In most cases, a non-immigrant visitor's minor child (unmarried and under 21 years of age) is eligible to apply for a dependent visa, and either accompany or follow to join the principal visa holder to the United States. However, it is often confusing whether a nonimmigrant child may attend school. The table below addresses many questions related to dependent visa status and studying.
(See also: Dependent visa for spouse and school information)
General rules (exceptions and restrictions apply):
If your nonimmigrant visa status is: | Your child may come to the U.S. in dependent visa status: | Your child may attend K-12 school [11] | Your child may attend college or university [12] | You child may change status to F-1, M-1 or J-1 | |
A-1, A-2 or A-3 | Foreign government officials | A-1, A-2 or A-3 [1] | Yes | Yes | Yes |
B-1 | Visitor for business | None [2] | limited [3] | No [4] | Yes |
B-2 | Visitor for pleasure | None [2] | limited [3] | No [4] | Yes |
C-1 to C-4 | Aliens in transit | None | N/A | N/A | N/A |
D-1 or D-2 | Crewmen | None | N/A | N/A | N/A |
E-1 | Treaty trader | E-1 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
E-2 | Treaty investor | E-2 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
F-1 | Academic student | F-2 | Yes | No [5] | Yes |
G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4 or G-5 | Representatives to International Organizations | G-1 to G-5 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
H-1B | Specialty worker or fashion model | H-4 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
H-1C | Nurses | H-4 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
H-2A | Agricultural worker | H-4 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
H-3 | Trainee | H-4 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
I | Foreign media representative | I | Yes | Yes | Yes [6] |
J-1 | Exchange visitor | J-2 | Yes | Yes | Yes [7] |
K-1 | Fiance(e) of U.S. citizen | K-2 | Yes | Yes | No [8] |
K-3 | Spouse of U.S. citizen | K-4 | Yes | Yes | No [8] |
L-1A | Intracompany transferee - Manager | L-2 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
L-1B | Intracompany transferee - Specialized knowledge | L-2 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
M-1 | Vocational or language student | M-2 | Yes | No [9] | Yes |
N-8, SK-1, SK-2 or SK-4 | Special immigrant (Certain Parents and Children of section 101(a)(27)(I)) | N-9 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
NATO-1 to NATO-7 | North Atlantic Treaty Organization | NATO1 - 7 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
O-1 | Worker with extraordinary abilities | O-3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
O-2 | Alien's (support) accompanying O-1 | O-3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
P-1, P-2 or P-3 | Athlete, artist or entertainer | P4 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Q-1 | Cultural exchange visitor | None [10] | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Q-2 | Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program (Walsh Visas) | Q-3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
R-1 | Religious worker | R-2 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
S5 or S6 | Witness or Informant | S7 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
T-1 | Victim of trafficking | T-3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
TN | North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) | TD | Yes | Yes | Yes |
TWOV (C4) | Transit without visa | None | N/A | N/A | N/A |
U-1 | Victim of certain criminal activity | U-3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
V-1 | Spouse of an LPR | V-3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
V-2 | Child of an LPR | V-3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |