F-2 Dependents
Welcome!
This page is intended to provide information for F-2 dependents regarding benefits, eligibility and other information specific to the F-2 visa.
For additional information and resources about daily life, including topics such as schools, housing and transportation, see our International Families main page.
Eligibility & Regulations
- The spouse and unmarried minor children of an F-1 student can be admitted in F-2 status to accompany the primary F-1 student to the United States.
Same-sex Spouses and F-2 status: Marriage is recognized in the United States for issuance of derivative nonimmigrant visas if the marriage is "recognized in the place of celebration," which has been a long-standing policy in immigration law. Since 2016, that standard has also been extended to same-sex marriages. - Dependents may also join the F-1 student later on.
- An eligible dependent must present a dependent Form I-20 issued by the DSO of the school that issued the F-1 student's Form I-20.
- Each dependent must have their own properly executed Form I-20 with a unique SEVIS ID number.
How to Add a Dependent
- The primary visa holder should log into iStart.
- F1 students, complete the "Add Dependent" e-form.
- If you have questions about the financial requirements or technical questions using iStart, please contact your ISSS Advisor.
- When your e-form is complete and submitted an ISSS advisor will review and process the information to create an F-2 form I-20 for your dependent. You will be notified when the forms are ready in 3-5 business days.
- Then, you can send the I-20 to your spouse or child(ren) in your home country.
- Your dependents can then make a visa appointment in their home country.
- Note: As of Nov. 1, 2016 eyeglasses are no longer allowed in visa photos. For more information please see the US Dept. of State U.S. Visas page.
- After your dependent obtains the visa, he or she can travel to the U.S.
- Within 30 days after your dependent's arrival, you will need to arrange for health insurance. If you are currently insured by Georgia State Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), you can apply for dependent insurance coverage at additional cost. If you are covered by a different insurance company, contact your provider to inquire about possible options. For more information on insurance for dependents please see the Health Insurance information on the ISSS website.
Study in F-2 Status
- F-2 spouses may not engage in a full course of study.
- However, F-2 spouses and children are permitted to enroll in "less than a full course of study," even if the part-time course of study grants academic credit towards a degree program.
- A study that is "avocational or recreational in nature" is permitted "up to and including a full-time basis."
- F-2 children may engage in full-time study at the K-12 (kindergarten - 12th grad of high school) level.
If an F-2 dependent wishes to pursue full-time study, the F-2 must obtain approval for a Change of Status (COS) to F-1 or J-1 status prior to full-time enrollment. Please read our Change of Visa Status page and contact ISSS for more information.
Work Authorization for F-2 Dependents
Individuals in F-2 status may not accept employment or engage in business activity under any circumstances.
Contact Us
ISSS is committed to maintaining support and services to you during this time and will continue to operate under normal operating procedures for the remainder of the semester, just from a remote and online platform. This means you can call us directly or email us to request information and/or telephone/web appointments for advisement during our regular advisement hours.
For the Atlanta campuses, please call 404-413-2070 or email isss@gsu.edu.
For Perimeter campuses, please call 678-891-3235 or email issspc@gsu.edu.
Location:
Sparks Hall - Room 252
ISSS, Georgia State University
33 Gilmer St. SE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Telephone: 404-413-2070
Fax: 404-413-2072
Email: isss@gsu.edu
Mailing Address (please use our physical address above for express mail):
International Student and Scholar Services
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3987
Atlanta, GA 30302-3987
USA
Georgia State-sponsored H-1B, TN, O-1, J-1 Scholar and Permanent Residency Petitions
Any advising for employment-based visas, green cards or hosting a J-1 Scholar (Research Scholar, Professor, Short-Term Scholar, Student Intern, Specialist) which are sponsored by Georgia State needs to be set up by appointment after the hiring department has requested the immigration process they wish to sponsor.
Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday
Advising Hours (F-1 & J-1 Students) are as follow:
Monday: 1-4 p.m.
Tuesday: 9 a.m.-noon
Wednesday: 1-4 p.m.
Thursday: 1-4 p.m.
Friday: 1-4 p.m.
ISSS is committed to serving you in the safest and most efficient way possible.
Beginning Spring 2022: F-1 and J-1 students wishing to speak with an ISSS advisor at the Atlanta Campus over the phone or in-person must access the QLESS system in order to get into our virtual queue. Once in the virtual queue you will receive instructions regarding a call back from one of our available advisors or instructions on when to come into the ISSS lobby to meet an advisor.
If you wish to speak with an ISSS advisor, please click the QLESS link below during advising hours and get into the virtual queue.
Clarkston Campus
Location & Mailing Address:
Building CN 2230 (Student Center)
ISSS, Perimeter College, Clarkston Campus
555 N. Indian Creek Dr.
Clarkson, GA 30021
Telephone: 678-891-3235
Fax: 678-891-3068
Email: issspc@gsu.edu
Dunwoody Campus
Location & Mailing Address:
Building NB
Room 1200
ISSS, Perimeter College, Dunwoody Campus
2101 Womack Rd.
Dunwoody, GA 30338
Telephone: 770-274-5570
Fax: 770-274-5253
Email: issspc@gsu.edu
Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday
Walk-in Advising Hours (F-1 & J-1 Students):
9-11:30 a.m., Monday and Wednesday
1:30-4 p.m., Monday through Friday
Occasionally it may be necessary to make emergency cancellations of advising times last minute. We apologize for any inconvenience.