Study Masters on H4 or L2 dependent Visa -2025
When you enter the US as the dependent of the H1B or L1 work visa holder on an H4 or L2 visa, it takes you several months or a year typically to adjust to the new environment and familiarise you with the major tourist sights. Three months down the road a thanksgiving and Christmas come and go and that enthusiasm eventually turns to boredom as you spend the whole day at home waiting for the spouse to come home and get stick. All that can be utilized well by pursuing a Masters degree. A Master degree will add value to your future employment even in the future be it staying in US or coming back to your country. Whatever the reason that motivated you to study in the US, you must be wondering whether you are eligible to pursue masters on H4 or L2 visa. The positive thing is that you can study on h4 visa or L2 visa as a full-time or a part time student. Read on to know how it goes and even the various choices you have. See the list of the top courses taken by the H4 visa holders here.
What is H4 visa and L2 visa?
The H4 visa and the L2 visa fall in the grounds of the dependent visa. The family members of the H1B visa and L1 visa holder are eligible to apply to accompany them in the USA subject to the issuance of an H4 visa and L2 visa, respectively. The dependent may include any immediate family members such as spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 years. You can work and study the USA on a dependent visa. H1B visa and L1 visa are temporary work visas to the United States of America. The L1 visas specifically apply to the staffs transferred in a company in managerial positions.
Prerequisites
A majority of the Universities in the United States of America require international students to demonstrate their English language skills before an admission to a graduate program can be granted. You must pass the test in TOEFL or IELTS to demonstrate English level. In case you failed to meet the English language requirements, the university offers you the intensive English language programs. The student may be qualified in the ESL (English as the Second Language) program in order to gain admissions to the course. Here are some of the ESL programs available to the international students in USA. You will also need to take GRE or even GMAT examination and it might be a factor that allows you the chance to attend a competitive program at a good school. STEM courses are best with GRE/GMAT.
Documents Required
Before initiating the process of application, you should have the following documents:
Transcripts
TOEFL, score or IELTS score or PTE score
Optional GRE or GMAT Score (Optional)
Purpose Statement
Financial Affidavit
Recommendation letters
International Application Fee
Submitting Applications
Choosing and narrowing the list of Universities out of a vast number of Universities is a mammoth task in itself. The task is simplified by Skoolville.com which suggests the Universities depending on the profile. You can also do shortlisted Universities based on the popular hotlists – Affordable Universities, Universities with no TOEFL or IELTS Required, Universities with no GRE Requirement. It is unfortunate to neglect to check the eligibility of your scholarship requirements in the university when making an application. It is the most suitable means of financing your studies in USA.
When it is time to apply, you can submit the applications to the various universities simultaneously with one or two clicks right here at skoolville.com. After the application has been filed, Universities will courier I-20 back in 3-4 weeks upon acceptance.
What should you study on H4 or L2 Visa?
After obtaining the admission and the I-20 you can proceed with studying at the H4 visa. The advantages of studying with on H4 or L2 visa are as follows :
You may do it on time or on a part-time basis.
You may also qualify to In-State tuition fee which is half the amount you would pay as an International student on F1 visa. To qualify to pay the lower In-State tuition fee you must be a resident of the state and ought to have resided in the state at least an year.
As long as an employer is ready to sponsor the H1B visa you become eligible under masters quota.
The disadvantage is that you will not be eligible to apply to CPT, OPT and STEM extension. This is the best alternative to individuals who do not necessarily need a job soon and they can still have employment eligibility on some other basis like H4 EAD or L2 EAD.
Should you change to F1 visa?
As soon as you have you I-20 in your possession, you can transition to F-1 status by requesting the change of status. The advantages of ascertaining to F-1 visa are as follows :
You may work as a TA, RA etc. during the program.
You are entitled to CPT in the course of the Masters and Receiving OPT.
You will be admitted through the Masters quota as far as H1B visa is concerned.
The disadvantage of this option is the high fee that the international students must pay when compared to the local students. This variant is suitable to people who want to work before and after they receive the degree of Master.