United States · Visa guide
United States · Visa guideUnited States Dependent & Family Visa
US dependent visas are defined as much by what they forbid as what they allow — F-2 holders cannot work at all, and H-4 work authorisation is narrow and policy-dependent.
- ProcessingDriven almost entirely by consular appointment availability in India
- Visa categoryDependent & Family Visa
- Your guideOne consultant
Start here
United States Dependent & Family Visa — overview
Defined by what they forbid
US dependent visas are unusual: the important part is what they do not allow.
F-2, for the family of an F-1 student, carries no work authorisation at all — none, with no exception and no informal path. Study is limited to part-time or recreational courses. Working on an F-2 endangers the entire family's status, the student's included. Any agent who hints at a workaround is describing a violation that ends a degree.
H-4, for the family of an H-1B worker, permits work only in narrowly defined circumstances tied to the H-1B holder's green-card progress, through a separate Employment Authorization Document. This has been subject to repeated policy change and litigation — what was true for a colleague two years ago may not be true today, so we verify the current position rather than trading in received wisdom.
The spouse's interview is a real interview
Dependants face the same 214(b) presumption as everyone else: the officer must be satisfied they intend to return. Families frequently prepare the principal applicant thoroughly and treat the spouse's interview as a formality — then a vague answer about plans in the US creates doubt that attaches to the whole family.
We prepare every interviewee, because the officer is assessing every one of them.
Appointments, not decisions, are the constraint
For Indian applicants the binding limit is usually consular appointment availability, which fluctuates significantly by post and season. That is worth knowing before you promise anyone a date.
6 items
Documents you need
Principal visa holder in status
F-1 student or H-1B worker maintaining status — dependants derive their status from the principal.
Proof of relationship
Marriage certificate for spouses, birth certificates for children, with translations where required.
Financial support evidence
Proof the principal can support the family; for F-2 this is added to the I-20 funding shown.
Form I-20 or I-797 copies for dependants
F-2 dependants need their own I-20; H-4 dependants reference the approved petition.
DS-160 per person and consular interview
Each family member files their own form and attends as required.
Evidence of ties and intent to return
The 214(b) presumption applies to dependants too — an under-prepared spouse interview can sink an otherwise strong case.
5 steps
How the process works
Typical processing: Driven almost entirely by consular appointment availability in India, which fluctuates. Check current wait times before making plans.
Step 1
Principal secures their status
F-1 or H-1B first; dependants derive from it.
Step 2
Obtain dependant documentation
F-2 I-20s from the school, or petition copies for H-4.
Step 3
File DS-160 for each family member
Separate forms, separate fees.
Step 4
Book interviews — the real constraint
Appointment availability in India fluctuates significantly.
Step 5
Attend prepared, including the spouse
Officers ask dependants about the relationship and plans; a vague answer creates doubt for everyone.
4 answers
Frequently asked questions
Q.Can my spouse work on an F-2 visa?
No. F-2 status carries no work authorisation of any kind, and there is no exception, no side arrangement and no informal path. Working on F-2 jeopardises the whole family's status including the student's. Anyone who suggests otherwise is describing a violation.
Q.Can my spouse work on an H-4?
Only in defined circumstances tied to the H-1B holder's green-card progress, through an Employment Authorization Document. This area has been subject to repeated policy change and litigation, so verify the position current at the time you apply rather than relying on what was true for a friend two years ago.
Q.Can F-2 dependants study?
Children may attend school; spouses are restricted to limited part-time or recreational study rather than a full course. A spouse who wants to study seriously should look at obtaining their own F-1 status instead.
Q.Why did my spouse get refused when I was approved?
Usually 214(b) — the officer was not satisfied the dependant would return home. Dependants are assessed on their own ties and their own answers. Preparing only the principal for the interview is a common and avoidable error.
Why it matters
Going it alone vs filing with us
On your own
- Guessing the document list — one missing or wrongly formatted paper triggers a refusal.
- Generic cover letters copied from the internet that officers recognise and flag.
- No read on peak rejection windows or what this visa post is strict about.
- Government and VFS fees are non-refundable — money lost if you are refused.
- A refusal stamp follows you and weakens every future visa application.
With Lifeset Overseas
- An honest case assessment before you spend a rupee on government fees.
- A file built to the embassy's exact checklist and in the exact order.
- Weak finances, ties or purpose identified and fixed before submission.
- Previously refused? We can rescue and rebuild the file.
- Every case handled by one consultant, end to end.
Refused before?
A refusal isn't the end
A refusal is not a permanent bar — but it only improves if the actual reason is found and answered, and nobody can tell you a second application will succeed. If a United States visa has been refused, we:
- Read the actual refusal letter and pinpoint the real gaps.
- Advise whether to pull the officer's notes (CAIPS / GCMS) for the true reason.
- Identify which part was weak — funds, employment, purpose or ties.
- Tell you honestly whether to reapply now or strengthen the file first.
- Rebuild a stronger application — same fixed fee, refusal or first try.
Your next step
Ready to start your Dependent & Family Visa?
A visa file is won or lost on the small things — a mismatched date, a thin financial trail, a document formatted wrong. We go deep into your profile, build every document properly, and give you an honest verdict before you commit. If your case isn't ready, we'll tell you — and tell you exactly how to fix it.
Free, honest assessment
We read your full profile and tell you straight whether your case is ready — before you pay anything.
Your file, built right
Every document prepared, apostilled, translated and stress-tested the way the embassy expects.
One consultant, end to end
The same person handles your case from the first call to the visa decision — no hand-offs.
We handle the process
VFS appointment, biometrics, submission and follow-up — we manage the moving parts for you.
licensed (No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024)Fixed fees agreed upfrontWe won’t take a case we believe will fail
Other United States visas
USA Tourist Visa (B-2)
The B-2 visitor visa — for tourism, holidays, visiting family and friends, and medical treatment in the United States.
USA Business Visa (B-1)
The B-1 visitor visa — for business meetings, conferences and negotiations in the United States.
USA Student Visa (F-1)
The F-1 student visa — to study a full-time academic programme at a SEVP-approved school or university in the United States.
USA Exchange Visitor Visa (J-1)
The J-1 visa — for approved exchange-visitor programmes in the United States.
Start here · One message away
Don’t leave your visa to chance.Let’s build a stronger file together.
- Honest assessment
- Fixed all-in fees
- No handovers between staff
- Licensed in Patiala
Let’s discuss your case
Message us on WhatsApp — share your visa goal and a consultant from our Punjab-licensed consultancy takes it from there. No forms, no call centres.