Options for my wife if I get a student visa?

[Booster 0]

Hi, I'm from the UK and Im interested in studying for my Master's at a specific university in the US. Im pretty confident about being accepted and being able to afford the fee's, but Im recently married and while my wife is happy to follow me to the States I'm wondering what options she has as a dependent on a student visa? As I understand it she wouldnt be allowed to work if I had a F1 or J1 visa, but do we have any other options? She has a Bachelor's in Music composition and several years teaching experience, but that doesnt seem enough for her to find a job that will sponsor her for a H1B. If I attend university in the US what are her options?

[JDWright 30]

Apply for an F-2 visa for her; request for a dependent travel document from the university in question and follow the steps.

Edited September 9, 2015 by JDWright

[Booster 0]

Ah, thank you, I'll look into that.

Edited September 9, 2015 by Booster

[Booster 0]

Ok, Im looking into this and I dont think this actually answer my question. Im aware of the F-2 and J-2 visa's and how to apply for them, it's the issue of her not being to work that Im having a problem with. I cant find any information at all other than "dependents arent allowed to work" surely it's more nuanced than that if Im looking at spending a couple of hundred grand on an education over there...

Edited September 9, 2015 by Booster

[NancyNguyen 1,658]

F2 first, then find some art companies that are willing to sponsor her work visas (h1b, o-1, p-2...) a lot of options

[Booster 0]

ok, so she's still allowed to apply for jobs and attend interviews? That's great to hear, thank you

[NancyNguyen 1,658]

ok, so she's still allowed to apply for jobs and attend interviews? That's great to hear, thank you

She needs to find employers first. If they are willing to sponsor her, company's attorney will take care of her documents. She can't work with F-2 dependent visa.

[Booster 0]

hmmm, I think I may have found an option, but perhaps people could shed more light on it.....

It appears a dependent is allowed to receive revenue while in the US for a product created in the UK? Is that correct? How far does that extend? She has several screenplays that we're currently shopping around, would we be allowed to employ someone in the UK to sell them on our behalf while we're in the US? Or if we set up a UK based company can she receive her share of the profits while somebody runs it on our behalf?

[Boiler 46,047]

Passive income is OK.

Unless she is extremely well known in her field, a work visa is unlikely.

Edited September 11, 2015 by Boiler