An F-1 student can bring a spouse and children to the US, but not everyone they'd like to bring. F-2 is a status for dependents, and it is subject to strict rules. Understanding these rules before submitting documents helps avoid a refusal at the interview and problems with status after relocation.
Who Is Eligible for F-2
F-2 status is available only to two categories: the legal spouse of an F-1 visa holder and their unmarried children under 21. Everyone else — parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, as well as partners not in a formal marriage — doesn't qualify. Civil partnerships and cohabitation, even if legally recognised in the couple's home country, are not considered marriage under US immigration law and do not grant the right to dependent status.
Children must not only be under 21 but also unmarried. If an F-1 student's child marries before obtaining F-2, they lose the right to F-2 status. Age also matters: if a child is under 21 at the time of entry but reaches that age later, the status ends.
How to Arrange F-2
The process begins with the F-1 student requesting a Form I-20 for each dependent from their educational institution. This is a separate document issued in the name of the spouse or child and confirms their right to F-2 status. The request is submitted through the university's international office.
A package of documents is attached to the application. For a spouse — a marriage certificate; for a child — a birth certificate or adoption documents. All documents must be translated into English and, if required, legalised or apostilled. A copy of each dependent's passport is also mandatory.
After receiving the I-20, the dependents submit their F-2 visa applications at the US consulate in their country of residence. At the interview, they must confirm their relationship to the F-1 student and their intention to return home after the student's studies end. The consular officer verifies that the marriage or relationship is not fictitious and that the F-1 student is able to support the family.
Work: No Exceptions
A spouse on an F-2 visa has no right to work in the US, either full-time or part-time. This rule applies throughout their stay in status, including the period when the F-1 student is on OPT. Violating this rule means losing status and possibly facing deportation.
There are no exceptions to this rule. Even volunteer work, if it effectively replaces a paid job, can be considered a violation. Some universities offer F-2 spouses unpaid positions on campus, but such arrangements require checking with the international office, and not all of them are compliant with immigration rules.
Study: Part-Time Only
An F-2 spouse may study, but with restrictions. Enrolment is permitted in programmes that take less than a full course of study. This means the spouse can take a few subjects per semester, even if they lead to a degree or count toward one. A full course load isn't allowed — for that, you'd need to change status to F-1 or M-1.
Children on F-2 may attend primary and secondary school — from kindergarten through twelfth grade — on a full-time basis. There are no restrictions on their study load.
Recreational or professional courses — for example, art workshops, sports sections, language courses without an academic goal — are permitted in any volume, including full-time. The line between such courses and an academic programme is drawn by the institution, so before enrolling it's worth checking with the international office whether a specific course would violate status.
Financial Requirements
The F-1 student must confirm that they can support not only themselves but each dependent. Universities set additional amounts: they range from $6,000 to $8,200 per year for a spouse and from $4,000 to $5,800 for each child. These figures may vary: some institutions require $4,000 for the first dependent and $3,000 for each subsequent one.
You confirm the funds with a bank statement or a letter from the bank on official letterhead. The statement must be in English, and the amounts must be indicated in US dollars. If the account belongs not to the student but to a sponsor, a support letter is required, indicating the relationship and a commitment to cover expenses.
What Changed in 2026
From 15 September 2026, F-2 dependents, like F-1 holders, no longer receive "duration of status" with automatic extension. Instead, Form I-94 indicates a specific "Admit Until Date," which cannot exceed the programme duration and is limited to four years. If the programme lasts longer or the status needs to be extended, an application for Extension of Stay must be filed with USCIS.
The grace period after the programme ends has been cut from 60 to 30 days. For those who entered before 15 September 2026, transitional rules keep the previous 60-day period, but only until the current status expires.
These changes mean that the F-1 student and their family need to monitor deadlines more carefully: the date on the I-94, the end date on the I-20, and the date on the EAD (if the student is on OPT) must align. If the fixed date expires before the programme ends, a status extension is required. Missing this step means unlawful presence starts accruing.