If you are planning to immigrate to the United States or travel to the United States to reunite with your family in the country, you must go to the U.S. Embassy to obtain a U.S. visa and a U.S. accompanying visa. A companion visa is a special type of visa that allows the holder to join family members in the country of destination.
What is a US Companion Visa?
Those who come to the U.S. on an F-1 visa to study in the U.S. and those who come to the U.S. on an H-visa to work in the U.S. can obtain a U.S. accompanying visa for their spouse and children under 21 years of age to bring their families to the United States easily.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) allows family members of H-visa holders, including H-1B visas, to obtain H4 visas to come and stay legally with their spouse or parents in the United States. The main family members include the spouse or children under 21 years of age of the H visa holder.
The F2 visa is also a temporary non-immigrant permit for close family members of F1 student visa holders. If you are an international student enrolled in a U.S. educational institution, children under the age of 21 and your spouse can join you in the country. You can easily submit your application together and enter the United States at the same time.
The F2 dependent visa gives your family the right to reside in the United States, however, they cannot hold a paid job or continue their studies. Children can attend primary or secondary schools full-time. Adult dependents are only allowed to attend non-professional or recreational courses.
Who is eligible for the H4 Visa?
As mentioned above, USCIS allows family members of H-visa holders, including H-1B visas, to obtain an H4 accompanying visa for entry and legal stay with their spouse or parents in the United States. Close family members include the spouse or any child under the age of 21 who holds an H visa. Accordingly, in order to be eligible to apply for an H4 visa, you must meet one of the following requirements:
-Be the spouse of an H visa holder. This includes H1B, H1B1, H2A, H2B or H3 visas.
-Children under the age of 21 are an H-visa holder. Children of H visa holders who are over 21 years of age will not be eligible to apply for an H-4 visa.
-Family members may also be admitted to other nonimmigrant categories that are eligible. For example, F1 category for spouses or children coming to school, or H1B category for a spouse whose employer has also approved the H1B visa application.
Who is eligible for an F2 visa?
The F2 visa is suitable for eligible relatives of F1 visa holders. This category includes the following family members:
-Spouses (wives and husbands)
-Unmarried children under the age of 21 who do not have an independent life.
Before you can apply for a U.S. F2 Companion Visa, USCIS must approve the original F visa. After that, you can submit Form I-20A-B (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status). You can also apply at the U.S. Consulate by filing Form DS-160 (Nonimmigrant Visa Program).
What are the documents required for a U.S. accompanying visa?
To support your application for a US accompanying visa, you must provide the following documents:
-Confirmation: Interview appointment and payment receipt.
-Personalized photo with white background, without retouching and facing
-If you have a criminal or legal record, you must also provide certified copies of court records, imprisonment or detention, and anything related to your record.
-Copy of your marriage certificate (for dependent spouses)
-Copies of birth certificate or adoption documents (for dependent children)
-Financial Aid Certificate
-proof that you will return home after the F-1 visa holder has completed his studies. In these cases, a return flight to your home country can help.
-All your medical records and tests.
