People Who Can Obtain L2 visas

• L2 visas are granted only to immediate family members of the L1 holder. To be eligible for this visa, applicants must be either a spouse or child under 21 years old. Applicants are required to submit a variety of forms, two passport photos, marriage certificates (for spouses), and information pertinent to the L1 visa holder (including an employment certificate and a copy of their tax return).
  
  

Benefits

• L2 visa holders are granted a variety of benefits during the duration of their stay in the United States. In addition to being allowed to remain in the United States as long as the L1 visa holder (up to a maximum of seven years), L2 visa holders are permitted to work in the United States, provided they obtain the proper government authorization. In addition, these visa holders may seek full-time education in the country and enter and re-enter the country on short vacations.
  
  

Restrictions

• Visa holders are not permitted to remain in the United States under an L2 visa for a period of time exceeding seven years. In addition, dependent children who seek an L2 visa are not permitted to seek employment authorization. Since the employment authorization document is valid for two years, L2 visa holders are required to reapply for employment authorization every two years--still, this status may be renewed so long as L2 status is maintained.
  
  

Application Process

• To apply for an L2 visa, a copy of the relevant L1 visa must be obtained and presented to a U.S. government official. After submitting the other mandatory documents to a local American consulate, an L2 visa holder may submit a two-year employment authorization document, which is processed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Although this form is legally supposed to be reviewed within 90 days, wait times are often long, and it is also possible to obtain a 240-day employment authorization while waiting for the other application to be processed.
  
  

Adjustment of Status

• L2 visa holders may seek to change their status to become a legal permanent resident of the United States. The adjustment of status process allows these visa holders to change status without leaving the United States and differs from the more traditional route of obtaining a green card. L2 visa holders may submit an adjustment application to their local USCIS district director or regional office. This process typically requires the endorsement of a local employer.