F-1 students may request Form I-20 documents for eligible F-2 dependents. Under federal regulations, eligible F-2 dependents are the spouse and minor children of an F-1 student, and each dependent must be issued an individual Form I-20.
Who Qualifies
Eligible F-2 dependents include:
- Your spouse
- Your unmarried child or children under 21 years of age
Required Documents for Dependents
To request documents for F-2 dependents, please submit:
- A completed Dependent Form
- A copy of the passport identification (biographic) page for each dependent
- A copy of the marriage certificate for a spouse (with an English translation if the document is not in English)
- A copy of the child’s birth certificate showing the parent relationship (with an English translation if the document is not in English)
- Documentation showing additional financial support for each dependent
Important Rules for F-2 Dependents
Under federal regulations:
- F-2 spouses and children may not accept employment in the United States.
- An F-2 spouse or child may study less than a full course of study at an SEVP-certified school at the post secondary or vocational level.
- An F-2 spouse or child must obtain the appropriate change of status before beginning a full course of study at the post secondary level, except for study that is avocational or recreational in nature.
- An F-2 child may study full-time in kindergarten through grade 12.
)