Spouses and Children in F-2 Status

If you are planning to bring your spouse and/or children to the U.S. as dependents of your F-1 status, you must apply for I-20s from the Office of Global Engagement so that your dependents can apply for F-2 visas.

Important Information:

  • Dependents may enter the U.S. with an F-1 student or after the F-1 student has already arrived in the U.S.
  • Dependents’ immigration status is dependent on the F-1 student maintaining their status. Therefore, if an F-1 student loses their immigration status, so does the F-2 dependent.
  • Dependents must have an F-2 Form I-20 to enter the U.S. and a valid travel signature on the second page of their I-20 whenever they will depart the U.S. and reenter.
  • F-2 visa holders are not allowed to do paid or unpaid work in the United States.
  • F-2 spouses may engage in part-time, recreational study but are not allowed to study full-time in the United States unless they legally and officially change their immigration status to F-1 (or another status that allows full-time study).
  • F-2 dependent children may engage in full-time study at the K-12 (kindergarten through twelfth grade) levels.

For further information, schedule an appointment with the Office of Global Engagement.

Contact Us

Global Engagement Office

The Office of Global Engagement (OGE) is the university’s primary resource of services to all incoming and current F-1 and J-1 students. Besides assisting incoming students with their application process, we also support new and returning students with all their immigration questions. Hundreds of international students call Montclair State University home, join us to see why!

I-20 Team

Any questions related to the I-20 or change-of-status (prospective or accepted students)

International Recruitment Team

Prospective and admitted international students seeking information about Montclair State University, the application process, enrollment, and pre-arrival support.