F2 Visa

The exact documents you will need to obtain this visa depends on the immigration office you are applying from. But, here are the general required documents that every applicant must submit:

• Original birth certificate if you are applying as the unmarried child of an F1 visa holder.
• Valid marriage certificate if you are applying as the spouse of an F1 visa holder.
• Your current valid passport.
• A valid and approved USA visa photograph that should have been taken at least six months ago.
• The confirmation page of your Form DS-160.
• Proof showing that you have paid the required fees.
• A copy of the F1 visa holder’s Form I-20.
• Your original Form I-20 and additional copies.
• Employment authorization document which is proof showing that you have financial stability like employment payslips, tax records, bank statements, etc.)
• A copy of the F1 visa (if requested).
• A copy of the F1 visa holder’s passport (if you are applying at separate times).

Step Three

Pay for Your Visa

To continue your application process, you have to pay your visa fees. The F2 visa application fee costs $160, and failure to pay means that your application will be kept on hold.

After paying this fee, you will be issued a receipt which can serve as proof of payment. File this receipt carefully.

You might be asked to pay additional fees for other things, but this depends on the country and the embassy you are applying from. Make all the required payments and file the receipt safely.

Step Four

Schedule Your Visa Interview Appointment

F2 visa applicants can either apply at the same time as the F1 applicant or at separate times.

If you are applying alone, you need to schedule a visa interview at the embassy. If your visa interview has been scheduled, you will get a confirmation letter which will serve as proof to the officers at the embassy when the time comes.

If you are applying with an F1 applicant, you could schedule the interview at the same time. This is highly recommended as it makes the process faster and easier.

Having an expert attorney is highly recommended because the attorney knows very likely questions that will be asked and can help you prep with the correct answers.

Step Five

Collate all the Necessary Documents

Before your interview, be sure to have all your receipts and files in one big folder. Ensure that no important document is missing and that all the essential files needed for the process are present.

It helps if you start to gather the documents days before your interview.

Step Six

Go for Your Interview

Now that you have everything you need, the last step is to interview with all the necessary documents. This last step is the most crucial stage of your interview process because this is where the final decision lies.

Ensure that you are punctual and honest. The majority of the questions you will be asked will revolve around your relationship with the F1 visa holder and your reason for wanting to visit the US. Be sure to answer confidently and honestly because if the interviewer feels like you are being shady or dishonest, your visa will be denied.

The processing time for this visa will vary due to your circumstances and the Embassy’s workload.

After your interview, you could get a call back in a matter of days or not. The standard waiting period is a few weeks to a couple of months.

The process usually takes time because the embassy will take its time to assess both documents and those of the F1 visa holder. The main focus of their assessment will be your financial capabilities to be sure that you can cover your expenses.

The main visa application fee is $160, but there will be additional expenses. The cost of the additional costs depends on the US Embassy you are applying from and your circumstances.