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Adding F-2 Dependents

Students currently in F-1 visa status who wish to add their F-2 dependent will need to obtain a Form I-20 from our office for each dependent.

How to Request an F-2 Form I-20

Requirements for a Family Member to qualify for an F-2 Visa:

  • They are a legally married spouse of the F-1 student OR

  • They are a child who is unmarried and a minor (under 21 years old) of the F-1 student

Please send these required documents to your DSO at kveloz@ucmerced.edu:

  1. F-2 I-20 Request Form
  2. a PDF copy of your bank statement(s)
           The required amount to be shown is
                   ○ Spouse: $5,000
                   ○ Child: $2,500 per child
  3. a PDF copy of dependent’s biographical page from passport

Your Dependent's I-20 will be processed and sent to your email.
Their I-20 requires the F-1's signature on it, so make sure you print and sign it before giving it to them.

Applying for your Visa or Change of Status

Once your dependent recieves their F-2 Form I-20, they will need to do ONE of the following in order to obtain their F-2 Visa:

1. Applying for an F-2 Visa Outside of the U.S.

If your dependent(s) currently are outside of the U.S., they must apply for their F-2 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence, and then enter the U.S. with the F-2 visa stamp in their passport.

2. Applying for Chang of Status (COS) while within the U.S.

If your dependent is already in the U.S. in a different visa status, and prefers not to travel outside the U.S. as described above, they will need to file an 
I-539 Application To Change Status (COS) with USCIS while remaining in the U.S. Your dependent is required to maintain their current visa status while their COS is pending with USCIS.

Assure Your F-2 Remains in Staus

Once approved, it will be your responsibility to assure your F-2 remains in status during their time here. While F-2 visa holders are welcome in the U.S. during the F-1 student’s academic program, there are important restrictions to be aware of. Below is a summary of what is and isn’t allowed in F-2 status:

✓ F-2 Dependents Can:

  • Enter and reside in the U.S. as long as the F-1 student is maintaining status and has a valid I-20.
  • Travel internationally and re-enter the U.S. with valid travel documents (passport, visa, signed I-20).
  • F-2 spouses may study part-time at a college or university in a non-degree or degree-seeking program. However, full-time study is not allowed unless they change to an F-1 visa.
  • F-2 children may attend full-time K-12 education (elementary, middle, or high school).
  • Change to another visa status (such as F-1, H-1B, or J-1) if eligible and approved by USCIS.

✘ F-2 Dependents Cannot:

  • Engage in any form of employment, paid or unpaid. This includes internships, assistantships, or any freelance work. Working in F-2 status is a violation of immigration regulations and may lead to termination of status.
  • F-2 spouses may not enroll full-time in postsecondary education (college or university) unless they change to F-1 or another eligible visa status.
  • Stay in the U.S. independently if the F-1 student has completed their program, changed status, or left the country. The F-2 status is entirely dependent on the F-1’s status.
  • Obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) unless they change to a status that permits employment.

For more information about maintaining F-2 status or adding a dependent to your I-20, please contact your DSO at kveloz@ucmerced.edu.

Education

All children in California between the ages of 6 and 18 are required to attend school. Children will be required to have certain medical exams and vaccinations before entering school. To help your children have a smooth transition to their new school, read as much as you can about how the US school system works and what you can expect. Here are some helpful websites:

The US Department of Education https://www.ed.gov/

Great Schools https://www.greatschools.org/

Merced City School District https://www.mcsd.k12.ca.us/

An F-2 spouse or dependent child may not engage in full-time post-secondary study (study after US high school), but may engage in study at an SEVP-certified school in the US as long as they are enrolled in less than a full course of study, and it must be recreational in nature.  To engage in full-time study, an F-2 spouse or child must apply for and be granted F-1 or J-1 student visa status.