 visa can be processed 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 whether your F-2 visa has been approved or denied when you complete the interview.
What Happens If I Turn 21 While in the United States On an F-2 Visa?
You can apply for an F-2 visa as the unmarried child of the F-1 visa holder under age 21. But what happens if you turn 21 while in the United States?
Can I Get a Green Card with an F-2 Visa?
Generally, an F-2 visa is not a path to a green card. However, there are certain situations where an F-2 visa holder can turn into a lawful permanent resident (i.e. a green card holder).
How much does it cost to get an F-2 visa?
Step 3) Pay the Visa Application Fee: The F-2 visa comes with a fee of $160 USD, which is similar to most other U.S. visas. You must pay this fee to proceed with your application. Without this fee, you cannot schedule an interview with a U.S. 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 do not receive a SEVIS number and are exempt from this fee).
How long is an F-2 visa valid?
If your spouse 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).
How much does it cost to get a F2 visa?
The application fee for the USA F2 visa is $160. The application will not be evaluated until this fee is paid. Keep in mind, save the issued receipt after the payment, because you’ll need it later. Depending on the country and embassy you are applying for, additional costs may be required. The F-2 visa applicant is exempt from paying the SEVIS I-901 fee.
How long does it take to get a visa after an F-2 interview?
However, this process usually takes a few days or weeks. The US Embassy needs time to assess your documents. They will mainly focus on the financial situation to determine whether you can meet expenditures. So if your visa processing is taking too long, be patient.
What is the purpose of the I-20?
The form I-20 contains the purpose of the visa, an approximation of expenditures, and the period of the educational program . The F-1 visa holder should inform the institution that his/her dependents also intend to apply for the F-2 visa. The SEVP school releases a form I-20 for the dependents too. After getting this form, the application procedure for the F-2 visa is similar to other visas.
Can a F-1 visa holder get a masters degree?
They cannot also get a Bachelor’s or a Master’s Degree under this visa. They are only allowed to enroll in recreational or vocational courses for entertainment or fun. Dependents of an F-1 visa holder can not enroll in elementary schools in the US. They can only go to high school under the F-2 visa.
Can a F-2 visa be used to work in the US?
Since the visa process indicates whether the person will be financially funded in the US, the holder of the F-2 visa is not allowed to work in the United States. They can do unpaid works but are not allowed to work.
Can a F-1 visa holder get a green card?
If the F-1 visa holder can get a Green Card, his/her dependents will also receive a Green Card automatically. Also, you can change the status of the F-2 visa. There are two options for this aim:
What are the requirements for the F2B visa?
The F2B visa does not have extensive requirements for an applicant to be eligible. The following are the criteria for the applicant of the F2B visa:
How many visas does an F2B get?
F2B visa gets 34,260 visas or less than 30% of the total
What are the F2B visa fees?
The amounts vary and are set by USCIS, the Department of Homeland Security and the individual U.S Embassy or Consulate where you are applying. The main categories of fees that must be paid are as follows:
How long is the F2B visa processing time?
Because there is a limited amount of visas, many people end up waiting for 2 or more years, with extreme cases having waited for 7 years. That is why you must only wait until your date becomes current and then start the application process.
What if the petitioning LPR got a U.S citizenship while the F2B visa is processing?
With a U.S citizenship, the parent can then petition for the Immediate Relative (IR) visa for the adult child in a foreign country. The benefit of that is that IR visas do not have a cap and they have faster processing times. The parent can then have the opportunity to submit a new petition for the IR visa.
What is DS 260?
Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Electronic Application is the form which all applicants for immigrant visas must submit. The application is online and will go through your personal or background information and why you want to immigrate to the U.S. You can access it by entering your NVC case number and invoice ID number. Fill in the sections that are necessary and after submitting it, you will get a confirmation page and number which you must submit to NVC as part of your documents file.
What happens if you deny a USCIS visa?
USCIS then processes the petition and sends their answer to the LPR. If they deny the petition, they will also state the reason for denial. This means that the LPR can then adjust their application and send the petition again. If the petition is approved, then the LPR will be notified and USCIS will send the documents to the National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing.
Who makes visa decisions?
Visa issuance decisions are made by the Department of State employees at U.S. embassies or consulates abroad. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) personnel are generally not involved in these matters. By statute, a consular official has absolute authority to determine the facts that will govern the issuance of a visa and the applicant has no statutory or constitutional right to review or appeal. The regulations do allow, however, for informal review of a consular officer's adverse determination. An individual who is denied a visa must be advised of the specific reasons for denial and given an opportunity to present evidence to overcome the stated objections. Applicants can reapply for a visa.
When do I need to issue an I-20?
The issue date on the I-20 or DS-2019 needs to be after the date of marriage in order for the dependent to apply for a visa.
Why is my visa denied?
Reasons for denial of a visa include lack of proper documentation (such as lack of evidence of sufficient financial support), suspected excludability (such as criminal activity), or, most often, the inability to convince the consular officer that they will return to their home country after the authorized stay has ended.
What is an I-94?
Upon admitting them to the United States, the inspector will stamp the Form I-94 (Arrival–Departure Record), which will show the date and place of entry, and the authorized period of stay. This period of stay should be the same as that of the F-1 or J-1.
Can a J-2 dependent take classes without changing status?
Also, they may not receive wages or compensation of any kind until the F-1 status is approved. J-2 dependents are allowed to take classes without changing their status to J-1.
Can International Affairs assist dependents?
International Affairs is not able to assist dependents to reverse adverse decisions made by U.S. embassies or consulates abroad.
What is an EAD for F-1?
Students who are authorized Optional Practical Training (OPT) must have a Form I-20 endorsed for OPT, and apply to USCIS for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). When authorized, OPT is temporary employment that is directly related to the eligible F-1 student's area of study.
What is a B visa?
After you are admitted to the United States by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials in visitor (B) visa status, you must separately apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a change of status to student (For M) status prior to the start of your program.
What happens after a visa interview?
After your visa interview, the consular officer may determine that your application requires further administrative processing. The consular officer will inform you if this is required.
How long does a passport need to be valid for a visa interview?
Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview: Passport valid for travel to the United States – Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements ).
How far in advance can you get a student visa?
New Students – Student (F and M) visas for new students can be issued up to 120 days in advance of the start date for a course of study. However, you will not be allowed to enter the United States on your student visa more than 30 days before the start date.
What documents do consular officers need to interview you for a student visa?
A consular officer will interview you to determine your qualifications for a student visa, and may request additional documents, such as evidence of: Your academic preparation, such as: Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools you attended; and. Standardized test scores required by your U.S. school;
Where to schedule a visa interview?
You should schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at another U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but be aware that it may be more difficult to qualify for a visa outside of the country where you live.