US dependent visas: H-4, F-2, L-2 and J-2

Types, work and study

Eligibility

• Legally married spouse, or unmarried child under 21, of a valid H, F-1, L-1 or J-1 holder.
• Passport valid for the whole stay (many countries also need 6 months beyond the stay; check the embassy list).
• F-2 and J-2 applicants must show enough funds. All applicants must show the stay is temporary and, for spouses, that the marriage is genuine.

How to apply

1. Collect documents

   Collect your documents (see below) and create your profile on the CEAC website.

2. Fill in the DS-160

   Fill in the DS-160 form, upload a photo, and note the barcode number. Answer the social media questions honestly; F, J and H categories, including dependents, are under expanded online-presence screening, so follow the embassy's privacy-setting instructions.

3. Pay the visa fee

   Pay the visa application fee (see fees below) and keep the receipt number.

4. Book the interview

   Book the interview (and the biometrics/VAC slot where your embassy uses one). Apply in the country of your nationality or residence; applying in a third country is no longer allowed.

5. Attend the interview

   Attend the interview with your passport, DS-160 confirmation, appointment letter and documents. Most applicants now need an in-person interview, including children under 14 and adults over 79. Only a few categories, such as B-1/B-2 renewals within 12 months, still get a waiver.

6. Apply with the sponsor

   It is best to apply at the same time as the sponsor, with original documents. Wrong or fake documents can lead to refusal and affect future applications.

Documents

Fees in 2026

Visa application fee

H-4 and L-2: US$205. F-2: US$185. J-2: US$185. Dependents pay the fee of the visa category they apply for.

New: Visa Integrity Fee

A US$250 Visa Integrity Fee is set by law (from 1 October 2025) and is charged per person when a visa is issued, including dependents. As of 20 October 2026 it is not yet shown on the official fee pages, so confirm before you pay. The law allows a refund after the visa expires for people who follow all visa rules.

Other

Some nationalities pay an extra visa issuance (reciprocity) fee. Check the US reciprocity table for your country.

H-1B note

The US$100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions for workers outside the USA is paid by the employer, not by dependents, but it can affect the sponsor's timing. A federal court set aside its collection rules in June 2026 and it is not being collected for now, but a new proclamation renewed it in September 2026 and the appeal continues.

Processing time

Visa decisions are usually quick after the interview, but appointment waiting times vary a lot by city and season, and some cases go into administrative processing. Check current wait times on the embassy website and apply well in advance.

After you get the visa

• Carry all documents. The CBP officer at the airport decides how long you may stay; check your I-94 record online.
• Do not stay beyond the date on your I-94. To extend, file Form I-539 with USCIS before the status expires, together with the sponsor's extension.
• Track your visa status on the CEAC website and the embassy's appointment portal.
• H-4 EAD: automatic extension while a renewal is pending has ended (for renewals filed on or after 30 October 2025). File the renewal early, up to 180 days before expiry, and do not start work on a new period until it is approved.
• Follow US laws, and remember rules change often. Always confirm on travel.state.gov, uscis.gov and your embassy site before applying.

Golden Globe Overseas Education can help you understand the process, organise documents and prepare for the interview. Visa decisions are made by the US consular officer.

Official sites: U.S. Department of State – travel.state.gov · USCIS · U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India – Visas · Our US visa guide 2026