Can my spouse come with me on a US F-1 student visa?

Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can come to the USA on F-2 dependent visas while you study on an F-1 visa.

F-2 visa eligibility:
- Lawful spouse (married — not de facto/common law)
- Unmarried children under 21 (step-children and adopted children may also qualify)

F-2 visa application:
- Apply at a US Embassy in your spouse's/child's country
- They need: your F-1 visa documentation, I-20, proof of your relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificates), financial evidence (your funds covering them), DS-160, and a visa interview

What F-2 holders can do:
- Live in the USA with you
- Study part-time (they CANNOT enrol full-time in a degree programme — that would require their own F-1 visa)
- Children can attend US primary and secondary school (K-12) — this is permitted

What F-2 holders CANNOT do:
- Work — F-2 visa holders are not authorised to work in the USA under any circumstances
- Study full-time at a college or university
- Apply for employment authorisation (unlike the UK where F-1 dependants can work full-time)

Financial impact:
Your financial evidence must show you can support yourself AND your dependants. USCIS and visa officers expect to see funds covering the full family.

Alternative for a working spouse:
If your spouse wants to work in the USA, they need their own independent visa (e.g., H-4 if you later have an H-1B, or their own F-1/J-1 if they are also studying). F-2 offers no work rights.