F-2 Dependent of F-1 Student
Lets the spouse and unmarried minor children of an F-1 student accompany or join the student in the United States. It is a derivative category: F-2 status exists only because, and only as long as, the related F-1 principal maintains valid status.
- Duration
- Tied to the F-1 principal's period of admission - previously duration of status matching the principal, and under the fixed-admission-period rule effective September 15, 2026, a fixed period matching the principal's Admit Until date.
- Extensions
- F-2 dependents extend or change status by filing (or being included on) the same Form I-539 the F-1 principal files, and their status extension depends on the principal's F-1 status remaining valid.
- Work
- F-2 dependents may not work under any circumstances - there is no F-2 employment authorization category.
- Dual intent
- No
- Dependents
- Not applicable - F-2 is itself a dependent category; F-2 holders may not sponsor further dependents.
- Path to a green card
- No direct path. An F-2 dependent who wants to immigrate must independently qualify for an immigrant category, typically after first changing to F-1 or another status.
- Processing time
- Consular processing time varies by post; Form I-539 processing time varies by USCIS service center - specific current figures were not independently verified here (unverified)
Who qualifies
- The legal spouse of an F-1 student
- The unmarried children under 21 of an F-1 student
Requirements
- A qualifying relationship (spouse or unmarried minor child) to an F-1 student maintaining status
- An individual Form I-20 issued by the F-1 student's school for each dependent (SEVIS registration required; no SEVIS fee for dependents)
- A copy of the F-1 principal's visa and proof of the qualifying relationship
- Nonimmigrant intent, mirroring the F-1 principal's
How to apply
- 1
The F-1 student's school issues each dependent an individual Form I-20 once SEVIS registration is complete
- 2
The dependent completes Form DS-160, pays the MRV fee, and attends a visa interview, presenting a copy of the F-1 principal's visa and proof of the relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate)
- 3
If dependents are already in the US and need to change to or extend F-2 status, they file Form I-539
Fees and forms
| Nonimmigrant visa application fee (MRV), F category | $185.00 (each dependent) |
| SEVIS I-901 fee | not required for F-2 dependents |
| Form I-539 (change/extension of status, filed jointly with or following the F-1 principal) | $420 online; $470 paper (per applicant, with an additional online-filing option for family members) |
| Visa Integrity Fee (H.R. 1 / Public Law 119-21, sec. 100007) | at least $250 per nonimmigrant visa issued, refundable if conditions met - statutory as of July 4, 2025 but as of September 2026 not yet operational (unverified implementation date) |
Form I-20 (individual, issued by the school)DS-160Form I-539 (change/extension of status if already in the US)
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- 2025-06-18: State Department's expanded social-media vetting requirement (public privacy settings) was announced for F, M, and J visa applicants; F-2 dependents apply for F-category visas and are covered by this requirement
- 2026-09-15: F-2 admission periods shift from duration of status (matching the F-1 principal) to a fixed period matching the principal's new Admit Until date, under the DHS fixed-admission-period final rule
- 2025-07-04: Statutory $250-minimum Visa Integrity Fee (H.R. 1) applies to nonimmigrant visa issuance generally, including F-2, but as of September 2026 not yet operational per DHS/State
Where it goes wrong
- F-2 dependents may study only avocational or recreational courses (even full-time); enrolling in a genuine full academic or vocational course of study requires first obtaining a change of status to F-1, M-1, or J-1
- F-2 status automatically depends on the F-1 principal's status - if the principal falls out of status, the dependents do too
- F-2 dependents have no work authorization option of any kind, unlike some other dependent categories (e.g., certain E or L spouses)
Also in student
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