As a dependent on an L-2 visa, you can accompany the L-1 visa holder as their spouse or unmarried child under the age of 21. However, first, you have to meet the requirements regarding eligibility and the whole procedure of applying to be ready to go. Read this article to know what is necessary about the L-2 Visa for Dependents.
- What is a L-2 Visa for Dependents?
- Who is eligible for a L-2 Visa?
- Procedure for obtaining an L-2 visa
- L-2 visa Dependents Privileges
- What is the processing time for an L-2 visa?
- Is it possible to change my status while on an L-2 visa?
- What is the duration of the L-2 visa?
- Moving from an L-2 visa to a Green Card
What is a L-2 Visa for Dependents?
The L-2 visa is a dependents visa, similar to the H-4 visa, which is for family members of those with H visas. You can study in the United States, get a driver’s licence, open a bank account, fly in and out of the country as long as your visa is valid, and enjoy other benefits with an L-2 dependents visa.
Your L-2 visa status is inextricably linked to the primary L-1 visa holder. The L-1 person determines the validity of your visa, as well as your options for extension or renewal and status adjustment.
Who is eligible for a L-2 Visa?
Just a few requirements must be met in order to qualify for the L-2 visa. You must be the primary L-1 visa holder’s spouse or unmarried child under the age of 21. Couples of the same sex are also welcome to apply.
Only one spouse can apply for this visa because the US government does not accept multiple spouses. An L-2 visa is not available to someone who is connected to the L-1 person, such as parents.
Procedure for obtaining an L-2 visa
The L-2 visa application is easy, and it follows the same trends as other dependent visas like the H-4 visa. Dependents should apply for their visas at the same time as the L-1 visa applicant, as this makes proving their partnership much easier. You must take these steps to apply for an L-2 visa.
Make an appointment for your visa
Visa interviews are provided for those over the age of 13 and under the age of 79 who wish to apply for a visa to the United States.
If you are a member of this party, you must make an appointment. You should try to arrange it as soon as possible, as the United States Embassy could be overburdened and you may have to wait for your appointment. You will receive a visa appointment letter when you schedule this appointment, which you will use later in the application process.
Submit the supporting documents
You’ll also need to create a file with all of the necessary documents such as:
- A valid passport for at least 6 months after your visa expires.
- One photograph which meets the US visa specifications.
- a photocopy of the L-1 visa.
- a copy of the L-1 individual’s passport.
- Letter of approval of your appointment.
- Page 2 of your DS-160 confirmation.
- Receipts of paid fees.
- A letter from the L-1 visa holder’s employer outlining the job description.
- Copies of Form I-129 (Form I-129S for L blanket petitions) and Form I-797 for the L-1 visa holder.
- Letters from the L-1 visa holder’s former employers.
- Relationship evidence such as birth certificates for infants, genuine proof of marriage for couples by original marriage licence, album with wedding images, wedding invitations and locations, recipients of weddings, honeymoon specifics and photos and records from the marriage register, etc.
Participate in the visa interview
The visa interview is the final step in the L-2 visa application process. You must arrive on time and with your paperwork at the US Embassy where you made the appointment. Questions about any previous stay or visit to the United States, your relationship to the L-1 visa holder, and your intentions or aim of visiting the United States will be asked during the L-2 visa interview.
The majority of L-2 visa applicants are approved; however, legitimate L-2 visa denial reasons include officials at the US Embassy thinking that you are going to the US to help your already-residing spouse, possibly under fake employment contracts. As a result, state the truth and attempt to be as specific as possible. After the interview, you will have to wait for the Embassy’s response and the processing period.
L-2 visa Dependents Privileges
The L-2 visa for dependents has the advantage of allowing them to participate in a variety of activities. You can work, get a degree and study in the United States with an L-2 visa.
Spouses of L-1 visa holders are qualified to work, but their children are not. In order to have a job under this form of visa, an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), you may apply for this document as soon as you arrive in the United States. This document allows you to work in every sector of the economy as long as the job is legal and you have been offered a role.
The EAD does not restrict you in this regard; you may work part-time or full-time. Furthermore, you are not required to have a work offer in order to apply for the EAD. You should apply for an EAD if you don’t want to start working right away but want to keep your options open in the future. The EAD will be valid for two years after you receive it, and you can extend it as many times as you like as long as your L-2 visa remains valid.
You must submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, along with a copy of your Form I-94 and two photographs to qualify for the EAD. You’ll collect your paperwork and give it to USCIS. USCIS will review the L-2 visa EAD application during the 90-day processing period and can refuse, authorise, or request additional proof.
If your EAD is accepted, you will then apply for a Social Security Number (SSN), which is a document that almost all, if not all, employers in the United States would need.
What is the processing time for an L-2 visa?
You will have to wait for your visa to be approved after you have submitted your paperwork and completed all of the application procedures. L-2 visas take up to 1 month to process, but it may take longer depending on the Embassy’s workload and other factors.
Is it possible to change my status while on an L-2 visa?
It is difficult to adjust your status from L-2 to another form of visa since it is a dependents visa. It is not, however, impossible. You may apply for an L-1 visa separately if you meet the requirements. Furthermore, if you can secure sponsorship from an employer, you might be able to apply for an H-1B visa. If your spouse or parent switches their status to a different visa, such as an H-1B visa, you must move to an H-4 dependents visa as well.
What is the duration of the L-2 visa?
The L-2 visa is a dependents visa, which means it’s connected to the L-1 visa. As an L-2 dependent, your visa is valid for the same amount of time as the L-1 visa holder (your spouse or parents). The L-2 contingent is also eligible for extensions if the L-1 visa is extended. You may apply for extensions by submitting Form I-539, Application to Extend or Change Nonimmigrant Status, to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
You will remain in the United States for 7 years if you are the spouse or child of an L-1A visa holder. If you are the spouse or child of an L-1B visa holder, you can stay in the United States for up to five years. If the L-1 visa holder’s visa expires, you, as an L-2 visa holder, must return to your home country and cannot stay in the United States if the L-1 visa holder is not permitted to stay.
Moving from an L-2 visa to a Green Card
Since you are legally bound to the L-1 visa holder, whether he or she applies for a Green Card, you are also required to apply. Since L visas are dual-purpose visas, you do not need to show that you want to return home or that you have close links to your home country.
If your spouse or parent applies for a green card based on jobs, you are permitted to enter them and must send the necessary documentation. If the L-1 visa holder’s green card is accepted, you, as their family member, will also be eligible for a green card.
