The L-2 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa for dependent spouses and children of L-1 Visa holders. The L1 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa for managers, executives, and specialized workers of multinational companies with a U.S. office. Both L2 and L1 Visas are dual intent. Dual intent means that these visa holders can apply for permanent residence in the U.S. while holding nonimmigrant status. Working and studying in the U.S. are additional benefits of the L-2 Visa.
Application for the L-2 Visa starts with the filing and payment of an online application form. Documents that prove the relationship of the L2 applicant to the L1 Visa holder/applicant have to be prepared. The validity of the L2 Visa is directly tied to the L1 Visa. The maximum stay for L-2 Visa holders in the U.S. is 5 to 7 years.
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What is an L-2 Visa?
The L-2 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa for temporary U.S. entry of dependent spouses and children of L-1 Visa holders. The L1 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa for the intracompany transfer of managers and executives (L-1A Visa), and specialized knowledge workers (L-1B Visa) of multinational companies to the US. The L2 Visa is directly related to the status and validity of the L-1 Visa holder.
How Does an L-2 Visa Work?
The L-2 Visa allows the spouse and unmarried children under 21 of the L1 Visa holder to accompany them for the duration of their stay in the US. Other relatives such as parents, grandparents, or siblings of L-1 Visa holders are ineligible for the L2 Visa. Other relatives who wish to accompany their L1 Visa children can apply for a visitor visa to enter the US.
L-2 Visa applicants are recommended to file their application at the same time as the L-1 Visa holder to prove their relationship more easily. L2 Visa holders can only stay in the U.S. as long as the primary L1 status is valid. The L-1 Visa is valid for an initial period of 3 years. Extensions can be filed for the L1 Visa which applies to the dependent L-2 Visa.
What are the Benefits of L-2 Visa?
The L2 Visa is beneficial for spouses and children of L-1 Visa holders in terms of work, education, and U.S. immigration.
- Work in the U.S. without restrictions. Spouses of L1 Visa holders are no longer required to have an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) as per the November 2021 announcement from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). An Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is a document that allows foreign workers to be legally employed in the US. You are not restricted to a single employer and do not require sponsorship as an L2 Visa spouse.
- Study in the US. Spouses and children of L1 Visa holders can study part-time or full-time in academic institutions in the US.
- Apply for U.S. permanent residence. L Visas have provision for dual intent. Having dual intent means that you can apply for permanent residence while on a nonimmigrant visa in the US.
What are the Risks of L-2 Visa?
These are the limitations of the L-2 Visa.
- Dependence on the primary L1 Visa. The status and validity of the L2 Visa are fully dependent on the L-1 Visa. Non-renewal of the L1 Status means that you are no longer allowed to stay in the US on an L-2 Visa. Change of status of the L1 Visa holder requires you to change to another nonimmigrant visa as an L2 Visa holder.
- Restrictions on eligible applicants. Only spouses and unmarried children under 21 of L-1 Visa holders are qualified to apply for the L-2 Visa. Other relatives such as parents, grandparents, siblings, or cousins are not eligible for the L2 Visa.
- Visa denial. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can revoke or deny an L-2 Visa if you will not accompany or remain with the L1 Visa holder during your intended stay in the US.
How Much Does an L-2 Visa Cost?
The L-2 Visa application cost is $160 for DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application. Additional fees vary depending on your home country. Make sure to keep receipts of all payments made for your L2 Visa application and bring them during the visa interview.
How to Apply for an L-2 Visa?
L2 Visa applicants are advised to file their application at the same time as the L-1 Visa applicant. Doing so helps in proving the family relationship much easier. The L-2 Visa application starts with an online application and paying the visa fee. A visa interview has to be scheduled and the required documents submitted. A step-by-step guide for L2 Visa is detailed below.
How is the Process of L-2 Visa?
The L-2 Visa application process has 6 steps.
- Accomplishing DS-160. DS-160 is a form accomplished online. Print out the confirmation page after filling out the form. You will need this page for your visa interview.
- Settling visa fees. DS-160 costs $160. Additional fees depend on your country of origin. Bring the receipts of all payments you made for the visa application during the interview.
- Scheduling visa interview and biometrics. Book your visa interview and biometrics appointment in advance to avoid delays in processing. The biometrics appointment and visa interview cannot be scheduled on the same date.
- Submitting required documents. You need to prepare the required documents prior to your visa interview. These documents include those from the L1 Visa applicant, your personal records, and proof of your relationship with the L-1 Visa applicant.
- Attending biometrics appointment. The biometrics appointment happens in the Visa Application Center. Your fingerprints, photos, and other information required by immigration officials will be collected.
- Attending the visa interview. The visa interview happens in the U.S. consulate or embassy. You need to prove your relationship and eligibility for the L2 Visa. The embassy or consulate keeps your passport after a successful L-2 Visa application. You will receive your passport and visa within 10 business days of your interview.
How Long Does it Take to be Approved for an L-2 Visa?
The average processing time for an L2 Visa is 30 days or more after attending the required appointments and submitting the necessary documents. Make sure to meet all the requirements and work with your lawyer to prevent delays in your application.
What are the Requirements for an L-2 Visa?
Here are the documents you and the L-1 Visa holder need to prepare and submit for the L2 Visa application.
- Appointment letter for the visa interview.
- Valid passport of the L2 Visa applicant and the L1 Visa holder/applicant.
- Passport-style photo.
- Biographic documents.
- Original marriage certificate, marriage photos, and supporting marriage documents for spouses.
- Original birth certificate for children.
- Written approval of the L-1 Visa holder/applicant.
- Academic qualification certificates based on the information you gave in your DS-160.
- Employment verification letter of the L1 Visa holder/applicant.
- Copy of I-94, Arrival/Departure Record of the L-1 Visa holder already present in the US.
- Copies of the L1 Visa holder’s payslips if already employed in the US.
- Copy of the L-1 Visa applicant/holder’s current tax returns.
- Copy of the L1 Visa applicant/holder’s petition approval notice from USCIS.
- The L-1 Visa holder/applicant’s I-797, Notice of Action and Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker.
- Receipts of visa application and visa issuance fees.
How Long Can I Stay on an L-2 Visa?
The L-2 Visa is valid as long as the related L-1 Visa stays valid. The L1 Visa is initially valid for 3 years and can be extended for 2 years at a time until the maximum validity has been reached. L1A Visa and the accompanying L2 Visa are valid for a maximum total of 7 years. L1B Visa and the dependent L-2 Visa are valid for a maximum total of 5 years.
What are the Interview Questions of L-2 Visa?
Applicants over 13 and under 79 years of age are required to attend an L2 Visa interview. Here are 5 samples of L-2 Visa Interview Questions and Answers.
- What type of visa are you applying for?
Tell the immigration officer that you are applying for an L-2 Visa.
- What will you do once your visa expires?
Know the validity of an L-1 and L2 Visa. Know the steps that need to be taken once these visas expire.
- Have you been to the U.S. before?
Give the accurate number of times you have visited the US and your purpose. The immigration officer will cross-check this information.
- When was the L1 Visa of your spouse or parent stamped?
Answer with the relevant date and information.
- Why do you have to go to the US?
State the reasons why you are applying for the L2 US Visa. The primary reason is that you want to be with your spouse or parent for the duration of their L1 status in the US.
Remember to be completely honest with your answers during the interview. Bring the supporting documents to back up your answers and secure an L2 Visa successfully.
What are the Countries that can Apply for An L-2 Visa?
The top countries that apply for the L1 and L2 Visas are India, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, and China according to the U.S. Department of State. All non-US nationalities are eligible to apply for the L2 Visa.
What are the Differences Between L-2 Visa and EB-5 Visa?
The L-2 Visa and EB-5 Visa are two different types of visas. The EB-5 Visa is an immigrant visa for foreign investors that grants U.S. permanent residence. Minimum investment in a U.S. business that creates at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. citizens is needed to qualify for EB5 Visa.
Here are the main differences between these two visas.
- Visa type. The L2 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa that only grants temporary US entry. The EB 5 Visa allows for an indefinite stay in the US.
- Eligibility. Only spouses and children of L1 Visa holders are eligible for the L-2 Visa. Any foreign investor that can meet the investment and job creation requirements can apply for the EB-5 Visa.
- Validity. The L-2 Visa is valid for the duration of the primary L1 Visa. The EB5 Immigrant Investor Visa allows for a permanent stay in the US.
What are the Differences Between L-2 Visa and L-1 Visa?
The L2 Visa is the dependent visa of the L-1 Visa. Here are the key differences between the two related visas.
- Visa type. Both L-2 and L-1 Visas are nonimmigrant. The L1 Visa is the primary visa for managers, executives, and specialized knowledge workers of multinational companies with a U.S. branch. The L2 Visa is the dependent visa for the spouses and minor children of the L-1 Visa holder.
- Eligibility. Only multinational managers, executives, or specialized workers can apply for the L1 Visa. Only spouses and unmarried children under 21 of the L1 Visa holder can apply for the L2 Visa.
- Employment. The L-1 Visa holder can only work for the parent or subsidiary U.S. branch of the multinational company that petitioned for their visa. The spouse of the L1 Visa holder can work without restrictions in the U.S. on an approved L-2 Visa.
Can My Spouse and Children Come with Me on an L-2 Visa?
Yes, the L-2 Visa is specifically for spouses and children of an L1 Visa holder. Other relatives such as parents, grandparents, or siblings cannot accompany you to the US with an L2 Visa.
Can I Obtain an L-2 Visa Despite Having a Criminal Record?
You need to take additional steps to gain an L2 Visa with a criminal record. Your L-2 Visa application is subject to denial if your current or past actions fall under the scope of inadmissibility grounds according to U.S. legislation. Drug violations and crimes involving moral turpitude (CIMT) such as kidnap, manslaughter, rape, forgery, or murder are denied an inadmissibility waiver. Applicants with no records of these crimes apply for the inadmissibility waiver in the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country. An inadmissibility waiver allows inadmissible foreign citizens to enter the U.S. temporarily.
Can an Immigration Lawyer Speed Up the Process of L-2 Visa?
No, an immigration lawyer cannot speed up the processing of L-2 Visa itself. What an immigration lawyer can do is assist you with the whole process to prevent unnecessary delays. Common causes of delays in L2 Visa applications are incorrect information and incomplete documentation.