Can My Family Come To The United States With Me While I Am In School With F-1 Status?

A: Your dependent family members, such as your husband or wife and any children under the age of 21, may apply for an F-2 Visa and travel with you to the United States while you complete your degree. While your family members will also have to fill out applications for their visas, whether or not they are approved depends heavily on the approval of your F-1 visa.

Here are a few more quick facts about F-2 Visas:

•    Children with F-2 visa status may enroll in public school in the United States during their stay.
•    Spouses with F-2 visa status may not legally work in the United States without approval, but they may seek out opportunities to study at a college or university.
•    Both spouses and children are able to travel within the United States during their stay, or to come and go from the country as they wish.
•    If the family member with F-1 status successfully applies to extend his or her stay, F-2 status family members do not have to officially seek an extension to stay.
•    You can seek a change of status while holding an F-2 Visa, but you cannot begin a new endeavor (such as employment) until requesting a change of status.

Do you have more detailed questions about your F-2 Visa status or F-2 Visa application? Speak with one of our immigration attorneys today.