US Visa for Parents of F1 Students: Document Checklist 2025

Parents of international students are curious to learn about the US visa for parents of F1 students. Can parents accompany their children during their studies in the US? What do they need to know?

This article by Thao & Co. provides all the answers you need. 

Is there a US visa for parents of F1 students to accompany their children?

The answer is NO. The US government only allows foreign students to be accompanied by their children or legal spouses. F1 visa holders can apply for an F2 visa for their spouse or children to accompany them to the States. 

The US F2 visa is issued to the dependents of F1 visa holders. F2 visa holders have similar rights and must satisfy the same conditions as F1 visa holders.

They are permitted to accompany F1 students to the US at the same time or join them later. This visa is categorized into 2 types as follows: 

1. ● F2A Visa: For spouses or unmarried children under 21 years old 
2. ● F2B Visa: For spouses or unmarried children over 21 years old 

To be eligible for an F2 Dependent Visa, applicants must provide:

1. • Proof of family relationship
2. • Proof of financial capability
3. • Documents showing ties to their home country
4. • Etc.

Also read: US Student Visa Financial Requirements – Higher Approval Rate Strategy.

Is there a guardian visa for parents of F1 students? 

The answer is NO. Parents cannot apply for a visa to accompany their children to the US. Instead, there are guardianship options for foreign students under 18 studying in the US.

The guardian is responsible for supporting and taking care of the student during their stay. To qualify as the guardian for a minor student, the individual must fulfill the following criteria: 

1. • Be at least 25 years old
2. • Be a US citizen/lawful permanent resident
3. • Have a Power of Attorney for Health Care and other services
4. • Submit proof of financial capability to cover tuition fees, daily expenses and other living costs for the student
5. • Meet the standards for health conditions and criminal background checks

In addition, the F1 student needs to satisfy the following requirements to apply for guardianship: 

1. • Be under 18 years old 
2. • Study at a day-boarding school, university, or college in the US (required documents vary by institution)

Also read: 20 US student visa interview questions & sample answers.

Visitor visa for parents of F1 student

If parents of F1 students want to visit their children in the US, they can consider applying for a US visitor visa. This visa is divided into 3 types based on the purpose of the trip:

1. • B-1 visa: For business purposes, attending conferences or seminars, and contract negotiations. 
2. • B-2 visa: For traveling, visiting family and friends, seeking medical treatment, attending social events, participating in competitions, and enrolling in short-term courses.
3. • B-1/B-2 combined visa

These visas are valid for no more than 6 months per entry, and holders are not permitted to work in the US under these visa categories. 

Also read: US Visa Types – List of Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visas.

Requirements for parents of F1 students to accompany their children to the US

Family members of an F1 student must meet the following criteria to join the student in the States: 

1. • Issued an F2 visa. 
2. • Be a spouse or unmarried child under 21 years old of the F1 visa holder.
3. • Present documents proving family relationship
4. • Provide proof of financial capability to cover all expenses during their stay in the US.
5. • All documents included in the visa application must be translated into English and certified in advance. This is a crucial factor to secure your chances of visa approval.

Top countries for studying abroad with your family

Besides the US, some countries also permit foreign students to bring their spouses or children on their study trips:

1. • Finland
2. • Australia
3. • Canada
4. • Sweden
5. • New Zealand
6. • Japan
7. • South Korea
8. • Etc.

Furthermore, some countries also allow parents to apply for guardian visas, such as Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and Singapore. However, these guardian visas are typically granted only to parents of students under 18 years old.

Key takeaways

To sum up, it’s currently not permitted for parents to accompany their children on their US study trips under sponsorship. Instead, they need to request a separate visitor visa to visit their children in the US. 

Documents for your US visa application must be carefully prepared and translated. Translations must include a statement affirming that “the translation is accurate“, and “the translator is competent to translate“.

Translations failing to meet the USCIS standard may be denied or take longer to be processed. 

Thao & Co. is your reliable partner in the US visa application process. We offer high-quality translation solutions with a variety of benefits: 

1. ✅ English translation and certification services for personal documents, financial statements, overseas study paperwork, and more.

1. ✅ A team of well-versed linguists holding Bachelor’s/Master’s degrees in English Studies and other international language certifications meeting USCIS standards.

1. ✅ Free Certificate of Translation Accuracy issued by Thao & Co., adhering to the USCIS requirements.

1. ✅ Transparent quotes and on-time delivery, with a streamlined workflow enabled by Thao & Co.’s proprietary platform for utmost confidentiality, seamless project tracking, and secure file transfers. 

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