L2 Visa Work Permit: Everything You Need to Know

When you get an L2 dependent visa, you depend not only on your spouse to move to the US but can also build your career and work there. In this guide, we will cover all the information you may need about acquiring the L2 visa work permit, the requirements for it, how to apply for one, and some useful tips.

What Is an L2 Visa Work Permit?

L2 Visa Work Permit means that dependents of L1 visa holders are allowed to work in the United States of US legally. L1 is for the intra-company transfer of employees who have worked for a company that has a branch in the U.S., and their dependents within the age of 21 years will be eligible for an L2 visa. However, spousal immigration is the only immigration with the right to apply for a work permit formally referred to as the Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

The spouse of the person who wishes to get an L2 Visa Work Permit must complete the Employment Authorization Form, informally known as Form I-765 and submit it to USCIS. According to the EAD, they get to work legally for any employer in the United States, subject to no restrictions in terms of the line of work. The permit also allows one to change employers, work while campaigning for a job, or even start one’s own business. This greatly improves the business prospects for families of L1 visa holders. Work authorization is effective so long as the L1 visa holder holds his/her status and the L2 visa is still valid. It is often helpful to an L2 visa holder to obtain this permit thereby helping in building a career and thus contributing to the income of the family household while in the United States.

What Is the L2 Dependent Visa?

The L2 visa is the US visa for dependents of persons holding an L1 visa in the country. The L1 visa is an intra-company transfer visa to the United States for those employees who have worked for a multinational company for at least one year and have been transferred to a related organization in the United States; the L2 visa allows spouses and minor children of the L1 visa holder to accompany the visa holder to the United States.

L2 visa receivers are selected to work, live, study and in the case of spouses even work in the United States. To work, the spouse has to enter the United States with an EAD permit, which is applied for through form I-765 with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). After being approved they can work for any employer or have their own business. The L2 visa has the same duration as that of the L1 visa granted to the principal employee. This visa maintains family integrity while at the same time allowing the spouse and children to develop roots in the United States neighborhood.

How to Apply for an L2 Visa Work Permit?

To apply for an L2 Visa Work Permit (Employment Authorization Document or EAD), follow these steps:

1. Ensure Eligibility

• Ensure that you are an L2 visa holder and that spouses of L1 visa holders are allowed a work permit.
• Make sure your L2 visa status is legal.

• Gather Required Documents

• Form I-765: It is also necessary to fill out an Application for Employment Authorization.
• Passport: A photocopy of your biographic page from your current and valid passport.
• I-94 Record: Get your latest I-94 record which tells your status and entry in the USA.
• Marriage Certificate: Documentation appendix where the L1 visa holder is your relative or acquaintance proof of your affinity.
• L1 Visa Holder Documents: Their L1 visa document and I-94 record Copy.
• Photo: The applicant must pass two passport-sized photos as per the requirement of the USCIS.

• File the Application

• When you file Form I-765, file the supporting documents with the appropriate USCIS address.
• Submit the Petition IAC accompanying documents, including the application fee (See current fee information on the USCIS Website).

• Wait for Approval

• You will receive a receipt notice once your application is filed with the USCIS.
• The time taken in processing depends on its type but can take anywhere between three and up to twelve months.

• Receive Your EAD

• After that, you will be issued with an Employment Authorization Document once your application is approved, to enable you to work in the United States legally.

• Start Working

• You are welcome to use your EAD to look for employment or launch a business without any limitations.

Who Is Eligible for an L-2 Visa?

L-2 Visa is intended for dependents of an L1 visa holder; such people are allowed to come to the United States with the primary visa holder. Eligibility for the L2 visa extends to the following:

• Spouses of L-1 Visa Holders
  
• L-1 visa holder is allowed to have his/her spouse apply for an L2 visa. This visa entitles them to reside in the U.S. and once they get EAD they can freely work for any employer of the country or start up their own business.
• When applying, the applicant has to provide a marriage certificate so as to give evidence of the spousal status.

• Unmarried Children Under 21
• Family members of the L1 visa holder are also admissible to the L2 visa if they are the biological, adopted or stepchild of the visa holder and under twenty-one years of age and unmarried.
• So long as they cannot be employed they are permitted to school or gain further education within the United States.

• Additional Criteria
• The L-1 visa holder has to be a valid visa holder throughout the L2 visa holder’s stay in this country.
• The connection between the L-1 visa holder as well as his/her dependents must be something that can easily be explained in the sight of the law as well as the immigration department.
• L2 embodies the fact that a family should remain united intact so that spouses can be productive economically and the children be afforded education in the U.S.

Who Is Not Eligible for an L-2 Visa?

The L2 Visa is the exact classification for dependents of the employee in the L1 Visa who is their spouse or an unmarried child below 21 years of age. Nonetheless, the companion of the L1 visa holder does not automatically qualify for an L2 visa. Below are categories of individuals who are not eligible:

• Parents of L1 Visa Holders

Dependent family members of L-1 visa holders are restricted, and therefore, parents of L-1 visa holders cannot be granted an L-2 visa even if they depend on the L-1 holder for support.

• Extended Family Members

Close relatives including siblings, parents, children, cousins or spouses are not allowed for an L2 visa regardless of how or who they are related to the L visa holder.

• Married Children or Children over 21 years old

Married or 21-year-old children or those people who have lost eligibility for an L-2 Visa even if they met the requirements before.

• Domestic Partners or Unmarried Partners

Any partner who is unmarried can only exercise L-2 visa rights if they have been in a relationship with the L-1 visa holder for a short or long time. The eligibility of a member for spousal benefits is also entirely ruled by marriage.

• Independent Individuals

In this regard, any other person apart from a spouse or an unmarried child less than 21 years of the L-1 visa holder does not qualify to be granted an L-2 visa.

Conclusion 

The L2 work permission is a great chance for holders of L2 dependent visa to feel financially independent, get valuable work experience in the USA, and make a significant contribution to the familial process. The process of application may seem cumbersome and complicated, but the worth of the effort involved is worth the trouble. This way you will be well informed to be more proactive and make smooth transitions through the process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question 1. What are the advantages of an L2 visa?

Answer. The L-2 visa status comes with some advantages including the ability to:

• Live legally in the U.S. temporarily.
• Attend school or study full-time in the U.S.
• Work part-time or full-time once approved for an EAD.
• Transfer to another non-immigrant status like F-1, B-1/B-2, H-1, and L-1.

Question 2. What are the rules for a L-2 visa?

Answer. To be able to apply for the L2 Visa spouses must be married to the L1 Visa holder and children must be under the age of 21 and unmarried. Even close family members of the host including parents, siblings or grandparents cannot apply for the L2 Visa.

Question 3. What is the difference between an employment visa and a work permit?

Answer. A visa permits a person to enter a specific country while a work permits employment in that country. These documents are, in some ways, functional for distinct objectives. A visa is similar to a ticket that allows a person to be let into a foreign territory. And it demonstrates to border officials that they allow you in.

Question 4. What is the age limit for an L2 visa?

Answer. The L2 visa is created in such a manner that only members of the L1 visa holder family can gain from the privileges of this visa. In particular, it is open to only the spouse and those under the age of 21 being a child of the principal applicant.

Question 5. What documents are required for an L2 visa?

Answer. The documents required for an L2 visa are:

• A valid passport.
• Your spouse or parent must hold a valid L1 visa.
• If you are the spouse, provide a valid marriage certificate.
• Wedding photos.
• Wedding invitations: both sides.
• If you are a child, provide a valid birth certificate.
• Completed Form DS-160.