F2 Visa for Filipino Citizens
The F2 Visa is for the dependents of F1 Visa holders who come to the United States to study. If you are a Filipino citizen and want to bring your dependents to the US, they will need to apply for a F2 Visa to join you.
For more information about the F2 Visa for Filipino citizens and how Total Law can help your case, call +1 844 290 6312 or contact one of our immigration advisers online.
Overview of the F2 Visa for Filipino Citizens
The F2 Visa is for the dependents of a F1 Visa holder and its requirements are directly linked to the criteria and eligibility of F1 Visa holders.
In 2022, the US issued a total of 411,131 F1 Visas and it is popular for students worldwide, including the Philippines, who want to come to the US to further their education.
With the F1 Visa, applicants can study in the US and, in certain circumstances, work while they study. During their stay in the US, they are permitted to bring certain dependents to the US to stay with them throughout the F1 Visa holder’s study course or programme.
Page Contents
- Overview of the F2 Visa for Filipino Citizens
- Student Visa Dependants Requirements in the US for Filipino Citizens
- F2 Visa Application Process for Filipino Citizens
- The F2 Visa Interview
- F2 Visa Processing Times and Fees
- The Validity of the F2 Visa to the United States
- F2 Visa Refusal: What Happens Next?
- How Can Total Law Help?
- FAQs
Student Visa Dependants Requirements in the US for Filipino Citizens
Overview
The F2 Visa applicants must ensure their eligibility and be able to provide supporting documents to demonstrate that they met the requirements before submitting their application.
To apply for the F2 Visa, applicants from the Philippines must fulfil the following criteria:
- The F2 Visa applicant must be married to the F1 Visa holder or
- Be an unmarried child under the age of 21 years and be dependent on the F1 Visa holder
Additionally, the F2 Visa applicants must prove that they will have access to enough money to support themselves during their stay in the United States.
F2 Visa Supporting Documents
Along with the visa application, F2 Visa applicants must submit the following supporting documents to prove their eligibility to the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services):
- Current, valid passport – the applicant’s passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the period of their stay in the US
- One passport photograph following the USA passport guidelines
- Form DS-160 Confirmation page
- Your original Form I-20, along with an extra copy
- Copy of the F1 Visa holder’s Form I-20
- Copy of the F1 Visa
- Copy of the F1 Visa holder’s passport if you are applying separately
- A receipt of the visa application processing fee
- Proof of funds – to demonstrate that you will be financially supported during your stay in the US
- Visa interview confirmation letter
Additionally, if the applicant is the dependent child of the F1 Visa holder, they must submit their original birth certificate.
If the applicant is the spouse of the F1 Visa holder, they must submit the following paperwork in addition to the basic documents mentioned above:
- Original marriage certificate or wedding affidavit if you got married at the registrar
- Proof of genuine relationship, such as wedding photographs, correspondence etc
Financial Requirements for the F2 Visa
One of the requirements for the F2 Visa is that the F1 Visa holder must be able to financially support themselves and their F2 dependants during their stay in the US
To demonstrate you will have the adequate amount of money to cover the living costs for you and your family, you must have access to at least $14,253 for a spouse and $7,127 for each child. You can prove this by providing a recent bank statement, financial sponsorship letter, or scholarship letter.
If you are unsure about the paperwork required to show you are able to support yourself and your dependents while in the US, contact Total Law advisers to help you put together acceptable documentation. Call us on +1 844 290 6312 to get assistance with your case.
F2 Visa Application Process for Filipino Citizens
Applying for the F2 Visa involves a number of stages and is linked to the F1 Visa application.
Form I-20
Once the F1 Visa holder is accepted into education in the United States, they will receive Form I-20. The F1 applicant should inform the SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) that they intend to bring their dependent to the US on an F2 Visa.
The SEVP will send out Form I-20 for each dependent applicant to complete.
When the Form I-20 is approved, the US Embassy or Consulate in the Philippines will request the F1 applicant to file Form DS-160.
Form DS-160 – Non-immigrant Visa Online Application
The Form DS-160 is the actual F2 Visa application, which can be completed and submitted online by each F2 visa applicant separately. This form will ask for personal information such as passport number, date of birth and address, educational or professional background, the purpose of the trip, the address of accommodation, etc. Along with the online form, applicants must submit all the required supporting documents otherwise the application will be refused.
You must complete the Form DS-160 and once submitted, make sure that you retain the confirmation page as proof.
The F2 Visa Interview
Overview
Once you submit your F2 Visa application, you can schedule your visa interview. If the F1 and F2 applicants choose to apply for their visas together at the same time, it is recommended to attend the interview together.
If the F2 Visa applicant is under 14, they must attend the visa interview with their parent. Children under this age will not be required to have an interview – the F1 applicant will still need to attend an interview.
The US Embassy in the Philippines will invite you for your visa interview within a few weeks of submitting the DS-160 Form. You should schedule the visa interview with the US Embassy in your country. In the Philippines, the US Embassy is located in Manila.
During the visa interview, you will be asked to confirm the information you provided in the visa application and answer some questions. At the visa interview, you may also be asked to provide your biometric information (fingerprints and photographs taken).
What Questions Will I be Asked During the F2 Visa Interview?
The F2 Visa interview will play a key part in determining whether your visa application should be approved or rejected. Therefore, it is important you are prepared to answer some basic questions about your visa sponsor and the purpose of your trip. Some of the most common visa interview questions include:
- What is your spouse’s name?
- What is your spouse/parent studying?
- When did you and your spouse get married?
- Where is your spouse/parent residing?
- What is your professional/educational background?
F2 Visa Processing Times and Fees
Overview
The US F2 Visa usually takes a few days to 2 weeks to be processed by the USCIS. This time can be delayed if your application lacks information and you’re requested to provide further documents.
You should not book travel to the US before you have received an official decision from the embassy or consulate.
Cost of the F2 Visa Application
The overall F2 Visa application fee is based on the following:
- Filing Form DS-160 – $160
- Form I-20 – $350
- Possible biometric fee – $85
The Validity of the F2 Visa to the United States
The F2 Visa validity depends on the status of the F1 Visa holder. The F1 Visa should be valid for the duration of the study course or program. Therefore, the F2 Visa is valid for the same duration as the visa of the principal F1 Student Visa you apply through.
If the F1 Visa holder loses their status, the F2 Visa holder will lose their visa status at the same time and both must return to the Philippines.
F2 Visa Refusal: What Happens Next?
The F2 Visa rejection rate in the last couple of years has decreased, and the number of F2 Visa approvals is higher than in previous years. However, in many cases, F2 Visas can still be refused. This is often due to missing information, ineligibility or lack of adequate financial means to stay in the US
If your visa is awaiting processing because you have been requested to provide additional documents or information, you must provide the requested documents within the time frame given to you by the US Embassy.
If you do not provide the missing information within the requested time or are found ineligible, your visa will likely be terminated. If this happens, you can re-apply and attend the visa interview again but you will be required to pay all related costs again.
How Can Total Law Help?
Bringing your dependents to the United States while you study and experience the US culture is important to many Filipino citizens with a F1 Visa. However, applying for the F2 Visa can be complicated and refusal would prevent your spouse and children from joining you in the US.
Total Law is a team of expert immigration advisers offering help with visa applications to people from countries such as the Philippines. Our legal advisers can help you compile all the required documents and support you throughout the visa application process to ensure your visa application is successful.
To learn more about Total Law and its services, call +1 844 290 6312 or contact us online.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
FAQs
Your F2 Visa can only be extended if the F1 Visa holder is permitted to extend their stay. In this case, the F1 and F2 Visa holders must get a new Form I-20 to renew their visas.
Yes. You can apply for the adjustment of status while lawfully staying in the US on the F2 Visa if you get admitted to a full-time vocational or recreational program. F2 children can engage in full-time study in any course.
Yes. If the F1 Visa holder applies for the Green Card, you, as their dependent, will automatically obtain it. You can also apply for a Green Card yourself.
Some of the main limitations of the F2 Visa include:
- Not being permitted to work and receiving a Social Security Number (SSN)
- Not being permitted to do any post-secondary or vocational study
- You must travel to the US at the same time or later than the F1 Visa holder. You cannot travel to the US before the associated F1 Visa holder.