F-2 Dependents

If you are a student holding an F-1 visa, you may request documentation from the International Student Admissions Office for your spouse and/or children (unmarried, under the age of 21) to join you in the U.S. These family members are eligible to apply for F-2 dependent status by obtaining a visa at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate or, if already in the U.S. on another visa status, they may be able to file a Change of Status application.

• If your family members are abroad and you want them to join you in the U.S., please complete the Application for F-2  and submit it with the required documents listed on the form.
• If your family members are already in the U.S. on another type of visa and you wish to change their status to F-2, you should meet with an ISAO advisor. In some cases it may not be possible to change status while in the U.S. or there may be deadlines to consider.
• If you are not yet married and would like your new spouse to join you in the U.S. following the marriage, you must submit a marriage certificate to ISS with your application for dependent documents. ISS cannot make a dependent document for your future spouse. The dependent document must be made following the marriage.
• Children born in the United States are U.S. citizens. As such, they are ineligible for F-2  status. ISAO will not include family members who are U.S. citizens in your documentation.

Note: Please make your requests in a timely manner. ISAO strives to complete your requests as soon as possible, but processing may take several weeks. Keep this in mind when making an appointment to apply for visa stamps at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate, booking airline tickets, or meeting deadlines to change status in the U.S.

Information About Your Family Members
You will need to provide ISAO with the following information for each family member you intend to bring to the U.S.: family name, first name, and middle name (if applicable); gender; relationship to you (spouse or child); birth date; city and  county of birth; country of citizenship; and country of permanent residence. This information will be entered into SEVIS along with the financial support information (see below) to create an I-20 for each F-2. The U.S. Embassy/Consulate will need to see proof of the familial relationships (e.g., a marriage certificate for spouses, or a birth certificate for children).

Financial Support

• Consult the ISS budget sheet for information regarding the expenses for yourself and your dependents. This will include your tuition and living expenses, plus living expenses and health insurance coverage for your dependents.
• Using the budget sheet, calculate your expenses. List the source of your financial support on the budget sheet. For each source of funds, attach the supporting documents.

Health Insurance
International students on F-1 and J-1 visas must be enrolled in SHIP or an approved health insurance program; dependent family members must be enrolled as soon as they arrive.

• F-2 spouses are allowed to participate in educational opportunities which are not related to one's chosen career. F-2 spouses may not engage in full-time study and may not participate in any formal programs of study, such as degree, diploma or certificate programs. F-2 spouses who wish to participate in a full-time program of study may be eligible to change their status in the U.S. to an appropriate visa for studying (F-1, J-1 or M-1). Alternately, an F-2 can depart the U.S. to apply for a visa abroad at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate.
• F-2 children may participate in full-time study at the elementary and secondary school levels (kindergarten through the twelfth grade, often referred to as K-12). If an F-2 child wishes to engage in post-secondary level studies, s/he must obtain F-1 visa status by either applying for a change of status in the U.S. or applying for an F-1 visa abroad.
• J-2 spouses and children may participate in any educational program of their choosing.

• F-2 dependents may not be employed in the U.S.
• J-2 dependents may be employed in the U.S. In order to work in the U.S., J-2 dependents must apply for work authorization through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (US CIS).

• If F-1/F-2 spouses or J-1/J-2 spouses obtain a divorce, the F-2 or J-2 is no longer the dependent of the F-1 or J-1. The F-2 or J-2 cannot remain in the U.S. on a dependent visa. The F-2 or J-2 should depart the U.S. or, if eligible, apply for an alternate visa status prior to the finalization of the divorce.
• If an F-2 or J-2 child marries or reaches the age of 21, s/he is no longer the dependent of the F-1 or J-1 parent. The F-2  or J-2 child cannot remain in the U.S. on a dependent visa. The F-2 or J-2 should depart the U.S. or, if eligible, apply for an alternate visa status in a timely manner.