F2 Visa Funds to Show: Amounts, Documents, and Extra Fees

For an F2 visa, the funds to show are whatever the “Expenses for Dependents” line on the dependent’s Form I-20 says, and you prove it with recent, liquid financial documents. There is no single federal dollar figure. Each school sets its own estimate based on local living costs, and the consular officer treats that I-20 number as the benchmark your evidence has to meet. Across U.S. universities, the spouse figure commonly falls between roughly $5,000 and $15,000 per year, with smaller amounts added per child.

Where the Required Amount Comes From

The F1 student’s school controls the number. When the F1 holder asks their Designated School Official to issue an I-20 for a spouse or child, the DSO enters an “Expenses for Dependents” figure into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. That figure then prints on the dependent’s I-20.¹ The school builds it from local estimates for housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses.

Federal regulations require the F1 student to present “documentary evidence of financial support in the amount indicated on the Form I-20.”² The same standard applies to each F2 dependent, and every spouse and every child under 21 needs their own individual I-20 issued before applying for the visa or seeking admission.³

If finances change after the I-20 is issued, the DSO must update the student’s financial information in SEVIS within 21 days so the new numbers appear on an updated I-20.¹ Walking into a consulate with an outdated I-20 invites a request for additional evidence or a refusal.

Typical Dollar Ranges by Dependent

Because each institution calculates living expenses differently, the amount on your I-20 can vary sharply. A school in a high-cost city will list substantially more than one in a rural area. As a rough guide, universities commonly list dependent costs in these ranges:

Spouse: roughly $5,000 to $15,000 per 12-month academic year
First child: roughly $2,500 to $13,000 per year
Each additional child: roughly $2,500 to $5,000 per year

Some schools only require proof for one year or the remaining time to complete the degree, whichever is shorter. Others want proof covering the full program length. Ask the F1 student’s DSO which standard applies. Whatever prints on the I-20 is the number your financial documents have to hit.

What Money Counts

Consular officers care that the money is real, available, and does not depend on the F2 applicant working in the United States. F2 dependents are not authorized to work at all.⁴ Every dollar shown has to come from a source that does not require U.S. employment by the dependent. Common acceptable sources:

Personal savings held in the F1 student’s or F2 applicant’s bank accounts, with balances meeting or exceeding the I-20 amount.
Family sponsor funds, backed by the sponsor’s own bank statements and a signed affidavit of support.
Scholarships and assistantships. If the F1 student holds a teaching or research assistantship, the funding letter from the department can count toward the total, including any tuition waiver.
Approved educational loans that have been disbursed or carry a confirmed approval letter showing the amount available.

The funds need to be liquid. Real estate deeds, stock portfolios, and retirement accounts generally do not satisfy the requirement because they cannot be quickly converted to cash for living expenses. Officers want to see money that is accessible now.

Documents to Gather

Start collecting documents well before the interview. Financial paperwork goes stale quickly, and consulates typically expect bank statements issued within the past six months.

Bank Statements

Bank statements are the core of the financial package. Each one should clearly show the account holder’s full name, account number, and current balance. Some consulates also require the bank to stamp or sign the statement to verify authenticity, so an official certified copy from the bank is safer than a printout from an app. If you are combining funds from multiple accounts, bring statements from every account, and make sure the total meets or exceeds the I-20 figure.

Sponsor Documentation

When someone other than the F1 student or F2 applicant is providing support, you need two things: a signed letter from the sponsor stating their relationship to you and their commitment to cover your living expenses, and the sponsor’s own bank statements proving they hold the funds. The letter should name a specific dollar amount and a duration.

Scholarship and Loan Documents

If part of the funding comes from a scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship, bring the official award letter showing the amount and duration. For loans, bring the approval letter or disbursement confirmation. A loan application that has not yet been approved does not count.

Translations and Currency

Any document in a foreign language must be accompanied by a full English translation. The translator must certify that the translation is complete and accurate, and that they are competent to translate from the original language into English.³ Professional certified translation of financial documents typically runs $20 to $35 per page. Amounts should be presented in U.S. dollars or shown with a conversion.

If the Funds Fall Short

If a consular officer decides you have not demonstrated sufficient financial support, the application will be denied under INA Section 212(a)(4), the “public charge” ground of inadmissibility.⁵ It is one of the more common reasons for F2 refusals, and one of the more fixable.

You can reapply after a denial, but you will submit a new DS-160 and pay the fee again.⁵ Overcoming a 212(a)(4) refusal means stronger financial evidence the second time: an updated bank statement showing a higher balance, an added co-sponsor, or a reissued I-20 with corrected figures. Reapplying with the same documents will almost certainly produce the same result.

Fees That Sit Outside the Funds Figure

The amount on the I-20 covers living expenses. The visa process itself has separate fees that are not part of that calculation:

Visa application fee (MRV): $185 per F2 applicant to submit the DS-160. Nonrefundable, even if the visa is denied.⁶
SEVIS I-901 fee: F2 dependents do not pay this. Only the F1 student is required to pay it.⁷
Visa issuance (reciprocity) fee: charged by some countries after approval, with the amount varying by nationality.

Budget for these separately. They must be paid regardless of outcome and do not count toward the I-20 amount.

1
Study in the States. Financial Information
2
ICE. SEVP Governing Regulations for Students and Schools
3
eCFR. 8 CFR 214.2 – Special Requirements for Admission, Extension, and Maintenance of Status
4
USCIS. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 2 Part F Chapter 9 – Dependents
5
U.S. Department of State. Visa Denials
6
U.S. Department of State. Fees for Visa Services
7
Study in the States. Paying the I-901 SEVIS Fee