The United States M2 visa is a special non-immigrant visa that applies to the dependents of M1 visa holders. An M1 visa would be given to someone who comes to the United States for the purpose of pursuing a trade or non-academic high school course at an institution that is not a university. This M2 Visa permits the spouse and unmarried children under the age of twenty-one to join the main M1 visa holder. Thus, this guide elaborates on the procedures to apply for the M2 visa, eligibility criteria, fees, and processing timelines, so that one can effectively get through the M2 visa process.
About the M2 Visa
The M2 visa is actually for dependent persons of M1 visa holders. The dependants are defined as the spouse and unmarried children under the age of twenty-one years. It means that such dependants will be in the United States for the period that their incumbent M1 is permitted to be in the country. However, they will not be able to work and can generally study without restrictions, but other options will not be available to them.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for an M2 visa, the applicant must be a spouse or child of the M1 visa holder. The dependents must show evidence of the official relationship to the M1 visa holder, which may be through marriage certificates for spouses or birth certificates for children. Furthermore, the principal visa holder would have to prove their ability to fund the dependents throughout their stay in the United States.
In addition, the interested party would have to provide proof that they only wish to accompany the M1 visa holder: those children who have received M2 visas may attend primary or secondary schooling; nonetheless, further education or full-time studies at a post-secondary level are typically not permitted without switching visa statuses.
Steps for M2 Visa Application
The procedure to get an M2 visa involves a series of procedures which begin by submitting forms online and end with an in-person interview at any US embassy or consulate.
To begin with, completion of the DS-160 form shall be required as the online application for a nonimmigrant visa. This confirmation page will be required when collecting the visa interview.
Pay the visa application fees, and swipe that receipt for future reference. The standard M2 fees are $185 but may include additional charges as visa stipulation fees depending on your country of origin.
Individuals aged 14 to 79 are required to attend a visa interview. Doing the appointments could be done online and by contacting the said US embassy or consulate in the applicant’s home country. Necessary during the interview are provisions of documents onboard showing a passport valid for travel, DS-160 confirmation page, Visa fee receipt, and proof of the relationship to the holder of the M1 visa.
Required Documentation
Applicants must provide supporting documents demonstrating eligibility for the M2 visa. These include a valid passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay in the USA, a recent passport-size photo with US visa requirements, and evidence of financial support, marriage, or birth certificates for proof of relationship with the M1 visa holder.
In addition, photocopies of all documents of the M1 visa holder, such as Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) and visa status, are required.
The M2 visa permits families to remain together with an M1 visa holder who is in the country for vocational or non-academic studies. Applicants need to know everything about the whole process, the requirements for eligibility, and conditions of the visa to be able to prepare them for the journey. It is usually safer to have an early preparation and keenness to detail to attain high chances of a speedy application process and a positive result.
