What do F-2 students need to know when applying to a US college or university?
While F-2 students are permitted to attend high school under this visa category, F-2 visa holders are not allowed to attend full time postsecondary study or even part time study toward any sort of degree or certificate. For this reason, F-2 students who wish to attend a US college or university will need to apply for a change of visa status (most likely to a F-1 student visa). Students cannot begin postsecondary study until this change of visa status has been approved, so it is important to start this process as soon as possible in case of unforeseen delays. The international student office at the student’s future college or university should be able to aid the student in this process. Please note, however, that once the student has filed an application for a change of visa status, they cannot leave the country while that application is still pending. If they do, they will be considered to have ‘abandoned’ their application.
