Can I bring my family to the U.S. on my L-1 visa? What is L-2 visa?

An L-1A visa is a great visa for an employee or owner of a company abroad who wants to transfer to a U.S. office or open a new office in the United States. When thinking about applying for an L-1 visa, you may be wondering whether your family can come with you to the U.S. The short answer is that your immediate family (your spouse and unmarried children under 21) can accompany you to the U.S. Can my spouse work in the U.S. on L-2 visa? Yes, but your spouse will first have to apply for a work authorization and only after the work authorization is approved by USCIS can he/she start working in the U.S. Can my spouse study in the U.S. on L-2 visa? Yes. Your spouse can also enroll into a University while in the U.S. on L-2 visa/status. Can my children study in the U.S. on L-2 visa? Yes. Your children can study in the U.S. on an L-2 visa. I am in the U.S. and I am doing a Change of Status petition with USCIS. What forms should my spouse and/or children file? If you are applying for a Change/Extension of status in the U.S. and your spouse and children are also in the U.S., then they should file I-539 petition to change or extend their non-immigrant status. My family and I will be applying for L visas at a U.S. Consulate abroad. Does my family have to apply for the L-2 visas with me? Not necessarily. Your spouse and children can attend the interview with you and apply for the L-2 visas at the same time as you, but that is not a requirement. You spouse and/or children can also apply for the L-2 visas after your L-1 visa is approved. In such case, they should bring a copy of the I-797A Approval notice, copy of your visa, and perhaps an Employment verification letter from your employer that you are still working for the L-1 company if you are already in the U.S. Please note that as of June 24, 2020 the issuance of L-1 visas was impacted by the New Executive Order.