L2 Visa for Dependent
L2 Visa is the Visa for the spouses and other depends of those who have an L1 visa. The latter one is for those who move from their own country to the US to work for the business operating in both countries. With this they are also allowed to move in their spouses and kids with them. The spouse is also allowed to work while in the US.
The process for obtaining the permit to work for the spouse is a separate one from that for the person with an L1 Visa. The duration of the stay is the same for everyone involved.
Work permits
Those who have an H-4 Visa can bring in their spouses with them, but they can’t work while in the country. That’s one of the advantages of having an L1 visa since it allows the spouses and their dependents on the get a work permit for every type of employment, including self-employment.
What you need in order to accomplish that is to apply for Employment Authorization Document (EAD). That’s done through USCIS that needs to approve the application. Once you have an EAD you can go further with the process.
Social security number
Before the spouse and other depends on the L1 holder is able to apply for jobs they need to get a Social Security Number. This is the ID that you’ll later use in all your dealings with the government and with the future employees.
Once you have the social security number you’ll be able to jobs regardless of the length of employment and who the employer is. This is different than with those who actually hold an L1 visa since their visa is there to transfer employees within the same company from an office abroad to the office in the US. That means that those who have an L1 Visa can’t change employers and those who are their dependents and hold an L2 Visa can.
Validation
A work permit or an EAD is valid as long as the visa itself is valid. That’s usually two years or one year if the company an L1 holder is working for has been in the US for less than a year. It can be renewed after that time and that’s not an automatic process, but something to apply for.
An EAD extension can be applied for on its own or together with a visa extension (it’s sometimes best to do EAD first, meaning ahead of time, since it takes longer for the process to be completed). That’s done via Form I-539, Application to Extend or Change Nonimmigrant Status.
Additional rules
USCIS has the right to limit or deny the L2 visa when they see fit to do so. That’s a Visa that’s created for the depends of those who have an L1 Visa and they will usually limit or deny it if the person isn’t actually a dependent of the L1 holder.
The government is trying to avoid cases in which an L1 holder isn’t actually present in the county and they are just used to park their families in the US while they move in and out. The point of this Visa is to keep families together and the inspections can check is that the case.
Who isn’t a dependent?
For the purpose of this rule the dependents that have the right to move to the US are the spouse and kids of the L1 Visa holder. Even though the term “dependents” is used that doesn’t mean that everyone who depends on you for care is able to get it.
Simply put parents and siblings aren’t able to apply for this Visa even if you’re able to prove that you’re the one who takes care of them and they need you for financial and material support. They are able to visit however, and it’s easier to apply for a visitor visa, when your child has an L1 or an L2 visa.
Studying
A dependent that holds and L2 Visa is allowed to study while they are in the county. They can apply for any educational programs available based on their age and previous education and they can study full time or part time.
Conclusion
L2 Visa is used to bring the dependents of an L1 Visa into the country. The dependents are spouses and children of the Visa holder. Those who hold this Visa need to apply for a work permit and for a social security number. After that they can work in the country, including being self-employed.
They can also study in the US during the time the visa is valid and that’s as long as their spouse’s is. It can be extended after that initial two years. They are also allowed to travel within the country and outside of it.
