Adding dependents

Immigration services

An F-1 student’s spouse and/or children under 21 years of age are eligible to be in the U.S. in F-2 status as F-1 dependents. To initiate the process for bringing dependents that are still in their home country to the U.S., you must add the dependents’ names to your I-20 form by providing our office with the following documents:

Updated proof of financial support including the cost for a full year of tuition, fees and living expenses for the F-1 student and another $5,000 for each additional dependent*
The F-1 student’s last four monthly bank account statements
The Adding F-2 Dependents Form

*Please note: If the F-1 student is in the English Language Program, we also will need a letter from the adviser indicating how much more time the student needs for school. These F-1 students must show $555 per month for each additional dependent.

Once the new I-20 has been issued, it is the F-1 student’s responsibility to send the new I-20 to the family member(s). They will then present this document to the U.S. Embassy and request F-2 visa stamps in their passports. When they travel to the U.S., they must bring the I-20 to the port of entry, where the entry guard will stamp and return the I-20s to the dependents.

For dependents already in the U.S., please contact us for an appointment to discuss the situation.