what is l2 visa

Are L2 visa holders allowed to work?

With an L-2 visa, you can get a degree and study in the U.S, but the most beneficial activity is that you are allowed to work. Children of L-1 visa holders do not qualify to work, but spouses do. To be eligible to work with this type of visa, you must get an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

Can a L2 visa holder work in the US?

They can work in high tech, a grocery store, a restaurant, or whichever legal business they want to work in. In other words, an L2 visa EAD allows “open market” employment authorization. An L-2 visa holder spouse can not work in the U.S. before getting the EAD approved. EAD for L2 spouse is valid up to 2 years at a time.

Can I do business on L2 visa?

With an EAD you will be able to work for an employer, be self-employed, or start your own business. If you don’t have an EAD, you can only start and own the business but you are not able to work for it as an employee. As an L2 visa holder, you can apply for an EAD by submitting Form I-765 to the USCIS.

Can L2 visa work in US without EAD?

Without First Applying for a Work Permit (EAD) November 10, 2021 Husbands and wives of L-1 intracompany transferees who come to the U.S. on L-2 visas will no longer need to submit an I-765 form and receive a work permit (EAD) card in order to accept U.S. employment.

What is difference between L1 and L-2 visa?

There are two categories for beneficiaries. L1A visas are for persons who will work in a managerial or executive capacity and L1B visas are for those who will work in a capacity that involves “specialized” knowledge. In addition, certain relatives of L1 visa beneficiaries may be eligible for derivative L2 visas.

Who is eligible for L-2 visa?

In order to apply for the L2 visa, the eligibility requirements according to immigration law for spouses and children are: The visa holder should be a dependent spouse of an L1 visa. The visa is issued for the unmarried children and dependents who are at the age group of 21 years of age.

Can L-2 visa holders work?

Spouses of L1 visa holders on L2 visa status are eligible to apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), or L2 visa work permit, and work in the United States. An approved EAD is required for an L2 visa holder to work in the US.

How long is L-2 visa valid?

seven yearsIn the case of L-1A visa holder dependents, the L-2 visa holders may stay in the U.S. for up to seven years while dependents of L-1B visa holders may stay in the U.S. for up to five years. The L-2 visa may also be renewed or extended following the renewal or extension of the L-1 visa holder's status.

Can L-2 get green card?

L2 Visa to Green Card L2 visa holders are dependent on the primary L1 visa holder. They may be included in the process for adjustment of status (also known as applying for a Green Card). Make sure your L2 visa is valid when you apply for a Green Card to prevent the necessity for advance parole.

Can my wife work on L2 visa?

Once an EAD is approved L2 spouses can work in any job role in the US, including self-employment. However, employment authorisation could take months. L2 EADs are valid for 2 years, and can be renewed indefinitely as long as the applicant retains their valid L2 visa status.

How much does an L-2 visa cost?

Pay the application fee The application fee for the L-2 visa is $160. You must pay this fee for the application to be considered by the US Embassy.

How long does it take to get L-2 visa?

On average, the L-2 visa processing time takes about 30 days after completing the application appointments and submitting the required documents. Although this may vary from case to case, it is ideal to contact a qualified attorney to get the most accurate answer.

Is an L-2 visa holder a permanent resident?

An L-2 visa is a visa document used to enter the United States by the dependent spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age of qualified L-1 visa holders. It is a non-immigrant visa, and is only valid for the duration of the spouse's L-1 visa.

Can l2 visa holder travel alone?

You can certainly travel alone. Carry documents showing your husband's L1 status, employment verification.

1. What Is L2 Visa?

The L2 visa allows the dependent spouse and minor, unmarried children of qualified L-1 visa holders to enter into the U.S.

2. What Privileges Do I Enjoy on L-2 Visa?

On L-2 visa, you may: Reside in the U.S. for the duration of the L-1 visa holder’s authorized duration of stay If your are an L-2 Spouse you may wo...

3. What Are The Limitations of L-2 Visa?

You may not apply for Employment Authorization if you are a dependent child on L-2 visa.

4. How Long Can I Stay In The U.S. on L-2 Visa?

You may stay as long as the primary L-1 visa holder maintains valid status, or up to a maximum of seven years, whichever is shorter.

5. How Do I Apply For L-2 Visa?

For L2 visa application, you must submit: Completed DS-160 visa application. The DS-160 must be completed online Demand draft for Visa application...

6. How long does the Employment Authorization processing for L-2 status take?

The law mandates that the USCIS shall issue Employment Authorization documents within 90 days. However, at some service centers, the wait current...

7. What should I do if I do not receive an Employment Authorization on L-2 visa within 90 days?

You have the option of submitting a new Form I-765 , Application for Employment Authorization, along with copies of the required supporting docume...

8. How long is the employment authorization valid on L-2 status?

Your employment authorization document is valid for two years and may be renewed as long as you continue to maintain proper L-2 status.

9. Can I be employed in any kind of job on L-2 visa?

Yes, there is no limit on the nature of the authorized employment. The USCIS refers to this as ‘open market’ employment authorization.

What is an L2 visa?

The L2 visa is a nonimmigrant US visa issued to dependents of L1 visa holders. Immediate family members of L1 visa holders may enter and stay in the United States by obtaining L2 visas. Eligible family members for an L2 visa include spouses and children (under age 21) of L1 visa holders.

How long is an EAD card valid?

An EAD card is valid for two years, but may be renewed as long as the individual maintains L2 visa status. EAD application and Form I-539, Application to Extend or Change Nonimmigrant Status, may be filed together.

How long can a L2 stay in the US?

L2 visa holders are authorized to stay in the US for as long as the principal L1 visa holder has a valid visa. The L1 visa holder may stay for a period of three years, extendable to a maximum of five years. After this, the visa holder has to stay out of the country for a minimum of one year before he may apply for a new visa or adjustment towards another visa status. This time frame applies to the dependent L2 visa holder as well.

What happens if you change your L1 visa to H1?

If the L1 visa holder changes to H1, your status changes to H4 visa.

What is a copy of a spouse's L1 approved petition?

Copy of spouse's L1 approved petition. Form I-129 (if Form I-797 is a blanket permit, copy of Form I-797 and I-129) of the Principal Applicant, and letter from employer that describes the relationship with the Principal Applicant and the purpose of travel.

How many pages are needed for a passport?

All 36 pages of the principal applicant's (L1 holder's) passport (if not applying with principal applicant). If a copy of the passport is submitted, it should be a GOOD copy and the photo must be clearly identifiable

What age do you need a birth certificate?

If the applicant is below 14 years of age, Original Birth Certificate of this applicant (child) is required.

How long is an I-765 valid for?

There is an option to submit a new Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, along with copies of the required supporting documents and the receipt for the original application at the Service Centre closest. Based on this, the applicant will receive an Employment Authorization document which is valid for 240 days while the USCIS processes the two year employment authorization document.

How long does it take for USCIS to issue employment authorization?

The law states that the USCIS shall issue Employment Authorization documents within 90 days. However, at some service centers, the wait exceeds 90 days.

What is an L-2 visa?

An L-2 visa is a visa document used to enter the United States by the dependent spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age of qualified L-1 visa holders. It is a non-immigrant visa, and is only valid for the duration of the spouse's L-1 visa.

How old do you have to be to get an L-2 visa?

The L-2 visa allows the dependent spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age of qualified L-1 visa holders to enter into the U.S.

When did L-2 status change?

Before 2002 , a person in L-2 status was not authorized to work in the United States. In 2002, the law was changed and the spouse of a person with L-1A or L-1B status were allowed to request authorization to work in the United States.

Can an L-2 visa be renewed?

Renewals. L-2 status may be renewed and extended within the United States when the L-1 visa is renewed. Renewal in the United States applies to status only, not the actual visa in the passport. For visa renewal, the applicant must go to a U.S. consulate or embassy outside the United States. An alien cannot leave the United States ...

Is there a limit on the nature of an employment authorization?

There is no limit on the nature of the authorized employment. The USCIS refers to this as 'open market' employment authorization.

What If My Case L-2 Is Pending After the Interview?

This is generally referred to as “pending for administrative processing.” In this case, you may be required to provide additional information. If your case is subject to administrative processing after the interview, you will be told what to do. And if additional information is requested, be sure to provide the required items before the deadline given to you.

What is the advantage of L-2?

A significant advantage of L-2 status is the ability to work by obtaining employment authorization documents (EAD). The L-2 visa process for an EAD card involves filing the appropriate documents with USCIS. From there, after obtaining your EAD card you’ll need to go to the Social Security Office to get your SSN.

How long does it take to get a visa?

The embassy will need to hold on to your passport after the interview and you will be told when you will receive the passport containing the valid L-2 visa, which you will use to travel to the United States. The wait time between your interview and when you will receive your visa is usually within 10 business days. Once you receive your visa, you can begin plans to travel to the U.S.

How much does it cost to cross the border?

All nonimmigrants that enter the U.S. at a border crossing are subject to a border crossing fee of $160 if you are over 15 years old or $16 if you are under 15 years old. Speak with your immigration attorney to learn if this fee applies to you.

Can a L-1 worker be a dependent?

In most cases, an L-2 visa is granted if the L-1 worker and his/her dependents meet the requirements. Based on USCIS regulations, the parents of L-1 holders are not considered dependents (for L-2 dependent visas) even if the L-1 holder is their primary caretaker.

What to do if your last name was changed after marriage?

If your last name was changed after your marriage, endorse the change in your passport first otherwise you’ll need to use your maiden name in the U.S.

Can a spouse apply for an L-2 visa?

Just like many other dependent visa categories, the L-2 visa has a straightforward application process. It’s often best that spouses and children, L-2 beneficiaries, process their visas at the same time as the L-1 applica nt. The process will likely be easier as there will be fewer hurdles in proving that a genuine family relationship exists between you. The following are steps to applying for an L-2 visa:

How to apply for the L-2 visa?

The L-2 visa application is quite straightforward, and follows similar patterns to all other dependent visas such as the H-4 visa. It is recommended that dependents apply for their visa at the same time as the L-1 visa applicant, since it is much easier to prove their relationship. To apply for the L-2 visa, you must follow these steps.

How long is the L-2 visa valid?

So, as an L-2 dependent, your visa is valid for as long as the L-1 visa holder (your spouse or parents) is valid. If the L-1 visa is extended, then the L-2 dependent is also eligible for extensions. You can file for extensions by submitting Form I-539, Application to Extend or Change Nonimmigrant Status to USCIS for this purpose. Most often, if the L-1 visa has been extended, the L-2 visa will also be extended.

Can I change my status on an L-2 visa?

Since L-2 is a dependents visa, it is difficult to change your status from this visa to another type. However , it is not impossible. If you qualify for an L-1 visa, you can apply separately and get it. In addition, if you can get an employer to sponsor you, you might be eligible to apply for an H-1B visa.

Can I go from an L-2 visa to Green Card?

Since you are bound directly to the L-1 visa holder, if this person applies for a Green Card, then you too are eligible to apply. Since the L visas are dual intent visas, you are not required to submit proof of intent to return home or prove strong ties to your home country.

Why is my L-2 visa rejected?

Most L-2 visa applications are not rejected; however, valid L-2 visa rejection reasons include the official of the U.S Embassy believing that you are going to the U.S to support your spouse who is already there, maybe under false employment contracts. So state the facts and try to give as much detail as possible.

How old do you have to be to get a visa interview?

Visa interviews for U.S visa applicants are required for those who are over 13 and under 79 years old. If you belong to this group, then you must schedule an appointment. You should try to schedule it as soon as possible, since the U.S Embassy might have a heavy workload and you might have to wait for your appointment to come up. When you schedule this appointment, you will get a visa appointment letter, which you will need for later on in your application process.

How long does it take to get a L-2 visa?

After you submit your documents and go through all the application steps, you will have to wait for your visa to be processed. L-2 visas take from 15 days to 1 month to be processed; however, depending on the Embassy’s workload and other factors, it might take longer.

How long does a L2 visa last?

The validity of the L2 visa is the same as that of the L1 visa holders. It expires as soon as the L1 visa expires. In the case of the dependent visa of L1A visa holders, the validity is up to 7 years, and in the case of the dependent visa of L1B visa holders with the validity of the visa being up to 5 years.

What is an L2 visa?

The L2 visa is a non-immigrant visa for the United States that is issued to the dependent family members of the L1 visa holders. The eligible family members include the husband or wife of the L1 visa holders and their children who are under the age of 21.

How long does it take to get a green card for L2 visa?

However, it may take many months or even years of processing time for their petition to be approved.

How long does it take to get a L2 visa?

The processing time for the L2 visa takes about 15 days to one month depending on the case. It is best advised that the visa is applied at the same time as that of the L1 visa which makes the process much easier when it comes to proving the dependency of the applicant on the L1 visa holder.

When do I need to file an I-539?

Remember to file your I 539 at least 45 days prior to the expiry of your visa.

Can I add my spouse to my I-539?

Multiple applicants can be added to the I 539 form. You can include your spouse as well as your children under the age of 21 in the same form for the request for visa renewal only if all of you are in the same status.

Can L2 visa holders travel overseas?

The L2 visa bearers can go on short trips overseas and return back to the US.

How long is an L2 visa valid?

That is, up to 7 years in the case of dependents of L1A visa and up to 5 years in the case of dependents of L1B visa. L-2 visa holders are allowed to travel in and out of the U.S. provided their L2 visa status and L2 visa stamp remain valid.

What is the advantage of L-2 visa over H-4?

The major advantage of L-2 dependent visa over H-4 dependent visa is that L-2 visa spouse is allowed to work in the U.S. once Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is filed with the USCIS and is approved. Once you get EAD card, you should go to the Social Security office and apply for a Social Security Number if you already don’t have one. An L-2 visa holder with EAD can do any legal job or business anywhere in the U.S., part-time or full-time, off-line or on-line, or from home or remotely. They can work in high tech, a grocery store, a restaurant, or whichever legal business they want to work in. In other words, an L2 visa EAD allows “open market” employment authorization. An L-2 visa holder spouse can not work in the U.S. before getting the EAD approved.

Do you have to have dependents and spouse for visa interview?

It is recommended (but not required) that the spouse and dependent children go for their visa interview at the same time as the principal applicant.

Can a spouse of a L2 work in the US?

An L-2 visa holder spouse can not work in the U.S. before getting the EAD approved. EAD for L2 spouse is valid up to 2 years at a time. EAD can be renewed as long as the person remains in the valid L-2 status. EAD application can be filed on its own or along with Form I-539, Application to Extend or Change Nonimmigrant Status.

Can dependents change from H-1 to L-1?

If the primary visa holder changes the status from H-1 visa to L-1 visa, the dependents are allowed to change the status from H-4 visa to L-2 visa.

Can dependent children file for EAD?

Additionally, don’t expect that prospective employer to file your EAD. They have nothing do with it, and you have to file it yourself. Dependent children on L2 visa are NOT eligible to apply for EAD.

How long is an L2 visa valid?

As mentioned before, the validity of an L2 visa is dependent on the validity of the L1 visa to which it is connected. The L2 visa is valid for as long as the L1 visa is valid. The dependents of an L1-A visa holder may stay in the U.S. for 7 years. Dependents of an L1- B visa holder may stay in the U.S. for 5 years. Your L2 visa will expire as soon as the L1 visa expires.

What is an L2 visa?

L2 visas are also known as L1 dependent visas. These visas are granted to the spouses and dependents of L1 visa holders. An L2 visa is a non-immigrant visa, but despite this, you still enjoy a wide variety of benefits in the time you are in the U.S. We’ll take a look at these in more detail below.

What is a dependent visa?

Truly dependent visas are given to people who are dependent on someone in line for a U.S. visa. This includes a spouse or children who are under the age of 21 (and still dependent on the primary visa holder).

What is visa stamping?

Visa stamping is where the visa is endorsed in your passport.

How long does it take to get out of status after a visa extension?

Don’t worry, you won’t go out of status as long as the decision to extend your visa is still pending with the USCIS or until 240 days have passed.

How long does it take to get a L2 visa?

You can apply for a personal loan to help you out even if you are a visa holder. The processing time for an L2 visa can take up to 30 daysorand even longer.

Is a L2 visa dependent on a L1 visa?

L2 visa holders are dependent on the primary L1 visa holder. They may be included in the process for adjustment of status (also known as applying for a Green Card). Make sure your L2 visa is valid when you apply for a Green Card to prevent the necessity for advance parole.

How Long is L2 EAD Valid for?

An EAD is normally valid for two years. The validity of your L2 EAD is, however, dependent on your L2 visa’s validity. Your visa gives you the right to be in the U.S. and your EAD was granted to you based on a valid visa. So, your L2 EAD is valid for a maximum of two years or until your L2 visa expires (whichever of the two scenarios happens first).

How long does it take to get an L2 EAD card?

The processing times for L2 EAD applications vary from one service center to the other. Generally, however, the L2 EAD processing time is between 60-90 days for the USCIS to reach a decision regarding your application. Once your application is approved, they will mail you the EAD card (it looks like a plastic credit card). If it turns out your application is unsuccessful for whatever reason, they will also notify you accordingly.

How long before L2 EAD expires?

You can apply for your new L2 EAD about 4 months before your current one expires. This will allow you and the USCIS enough time to produce the new one before your current EAD expires.

What states do L2 spouses need to mail to?

L2 spouses from these states need to use the following mailing address – AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NV, OH, OR, SD, UT, WA, WI, or WY mail to:

Does L2 visa expire?

Your L2 visa will expire as soon as your spouse’s L1 visa expires (in turn causing your EAD to expire as well).

What is an I-94?

Copy of your I-94 – This document proves your legal entry into the U.S.

Where do I mail my I-797?

Mail your application to the applicable address and wait for the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) to confirm they have received it. They will mail a Form I-797 (a receipt of notice) to the address you’ve listed on your application.

Overview

An L-2 visa is a visa document used to enter the United States by the dependent spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age of qualified L-1 visa holders. It is a non-immigrant visa, and is only valid for the duration of the spouse's L-1 visa.

Employment with L-2 Visa

Renewals

The L-2 visa

Privileges

Allowable length of stay

How to apply

Length of processing