US R2 Visa For Spouse & Children of R1 Visa Holders

What are the requirements for an R2 visa?

As mentioned, spouses or unmarried children under the age of 21 of R1 visa holders can obtain this visa. In other words, your spouse or parents must be eligible for an R-1 visa before you can obtain an R-2 visa. The holder of an R1 visa must have entered the United States to engage in religious activities and work in a religious organization with specific characteristics.

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How to apply for this visa?

The steps to apply for an R2 visa are:

1. Receive approval from USCIS

Before applying for an R2 visa, your spouse or parent’s employer must first submit I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, to the USCIS, or US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

2. Complete the online application form

Filling out this online application form is mandatory for all non-immigrant US visas, including the applicants for an R2 visa. To download and complete this form, please refer to the Consular Electronic Application Center website. This form contains some questions regarding the purpose of your trip as well as personal information. You need to complete all the necessary blanks accurately. After the form submission, a confirmation page and a barcode appear that you must save it.

3. Pay the visa application fee

The application fee for a US R2 visa is around $190. Visa application fees are non-refundable. This means whether your application is rejected or confirmed, this fee will not be refunded to you. Also, note that your visa application will not be processed unless you pay this fee. Citizens of some countries may also have to pay for visa issuance. It depends on your country’s relationship with the United States. After paying your application fee, you will receive a receipt that you must keep because you will need it in the next steps.

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4. Schedule the visa interview appointment

All applicants for US non-immigrant visas between the ages of 14 and 79 need to attend a visa interview. If you are applying with the primary visa holder, then you can plan the interview together at the same time. Otherwise, you need to schedule your interview. After you have made this appointment, you will obtain a confirmation letter that you need to bring on the day of your interview.

5. Prepare documents

You need to prepare all these documents:

• DS-160 Form confirmation Page
• Confirmation letter of visa interview appointment
• Applicant photo
• Copies of passports, visas, and approval notice issued to the principal visa applicants
• Evidence that you do not want to reside in the United States and will return home.
• Evidence of your relationship with the primary visa holder:
  
  • Marriage certificate for a spouse
  • Wedding album and wedding invitation card for a spouse
    
  • Birth certificate for each child

6. Attend an interview

On the interview day, you must bring some documents with you. You will be asked about your background, education, and purpose for your trip to the United States. You also need to talk about your relationship with the principal visa holder. In addition, you, as an applicant for the US R2 visa, must also prove your bond to your home country because you are not allowed to reside permanently in the United States.

How long can you stay on this visa?

Because the R2 visa is a type of dependent visa, conditions such as validity and visa renewal depend on the principal visa holder. The R1 visa is valid for 30 months. Therefore, the initial validity of this visa will be 30 months.

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How can an R2 visa be extended?

If the primary visa holder intends to increase the validity of his/her visa, you can also renew your visa as the dependent visa holder. This visa will be extended for another thirty months. Holders of R visas cannot stay in the United States for more than five years under the R visa.

Can the holder of this visa change the status of his/her visa to another one?

Yes. As a visa holder, you can change the status of your visa. If you find a job, you can obtain an H1-B visa.

Can R2 visa holders apply for a Green Card?

Yes. To receive a Green Card, you must submit the following forms:

• I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant
• I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

Let’s sum up …

In this article, we have tried to answer the questions that US R2 visa applicants face in their visa application process. On the Visa Library website, you can learn about other US visas as well as ways to immigrate to other countries. In case you have some experience, please write it down in the comment section. Your comments allow individuals to choose better and avoid mistakes. Conveying your experiences in comments is an excellent help for applicants.

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