F-2 Dependents

Who Is Eligible?

If you are studying at UT with F-1 visa status, your spouse and unmarried children (under age 21) are eligible to apply for F-2 visas. As long as you maintain your F-1 status, your dependents may remain in the United States.

How Do I Add an F-2 Dependent Through myIO?

1. Make a Request in myIO

   Begin your request in myIO.

2. Provide Poof of Funding

   Provide proof of funding in the form of a bank statement and/or departmental offer letter that covers your tuition and fees (if a student), as well as living expenses for you and your dependents for an entire year. The funding document should be less than 1 year old at the time of application.

   Dependent funding amounts:

   Spouse = $10,900

   Each child = $5,400

3. Provide Official Documentation

   Provide official documentation for your dependent(s), such as copies of their passport(s), indicating their:

   Full name

   Date of birth

   Country of birth

   Country of citizenship

   Gender

   Whether they are a child or spouse

How Does My Spouse/Child Obtain F-2 Status?

An advisor will review the documentation you uploaded in myIO and issue a new I-20 for you and your dependent. Obtaining the F-2 I-20 does not change your dependent's status! You and your dependent must choose one of the following ways to gain valid F-2 status. The method you choose will depend on your circumstances. 

• Option 1: Enter the U.S. with an F-2 visa.
• Option 2: Apply for a change of status to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. 

Option 1: Enter the U.S. with an F-2 Visa

This is the only option if your dependent is currently outside the U.S. It is also an option if your dependent is currently in the U.S. and wishes to obtain F-2 status via travel and re-entry.

Step 1: Apply for and obtain an F-2 visa stamp

This step is not required for Canadian passport holders*.

See Applying for a U.S. Visa page for information on how to apply for a visa. Your dependent should prepare the following documents for their visa interview.

• F-2 applicant's valid, unexpired passport
• F-2 applicant's I-20
• Marriage certificate (for spouse) in English or translated into English
• Birth certificate (for child) in English or translated into English
• Copies of F-1 visa holder's I-20, passport, visa stamp, proof of admission or enrollment, proof of financial support, and SEVIS fee receipt (Note: F-2 dependents do not need to pay the SEVIS fee)

Step 2: Obtain F-2 status at the U.S. port of entry

After receiving the F-2 visa, the dependent will present the F-2 visa and the documents in the list above above to Customs and Border Protection when entering the United States.

Be sure that upon return to the United States, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection officer gives the F-2 dependent a new I-94 record to indicate the new F-2 status. If the F-2 is not given a new I-94 record that indicates F-2 status, they will be required to travel again to obtain the proper status.

*A note for Canadian F-2 applicants: Canadian passport holders do not need an F-2 visa stamp. To gain F-2 status, they must present their F-2 I-20 and valid passport, along with copies of the F-1 primary visa holder's F-1 documents, at the U.S. port of entry.

Option 2: Apply for a change of status to F-2  via application to USCIS

If your dependent is currently in the U.S. and cannot/does not want to travel internationally, they can pursue this option. The F-2 applicant must file for a change of status before their underlying status expires. Change of status applications can take several months to adjudicate. The application will be considered abandoned if the F-2 applicant departs the U.S. while the application is pending. 

If you and your dependent choose this option, ISSS will provide basic filing instructions along with the F-2 I-20. However, please be aware that an application to USCIS is a personal application. You and your dependent will be responsible for filing it in an accurate, complete, and timely manner. Because change of status applications can be complex, we strongly recommend  working with a qualified, experienced immigration attorney.

F-2 Rules and Benefits

• F-2 Status Maintenance and Restrictions

  The validity of the F-2 visa status depends on the status of the F-1 primary visa holder. If the F-1 primary visa holder changes status or loses F-1 status, the F-2 visa holder will also lose F-2 status.

  F-2 visa holders are not permitted to work while in the U.S. F-2 visa holders may volunteer, as long as the position is unpaid and cannot be considered employment. Please check with an international student advisor before getting started if you have any questions.

  Although F-2 dependents are not eligible to work, they must file tax Form 8843 annually. F-1 primary visa holders are eligible to use Sprintax Non-resident Tax Preparation Software to prepare their U.S. tax return, which will include Form 8843 for dependents. To file Form 8843, an F-2 dependent may need to request an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Please see our ITIN page for more information about applying.

• F-2 Benefits

  F-2 dependents are eligible for the following benefits of their status:

  Children

  If you have a child (under the age of 21) who you wish to bring to the United States in F-2 status, they are eligible to enroll in elementary or secondary school. You can find information on the Austin Independent School District on their website. Look under “Schools” and click on “Find Your Assigned Schools” to see where your child should be attending. Children generally attend school if they are the age 18 or under.

  However, F-2 dependents are only eligible to attend post-secondary education at a part-time rate. This means below 12 hours for an undergraduate student, under 9 hours for a graduate student, or under 18 clock hours in an English Language Program.

  Spouses

  F-2 dependents are eligible for less than full time study. Less than full time study would be below 12 hours for an undergraduate student, under 9 hours for a graduate student, or under 18 clock hours in an English Language Program. Additionally, F-2 dependents are eligible to study English. If the F-1 student is a UT Faculty, Staff, or Scholar, then the F-2 is eligible for a UT affiliate discount on English Language Center tuition.

  Insurance

  Health insurance is optional for F-2 dependents. If you are interested in purchasing health insurance for a dependent, please contact the insurance advisor for assistance.

• Travel in F-2 Status

  F-2 dependents of F-1 students will need to have a valid travel signature on their I-20 to return to the U.S. after international travel. To get a travel signature, please visit our office during advising hours, no appointment needed. Our office will need to know the EID of the F-1 primary visa holder in order to grant a travel signature.